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Career Exploration 101: Counseling Curriculum for 9th & 10th Graders

Overview

This project focused on introducing high school students to the world of careers through the Holland Codes. I implemented a curriculum that was grounded in student need, driven by data, and designed to be engaging and relevant to students' futures.

The project included three key phases:

  1. Needs Assessment

  2. Career Exploration Lesson

  3. Data-Driven Results

Identifying What Students Really Need

Before creating my lesson, I surveyed 9th and 10th graders about their academic habits, emotional well-being, and college/career readiness. The results revealed:

  • Students weren’t sure how to find resources for life after high school

  • Many had little idea of what career paths fit their interests

  • Most had never used a career assessment tool

This insight was key to developing a relevant and supportive lesson.

Career Exploration 101: Lesson Highlights

In response to the data, I designed a 45-minute interactive lesson titled "Career Exploration 101." The lesson aligned with the ASCA Mindsets and Behaviors:

  • M6: Understanding the value of postsecondary education

  • B-LS 4: Self-direction and motivation

  • B-LS 5: Use of media/technology for learning

Key components of the lesson included:

  • A dynamic Canva presentation introducing Holland Codes

  • A hands-on career assessment activity using O*Net Interest Profiler

  • Fun interactive tools like the "Wheel of Names" for participation and understanding

  • Guided discussion on career options, interests, and personality fit


👩‍🎓 Students reached: 34 total (17 in 9th grade, 17 in 10th grade)

How Much Did Students Learn?

To evaluate the effectiveness of the lesson, I used pre/post surveys measuring changes in student attitude, knowledge, and skills.

Key Results:

Pre-Survey & Post-Survey Percentage (%) Increase:

Attitude (importance of career exploration) - Pre: 32.4% strongly agree Post: 48.5% strongly agree 🔼 50%

Knowledge (tool for career assessment) - Pre: 21% correct Post: 76% correct 🔼 262%

Skills (interpreting assessment results) - Pre: 41% correct Post: 67% correct 🔼 63%

💬 Students left with a stronger understanding of:

  • What Holland Codes are

  • How to navigate career resources

  • How their interests align with real career paths

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Implications:

This lesson highlighted the importance of integrating career exploration early in high school. The data suggests that structured, interactive lessons can improve student readiness and confidence around post-secondary planning.

Data 

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