Jacquelyn Morran- Blog 8

Chapter 8 of the textbook discusses school to work transitions. This section is very applicable, as we are working towards our teaching credentials in the hopes of getting jobs as teachers in the next couple of years. The discussion of the different school-to-work pathways that young people can take was interesting to me, as I really only considered one option for myself- what the text calls "the most promoted route" of high school--post-secondary studies--job. (223) I have literally been in university ever since I graduated high school, with the exception of one term, when I worked because I did my B.A in 3.5 years instead of 3. I was surprised that the text describes up to 20 different pathways. The text goes on to describe the patterns of employment after school, and states that "unemployment rates among young adults are much higher than in the average adult workforce." (239) This statistic worries me as I look forward to my employment opportunities in the future- I do not want to become part of the statistic of unemployed young people! At the same time, it is important to know the reality of the workforce so that we can be prepared for possible challenges to come. Another section of this chapter that is applicable to me is student employment, discussing students who balance work with their education. The text states that "the numbers of students working throughout the year have risen steadily over the past decades," and that this can affect academic performance. (247) I did not work for my first couple years of university, and even volunteered in the summers, but eventually the expenses of life and school necessitated getting a job. Granted, I have a job that I love, but it can be hard at times to me going to school and working and just balancing the general stresses of life. I thought this chapter was both useful and somewhat worrying because transition periods can be very difficult, and we are about to enter the transition from school to work.

Discussion question: do you worry about the challenges of finding a job once we graduate?