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The same question plagues students across campus and the variety of possible answers weighs heavily on their minds each day as their graduation date looms closer.
“What do you plan on doing with your life?” Dr. Isabelle Boisclair, a psychologist from the Counseling Center, asked, “What are your interests, your talents?”
These questions, and many others, were looked at and sometimes answered in a workshop that Boisclair and Dr. April Boulier, also of the Counseling Center, put on, called “Getting to Know You: Career and Identity Workshop.”
The workshop, which took place Wedneday, Feb. 20, from 10 a.m. until noon, in the private dining room of Stewart Commons, focused on how people can look at their own personal experiences and interests and determine what may be a good academic and career choice for them.
“Thirty percent of all college students are classified as undeclared,” Boulier said. “This workshop is for those who truly don’t know where they are going, not only in life, but here in school as well.”
The program began with a brief introduction and an opening, ice-breaker exercise. Each person was asked to describe their ideal weekend. They had to focus on essentially what, who and where makes them most happy.
Boulier then discussed peoples mistakes.
“I’ve never made a wrong decision in my life,” Boulier said.
She said this means that people shouldn’t live with regrets, only learning experiences.
Boisclair also talked about roadblocks in that stand in people’s paths, obstructing them from doing what they truly want to do. The types of roadblocks discussed were things such as lack of skill, concern for other people’s opinions and fear.
“Sometimes it’s frightening to be committed to one choice.” Boisclair said. “It’s scary to think that you may be stuck there forever.”
She went on to say people can change their decisions at any point.
“With the possibilities of today, you’re never truly trapped,” she said. “There are other choices.”
The two women also discussed the importance a person’s values plays in making career decisions. They also looked at the role of a person’s personality and interests.
The workshop finished by offering further resources to look into for more information on the career search.
“Remember, if you want to follow up on all of this, the Career Center is here on campus,” Boulier said. “They can help you.”
Monday’s meeting was the first of a series of workshops dealing with success and well-being that the Counseling Center is putting on this semester.
Other topics that will be covered include dealing with grief and loss, anger and stress management, developing healthy relationships and anxiety reduction. Each workshop requires registration 24 hours prior to the event. To register or for information contact the Counseling Center at 581-1392.
Bangor Daily News