Overwhelmed but planning for the future — Laney counselors focus on student graduation goals
by Sydney Toth
What’s your major? What school are you transferring to? What are your goals post-graduation?
Questions like these torment college students.
For many students, college is a whirlwind. It’s easy to get lost in the process and forget that there is something beautiful waiting at the end — a degree. But, how to get there?
Laney College career and general counselor Sarah Backes-Diaz presented ways to put this whirlwind to rest April 11 in a talk to students of the journalism class Survey of Mass Media.
The goal to keep in mind is to “trust yourself and follow the path of least resistance,” Backes-Diaz said.
Her presentation centered around an easy-to use outline of how students can find themselves wrapped in the arms of their dream job.
Backes-Diaz began her presentation by encouraging students to picture the road to their dream careers as a rainbow. On one end, you have major and career exploration.
This is the starting point, but a journey can’t begin without a general idea of the direction.
Well-meaning mentors, friends and family often badger students with thoughts of what to do next, or beg for a step-by-step guideline of the plan to get there. On top of heavy coursework, part-time jobs and outside obligations, when do students truly have the chance to step back and consider what all of this work is leading to?
Backes-Diaz presented multiple steps to assist in the decision-making process, such as developing an idea of what speaks to the personality or skill set of the inquirer, and investigating options through multiple databases such as California Career Zone or Eagle Hire, which is a free online job source for Laney students.
Will students have the chance to catch their breath and explore their minds about the possibilities of life after college? One thing after the other is thrown in their direction, either pushing students forward or holding them back.
“Learning what you don’t want is just as important as learning what you do want,” Backes-Diaz said.
Volunteer work, internships and other experience can be invaluable as well, and allow students to explore personal interests and set a baseline for what works and what doesn’t, she said.
After following these steps, the student-searcher finds life at the other end of the rainbow, where it is up to them to make a decision and continue the process by building a resume, creating a network and applying for jobs.
The world is open to explore, and mentors such as Backes-Diaz can help students navigate with ease. Following her presentation, students were left feeling a sense of clarity and relief that the road to their dream job was not as daunting as it seemed.
Additional resources to check out:
Email: sbackesdiaz@peralta.edu
Laney.edu/career
Laney.edu/counseling