VOCATION, VOCATION, VOCATION

PROGRAMME 9: REMI

Remi is 17 years old and doing five A/S-levels at school, including French, which she is studying at lunchtimes to fit it in. From an Afro-Caribbean background, Remi feels very strongly about breaking the stereotypical images people have of what girls from her background should do. She wants her family to be really proud of whatever she does in the future, and she thinks that medicine would be a good career choice. This is partly based on having visited her grandmother in hospital for a long period and on the desire to help people.

However, Remi also wants to use her languages – particularly French, which she really loves. She is not that keen on going to university because she is very worried about the financial burden and how she would pay back any loans.

Unsure what to choose, Remi talks to a life coach and a careers specialist who set her a series of challenges to help her decide what to do next and to choose something that will really suit her personality and skills, and that she will love.

PROGRAMME AIMS

• To illustrate how to make a decision between two options
• To help students understand the difference between getting a job and having a real vocation they feel passionate about
• To highlight the importance of talking to people who are actually working in the job or on the course that a student is interested in
• To encourage students to examine what motivates them about their careers
• To demonstrate the importance of gaining real experience in the work place
• To look at the financial implications of going to university
• To stress the role of individual careers guidance.