FOCUS Research Paper I have never been a decisive person, and because of this making a decision as to what career path I want to pursue in my future has been extremely difficult for me. I am afraid of making the wrong choice and hating what I do, and that is the reason I came into Marist (and still am) an undecided student. While I currently have no declared major, I have slowly but surely begun to narrow down my options as I have discovered what interests me, and now I am happy to say that I have begun to distinguish between what type of career I would like. I want to find a career where I am able to be creative, get to meet lots of new people, and experience new situations everyday. I know I definitely want to find a career that will not …show more content…
While I still have not decided on the exact teaching related job I wish to pursue, I do know that Marist’s Dual Certification: Childhood Education (1-6) and Childhood Education/Special Education (1-6) is an academic program that interests me.
Becoming a special education teacher is one potential career that interests me because it incorporates many factors that I am looking for in a career. The average salary for a special education teacher is between $42,690 and $64,740 per year while the median pay is around $55,980 annually. The job outlook for a special education teacher is predicted to grow only 6% from 2012 to 2022, which is average, but according to the Occupational Outlook Handbook there will always be a demand for special education teachers as old teachers leave the workforce (Special Education Teachers). Similar to normal teachers and principals, special education teachers coordinate curriculum, prepare students for life after graduation, interact with numerous people a day, and strive to provide a safe and productive learning environment for students, but special ed. teachers go beyond the normal curriculum as these specialized teachers work with students who have a wide range of
Many of my friends pick their careers based on money and trade skills that they have. I am proficient in art and design, but didn’t feel like that was what I wanted to do for my career. Your career shapes a huge portion of your life. It is what you do every day, for a large portion of your life. It is what I have prepared for the past 12 or so years of my life. It is way more than just money or a skill. I wanted to do something unique, something interesting, something that would inspire me to be a better human, something that would make me feel, something that is challenging, something that helped others, and above all, something that was rewarding and made me feel fulfilled.
Have you ever been in a position where you where stuck and couldn’t decide between two careers? Whether it was something that you love to do or something that pays well? The answer may seem easy to you but when you start comparing the facts; that’s when it gets hard to choose. For many of us, graduates and people around the world have a difficult time choosing a career that can be a confusing process. A lot of people tend to settle down on a career quickly. Unfortunately, choosing a rapid occupation often leads to an unsatisfying path in the future, if not sooner. Eventually the individual decides to quit and start all over again. According to choosingacareer.net, “6% of workers over the age 50 are in the process of changing a career, resumes mailed to companies’ staffing departments only accounts for 3% of hires nationwide, and 95% of human resources managers and 95% of job seekers depend on personal contacts and networking to fill and find openings.” (choosingacareer.net) Choosing a career takes time and research, so it’s better to plan your future than rapidly pick one. Although some people claim they are happy with the career they chose of the bat, choosing a career carefully is much more effective because in the long run you will feel content and appreciate more with the choice you made.
Elementary School teacher, a professional educator for grades k-5, is a career I wish to pursue because I want to teach children the building blocks of education, love the energy and excitement that younger children give off, and want to be able to help children with special challenges. I have wanted to be an elementary school teacher for about three years now, I knew I wanted to pursue this occupation because there are many benefits to being an educator, and have always worked with children well. Some challenges are I will have to get a bachelor 's degree and have to complete a state licensing exam (“preparation 1”)
In 2012 nearly 205,000 people were employed as a physical therapist in the United States. The average salary of a physical therapist in 2012 was $79,860 per year. The number of jobs is estimated to grow 36% from 2012-2022. This job of physical therapy involves many and very important tasks to fulfill the needs of their patients. It requires many different educational requirements and you must have strong people skills.
In the profession of a special education teacher, a person commits to helping children achieve their best and to help “students overcome their obstacles” while finding a way that the child can effectively learn (Hollingsworth). My mom’s career as special education teacher for twenty-two years, allows me insight and experience into the tougher aspects of this career, but also the rewards to the job. My mom helps me understand that a special education teacher guides a child to expand their strengths, develop strategies to overcome weakness, and to make best use of all available resources. Through helping her, and learning from her experiences, she taught me that a career in special education can not only challenge me, but may also become a mission.
We have all had that fateful question thrust upon us at some point in our life- “What do you want to be when you grow up?” Few realize the true magnitude of that question at such an early age. Truly, the reason for that is due to the fact that no one, at this point in life, interprets the question for what it truly means. “What do you want to learn in college? What path will you choose? What do you want to become and spend forty years, more or less, doing with your life?” Needless to say, it is anything but a minor decision. Picking a career is one of the most important choices an individual can make in life. It is extremely difficult to find a profession that provides a substantial source of income and satisfaction at the same time. Thus, my answer to that age-old question has been up for debate in my mind for a long time. Although the debate is ongoing, I have narrowed the field of choices somewhat. The careers that I am interested in are three very contrasting careers: A physical/occupational therapist, a multimedia artist/animator, and a college theology professor.
Two years ago, I embarked on a journey that would teach me more than I had ever imagined. As a recent college graduate, I was thrilled to finally begin my teaching career in a field I have always held close to my heart. My first two years as a special education teacher presented countless challenges, however, it also brought me great fulfillment and deepened my passion for teaching students with special needs. The experiences I have had both before and after this pivotal point in my life have undoubtedly influenced my desire to further my career in the field of special education.
This upcoming May, I will officially become a high school graduate. These next few months will fly by, and my collegiate journey will soon begin. As this time draws nearer, I can clarify that having to decide on what career path to focus on is incredibly overwhelming. Due to my sincere desire for learning and my drive to better myself academically, I plan on experimenting in multiple areas in order to discover which will suit myself best.
There will be a certain point in your life, when you will have to make a major life decision, from buying a car, to buying a house, to what career you want to have. These are all very hard decision to make and at times it can be stressful just thinking about them. Unfortunately, they are all part of life.
Figuring out what you want to do with your life is a complex challenge. Until recently, I was completely unsure of what I want to do with my life academically and professionally. I would stumble across a field that would seem intriguing for a moment, then I’d become uninterested. It seemed I hadn’t found my niche. For awhile, I never really connected my desire to communicate with others with potential fields. Once I made the connection, I knew immediately that I wanted to pursue writing. I have always had a huge urge to communicate with others, rather it be expressing my own thoughts and ideas or simply communicating about a specific subject. I am also a very creative and perceptive person, which I feel will assist me even
I have been a Special Education Para-Educator for eleven years now. My decision to do this was based on the needs of my family and kids. When my last child was born, the doctors did not think that he would make it. He had a heart malfunction and was born with RSV and Von Villibrantds disease (which I did not find out until he was three); those factors lead me to want to work with special education kids, knowing that I could make a difference.
Have you ever imagined the world of teaching through the eyes of a special education teacher? It takes a unique person to educate children with disabilities. The career of a special education teacher is an interesting career, because you get to help children overcome obstacles and become productive citizens. The research will describe the career of a special education teacher, what is required to become a successful special education teacher, and the impact this career has on society.
Choosing a career path is easy for some people; for others it is one of the hardest decisions. I was the second type of person, having a hard time to discover what I wanted to be in life. I only knew that I wanted to help people and I wanted to be successful.
Coming to the point of my current career choice has been a long road. My idea of what a career is or should be has changed with circumstances and age. According to Weintraub (2005), “the average worker spends only four years in a job and will have 12 jobs in as many as five career fields during his or her working life.” (para. 1) My first career was marriage and motherhood followed by a surprising healthcare career. What the future holds waits to be seen. With a bachelor of science degree in information technology the options are wide open.
The anchor is those elements of the self-image that people would not give up if they are forced to make a choice