Teen/Student Careers – Career and Life Coaching

Coaching The Spark!

Published on October 10, 2013 by Allison FisherLeave a comment

As a Career & Life Coach I’ve always believed that everyone has a special something that they are gifted to do, that special talent that we are born with, the something we love to do and are good at. I’ve discussed this often in career coaching and life coaching sessions and have just read a book that sang to me about this very fact. It’s called The Spark: a mother’s story of Nurturing Genius by Kristine Barnett. A true story about her autistic son, Jacob.

This book is about the power of love and courage in the face of overwhelming obstacles, and the possibilities that can occur when we learn how to tap the true potential that lies within every child, and in all of us.

Kristine made available all the usual therapies for Jacob from the age of 18 months after discovering he had autism and was slowly retreating from the world. However in therapy she realised that he was doing things he really wasn’t interested in doing rather than the things he was interested in.

Allison Fisher Career & Life Coach — Kristine and Jacob

Typical Therapy sessions focused on the lowest skills. Kristine says “I’d watched my son nod off during a session still holding a therapy putty ball. So instead of hammering away at all the tasks these kid’s couldn’t do. I thought we’d start with what they wanted to do.” (pg 68) Through this approach nd a lot of hard work Jacob gradually came out of himself.

Kristine goes on to say “It’s hard for many people to relate to, but Jake genuinely thinks math and science are the most beautiful things on earth. The way a music lover thrills to a crescendo, the way a lifelong reader catches her breath in delight over a perfectly crafted phrase” (pg 202)

Jacob does have an extremely high IQ, higher than Einstein’s! Very exceptional in that sense however these principles were proven to be successful with other autistic children and teenagers when Kristine opened a school for autistic children. There were many examples of children with varying IQ’s that once Kristine and her helpers found their interest whether it was cooking, maths, writing or making clothes, once that passion was found then the kids would develop in other areas too.

Kristine believes all we have to do is find the gift in the child and the other stuff that they aren’t so good at or don’t like to do will come along just fine as long as they have a passion, something they love to do.

Jacob at the tender age of 15 is currently studying theoretical physics at the Perimeter Institute in Toronto! Just imagine if his parents hadn’t allowed him to focus on what he loved what the world may have lost.

So for you what is your spark, the “thing”, the talent that you have that is unique to you and you love to do? Would love to hear about it or discuss how you could discover it. Contact Allison Fisher, Career and Life Coaching.

Career Advice | It’s ok not to know!

Published on June 20, 2013 by Allison FisherLeave a comment

When contemplating a career change it is so important to take the time to ponder and reflect. Often there is a confusion stage or an “I don’t know” stage which can be really uncomfortable. It can create anxiety and a lot of angst because often we think we are supposed to know! Hey it’s ok your allowed not to know! In the “old days” folk used to sit on the porch and ponder answers, but these days in our busy consumerist society it seems there is often little time to do so.

It can be uncomfortable for people to be in that space of not knowing when their job or career just doesn’t seem to fit well anymore. Well yes it is uncomfortable but if we can accept it, go with it, and embrace it who knows what may emerge. Rather than putting energy into fighting the not knowing, put the energy into research, talking to people, asking questions of yourself. So it’s not about doing nothing but about acknowledging that your unsure right now, reassure yourself that its’ ok, keep researching, pondering and questioning.

So relax, find your porch and reflect the answers may well come!

If you would like to discuss your uncomfortable spot give Allison Fisher, Career & Life Coaching a call on 09 5233785.

Are Schools Dream Makers?

Published on September 17, 2012 by Allison FisherLeave a comment

I Have a Dream programme supports teenagers from low decile schools assisting them with extra tutoring and mentoring to enable them to be successful at school so that they can go on to higher education. This began in the US and has been running in Auckland for a few years based at Wesley Intermediate.

This is a fantastic programme and the first students will be graduating soon many of them going on to higher education to train as doctors, nurses, and policeman. Many of whom say without this extra tutoring they would not have been able to achieve their dreams as the schools were directing them to easier subjects.

My question though is why aren’t schools enabling students to create their dreams? I get it that schools don’t always have the capacity to guide and mentor each individual. However do schools focus too much on being seen to be getting good exam results? Do they push students into areas that they are more likely to pass their exams in but through which they aren’t able to go on to higher education? I’ve certainly heard this complaint from parents. Some schools put students in boxes early on and don’t create the building blocks for them to be successful. They are more concerned with how the school looks, how their exam results will reflect on them.

