Q. My son is a junior in high school. He is very indecisive. He does well in math and science. He is also an introvert. He is not sure what he wants to do with this life or his career. I am nervous about writing a big check for college if he doesn’t know what he wants to do. How do we get beyond this?
A. Choosing a college is a major life decision. It is also a time of both anxiety and pride.
We place a lot of stress on young adults. How many of us really knew, with conviction, what career we wanted to pursue at that age? We often have a sense of what we like and dislike, which is helpful. But very few young adults know their exact career path with certainty. I work with 40- and 50-year-olds who are still unsure if they made the best career choice.
I consulted Kathleen Hebden, a former high school counselor and director of guidance who now runs her own consulting firm for college counseling. Here’s her advice:
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“Although attending college is about securing a job after graduation, it’s also an opportunity to self-reflect and get to know yourself . . . your personal strengths and weaknesses, the type of work environment that suits you, etc. Colleges provide internships and course work to help students determine their career path.
“Furthermore, this generation will change careers (not just jobs) five or six times so it isn’t a deal breaker when a student has no idea yet what he/she wants to do. Encourage your son to consider colleges and universities that offer a variety of majors/minors and have a reputable career center. Every student needs to have a plan upon high school graduation. For a future in math and/or science, college is a must. There are many places, including state colleges and universities, that won’t break the bank.”
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Internships are invaluable. If your son majors in engineering and then lands an engineering-related internship and hates it, that’s part of the learning process. Eliminating certain career paths is sometimes as important as considering different career paths.
Patricia Hunt Sinacole is president of First Beacon Group, a human resources consulting firm in Hopkinton.