Career Exploration

Girls in early adolescence are at a critical juncture in their lives as they begin to solidify their sense of who they are, what their interests are, and what they can become.  Before and during middle school, youth form strong and long-lasting ideas about what they believe they are capable of doing.  Girls in middle school and high school, for example, often report lower levels of self-efficacy in math and science than boys their age and thus opt out of higher-level courses. This decision can have a significant impact on their career options, especially in high demand areas like the STEM careers (science, technology, engineering, and math) that require higher levels of math and science.

While many adults, including career development professionals, think of middle school as too early to begin career exploration and education, research has shown that it is precisely during these years that girls (and boys) begin to explore occupations and develop occupational aspirations and expectations.  We work with girls at this crucial time in their development and engage them in tasks and activities that can enhance their development and give them skills and experiences that result in personal accomplishment and successful completion.

Learn more about our career exploration services by contacting Nadine Budbill at (802) 622-0400, ext. 151.