When Lynae DeGravel graduated from high school with a career choice in mind, little did she know she would change her decision even before taking her first college class. What’s more, DeGravel would change her mind several times before confidently settling into studies to support her goal of becoming an elementary school teacher.

“Starting out at Johnson County Community College, I wasn’t sure exactly what career path I wanted to go down so I talked to some of the counselors,” DeGravel said. “One of them recommended the Choices Workshop to get a general idea of what fields I would be interested in. Then I could try to narrow something down from that.”

The JCCC Choices Workshop helps students make satisfying educational decisions through self-assessment and career exploration that support individual educational and life goals. DeGravel participated in the workshop, and she was pleasantly surprised.

“I thought it would be someone telling me what field I need to go into, but it wasn’t that at all,” she said. “The workshop provides you with a list of many careers that your self-assessment test scores said you’d be interested in. It is really helpful. The workshop leaders don’t try to push you to any one particular thing. They encourage you to look over the recommendations to see what you like. Then they suggest you go back to talk to a counselor to see what you need to do to get on the right track to reach the goal you want.”

For DeGravel, she realized after taking the Choices Workshop that she wanted to teach, particularly elementary education. Seeing how her face lights up as she talks about her career choice further supports the fact that she’s made the right choice.

“I love kids,” she said. “I love working with them and helping them. It’s always a joy seeing their faces when they learn new things. They get so excited about learning new concepts. They absolutely love it. ”

DeGravel said her successes at JCCC would not be possible had it not been for the Choices Workshop. She jokes that she might still be changing her major had it not been for the direction she received from the Choices Workshop and JCCC faculty and staff.

“I realized that no matter how many times you change your major, there’s always going to be someone there to help you … the counselors, the teachers and even the Choices Workshop,” DeGravel said. “No matter what, you can do whatever you want. That’s just been awesome for me.”

The free two-session, four-hour Choices Workshop is designed to guide students through the beginning stages of the career decision-making process. It is offered monthly (daytime and evening) for JCCC traditional-aged students (ages 17-25) and high school second semester junior/senior students. Interest, personality and values career assessments are included.  
 
Beginning fall 2010, JCCC will also offer free evening Choices Workshops (two-session, six-hour format) for returning adult JCCC students deciding on a college major or career.
 
Sign-up options are: (1) in-person at the Career Development Center, second floor of the Student Center, (2) by phone at 913-469-3870, and (3) online via the Career Development Center website.