And isn’t that a reflection of our current society? Our society also seems focused outwardly on things like instant gratification, bigger is better, newest and latest is the best rather than what will actually make us truly happy. And what can make us happy? Things like connection, intimacy, friends, family, fun, having a purpose and creating our dreams!

A Teenager’s Truth to Happiness

Published on August 28, 2012 by Allison FisherLeave a comment

A North shore teenager recently wrote this article in the Weekend Herald about parental guidance in career choices.

www.allisonfisher.co.nz/articles.htm

How refreshing to hear a teenagers perspective in print on finding their career path. It’s so tempting isn’t it for parents to assert their wisdom and knowledge onto their children. But teenagers at this stage of their development are very emergent. They are discovering who they are and what interests them.

Parents role is to ask questions, challenge in a non confronting way and be very interested in their teens career interests. What ever you do as a parent don’t step back be involved as teens really need guidance at this time. But guidance that assists them not suppresses or directs. And it’s not easy!

Teen Success

Published on March 23, 2011 by Allison FisherLeave a comment

I was at a party the other night and someone came up to me and told me about a wonderful outcome for a teenager. As an aunt of the lad she had brought her nephew to me 5 years ago so that he could find out about himself in order to get a direction in life. He had a troubled up bringing and really didn’t have a lot of confidence. His aunt and I both threw heaps of positives at him focusing on his natural talents. Through the career process once he got some clarity on a possible path he did a years course in design at UNITEC which affirmed for him that he could do it and that it was in the right direction then went on to do a 4 year design degree at Massey! Wow that is amazing and wonderful that a boy who may not have succeeded was able to get on track and make himself successful. 🙂 🙂

Helping your Teenager Choose a Career

Published on October 5, 2010October 5, 2010 by Allison FisherLeave a comment

Do you have a teenager who just doesn’t have a clue about his or her career direction? Maybe they change their minds constantly about what to do when they leave school. And maybe it really bothers your teenager and worries you that they don’t know their career direction. Well I’m just reading Heather Carpenter’s book “The Career Maze”. This is a fantastic resource for parents to support them in assisting teenagers to choose a career path. By the way Heather is well-known within NZ career and business circles. She has a Ph.D in career management and, lectures in this area and creates career tools and programmes for student and community use.

This book assists parents in a practical way on the do’s and don’ts of what to do with teenagers troubled over their first career step out of school. Or a teen who has left school who is studying or working and still not sure of their direction. In the book Heather tells us that research shows that it is parents who are the primary influence on their children’s career decisions. So if that is true parents really do need to be clued up on how to have conversations and interactions with their teens about potential careers. This book provides parents with the steps and skills to facilitate this. However this book is so much more. It provides wonderful information not just on how to deal with teen career choices but the information given could easily be used on how to provide an environment for children that will facilitate them to become self-aware, self loving and fulfilled beings. For instance Heather describes the behaviours that pro-active families exhibit. Areas such as sociability, cohesion, expressiveness, conflict management, family and so on. A truly wonderful resource that every parent should read.

Here is the link to Heather Carpenter’s book The Career Maze

Goals ya think?

Published on January 6, 2010February 4, 2010 by Allison FisherLeave a comment

A friend of mine has just been diagnosed with breast cancer. I can’t imagine what this must be like for her. Having a breast removed must be similar to a man having a testicle removed or even worse! When I write and talk to clients about their goals for 2010, I wonder how does my friend view 2010 and the uncertainty of what is to come? Will she set goals? Don’t get me wrong goals and actions are important to focus on, to ensure we are living our best lives possible. That we get everything out of life and give everything to this one life we have. But for some there is sometimes a pause in life – no actually for many there is a pause in life where the every day is transcended by a bigger event. What then? It must be very tempting to stop put everything on hold and only manage the crisis. My friend is a survivor, she is and will be a breast cancer survivor and she has barely faultered in her focus in life and continuing to achieve what she wants. She is carefully managing her life for this period of time to ensure she gets through this in the best possible way emotionally, physically, mentally and spiritually. She is an inspiration to us all to keep going, to keep focused, to not give up even when life passes us a dumb by pass in our journey.
So stop it those of you out there who are a bit slippery on those actions and goals for what you want. Get out there do it – there are many that do not have the opportunity or have insurmountable barriers to keep going and go forward. Take the first step and make a decision to set some goals for 2010 that will make you happy!
After all what is life for? If my friend in the face of adversity can keep going then you can too.