Mandy Marchant: School-to-Work Transitions

I thought this chapter about school-to-work transitions was depressingly, especially since I am currently looking for a summer job, as well as concerned about getting a teaching position when I complete education in one year. It made reading this chapter un-enjoyable and hard to get through because I had little interest about the topic. I get the question, "Are you not concerned about getting a teaching job?" all the time that it is now a constant worry and I had no motivation to learn about statics that reinforce that concern because I am not oblivious to the job prospects out there. I liked the discussion about the important of experimental learning, which is what our practicum is. In my opinion, you learn about valuable theories and obtain a bunch of knowledge while you are in school but it is through practical education that you learn just as much, if not more about your study field. I appreciate having the opportunity to practice teaching alongside a teacher so they can give critique and praise where applicable, as well as model what I should be doing when I have the opportunity to be a teacher. I liked the recognition of the struggle that first generation university students face. Both of my parents did not attend university so I have been on my own when it comes to applying for faculties, scholarships, loans, figuring out classes, etc because my parents had zero knowledge in the subject area. I also think there is a different advantage for students who are going into professions that their parents are in. Students will have fewer resources and connections than students who do have parents in the same profession. I found it interesting that one in three obtained jobs is from previous connections and this statistic reinforced my drive for constantly putting myself out there at every opportunity possible.

Discussion Question: For those of you who have had experience in the workforce full-time, do you think it was more difficult coming back to school versus if you had come to post-secondary school right out of high school? Or vice versa?