Question: When is the right age for children to begin focusing on a career? The counselors at our children's middle school have a program to help the students become more aware of the career choices available to them. The eighth-graders are even being asked to identify a career path so they can take electives to bolster their interests. This seems awfully early to me, as so many college freshmen scarcely have an idea of what they would like to be. What do you think? -- Career Decisions
Answer: For a long time, middle-schools have had the exploration of careers as part of their curriculum. This is not new. The idea is sound. It lets children in middle school see the vast range of career options that exist. And it has the added benefit of letting them see the level of education required for different careers and can help them make better academic decisions in high school.
Furthermore, the earlier children explore careers, the longer they have to explore a variety of careers and narrow their choices. In addition, it may influence students who are likely to drop out to stay in school in order to gain the training needed for a specific career.