needs

Needs of the Group

==== There are many needs of high school students pertaining to career planning. One of the main concepts is parental involvement. Recent studies have shown that there is a significant family influence when it comes to a child’s perception and ideas pertaining to career development (Fulya Cenkseven-Önder, Oğuzhan Kırdök, Erkan Işık 2009. P. 266). When looking at the importance of family influence, it becomes evident that parents must receive knowledge and support on the topic of career development. This allows for the child to receive the guidance they need to make career decisions that meet their abilities and interests. There is research that supports the notion that parents are the most influential factor in high school students’ career choices. In their article, Trusty, Watts, and Crawford (1996) study what and whom parents of high school seniors perceive as their best sources of career development information. A survey was distributed to 9,659 parents of 1992 public high school seniors, and the results showed that schools, school counselors, and people working in a particular field were viewed by most parents as the best sources of career information. Results also showed that parents who had been contacted by the school at least once viewed schools and their counselors more positively. Due to these findings, it is imperative that school counselors are knowledgeable about current career information resources and can assist families in utilizing these resources. . ==== ==== Another strong need for high school students is receiving valuable information about how to make career goals and choices. This can be achieved through more intense career development programs within the high school and even earlier. In a survey taken, individuals between the ages of 18 and 25 reported not receiving enough information to make future career plans (Blanton, B. Larrabee, M. 1999. P.119). This is important because schools are sending unprepared students into the real world with little to no resources or self-awareness to be able to find meaningful careers. Blanton and Larrabee (1999) also reported that students are unable as well as unaware of how to seek and find the necessary help from counselors when it pertained to career choices. Jennings et al. (1976) discovered a need for a career development curriculum in the high schools of Rome, Georgia. The need for such a program was evidenced in the high population of high school drop outs and reported low levels of interest in courses and preparedness for college. The implementation of this curriculum was a phenomenal success and demonstrated not only the need for students to be interested in subject matter taught in schools, but also the need students have for a career development curriculum. There is a clear need for more developed career counseling programs in high schools to better serve this population so they are able to enter the workforce or attend college and be successful. ====