SSSD, aiming to inform parents…
PHILIPSBURG – The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) is hosting a free workshop for parents of secondary students entitled “Looking Beyond: Helping your Child with Career Choices.” Parents of secondary students, especially graduating students, are encouraged to attend. This workshop will be held on April 18, 2019, at the University of St. Martin from 7:00 pm to 8:00 pm.
As a child grows they become aware of various professions or vocations and they begin to envision themselves doing certain work. “The initial interests in a particular career may manifest in a child as a result of direct exposure to that field (by a parent or loved one) or even natural ability or inclinations,” says SSSD officials. These interests or affinities develop at various stages throughout the child’s life.
As a child’s work identity begins to develop, career exploration becomes necessary. Children are expected to have an idea of what career path they would like to pursue by the time they graduate from high school. For some students, this may come quickly and naturally; however, for some, it can be a bit more challenging. Parents can then step in to provide much-needed guidance and support during this time.
According to SSSD officials, the goal of this workshop is to emphasize to parents that they play an integral role in their child’s career development. During this workshop parents will come to understand the role that they play in guiding and supporting their children as they explore various career options. It should also be noted that parents may display behaviors that influence their children in both positive and negative ways. The workshop will also highlight this while focusing on useful tips for parents to guide their child through this sometimes exciting, sometimes confusing process in a healthy way.
“Guiding a child towards achieving long term success is a collective societal effort. Therefore, as a result of this workshop, we hope to first convince parents that they play a key role in assisting their child with their career choices, and second to equip them with the necessary tools towards that end,” says SSSD officials.
The “Looking Beyond: Helping Your Child with Career Choices” workshop will be held at the University of St. Martin from 7:00 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Persons interested in attending are urged to contact the SSSD’s office at 543-1235 and ask to speak to one of the Career Guidance Counselors to reserve a spot as space is limited.
The Student Support Services Division (SSSD) provides services to students referred by various schools on St. Maarten. These services include psychological services, counseling services, social work services, speech-language pathology services, educational diagnostic services, crisis intervention etc. SSSD also provides career services and parent education/information sessions.
