Career Genogram

Whew!!!  It has been a crazy week starting a new class. Just when I was getting the hang of things, the new class is formatted just a little bit differently. That's o.k. - keeps me on my toes and focused.

Our assignment this week was to create a career genogram - basically a family tree that also looks at education levels, careers choices, and work attitudes. I really enjoyed this assignment. Most of the information I already knew from family stories growing up, but it was still very interesting to put it down on paper and really reflect on the questions that we had to answer. Getting it on paper also highlighted the fact that in each generation (at least the last three), everyone has pursued slightly higher levels of education. Makes me a hopeful momma! I was very pleased to see that so many of my beliefs were "handed down" from previous generations. It is very comforting to know that I have a stable base in a family that believes God is first and family is second. Work is something that you are expected to do and the money pays the bills so that you can enjoy things in life, but work is not the end all, be all. I hope to share with students that I counsel the importance of having or creating a stable family base (even if those family members aren't blood related), and the importance of having other things in your life and successfully balancing those things with work.

I really didn't find a pattern in my family that I could tie to my desire to become a school counselor. Other than looking for a job that makes me happy and provides optimal time to be with my son. I have always had a place in my heart for children. And after my divorce and the death of my sister, counseling took on a whole new meaning for me. I really feel that God has placed this calling on my life. I guess that does tie into my family history....