Making a final career choice can be a scary time for anyone, especially for students. Do you remember when you made that final decision to pursue your career in the Beauty & Wellness industry? How did you feel sitting your parents or a family member down and telling them you want to go to “beauty school”? Do you recall what type of response you received? More than likely you might have received a few negative responses. Even if we didn’t receive negative feedback, we might have struggled with the little internal voice that fills our heads with doubt or uncertainty.
Many new professionals struggle with that little internal voices; “is this career path right for me?” “Will my friends and family support my decision?” “What about any social stigma’s about pursuing a trade vs. a career that requires a college degree?” These are just a few examples of the thoughts that might be haunting your students.
It’s human nature for us to want to be accepted, to be supported and to be recognized. When we receive that acceptance, it provides us with that stamp of approval, that we so desire. That stamp of approval reassures us that we made the correct decision.
As master educators, we know, that when it comes to career choices, not everybody is going to give us that stamp of approval! Friends and family members may not support our career choice. As master educators, it’s important that we provide our students with our “stamp of approval,” but more importantly that we empower them to take ownership of their career choice.
To help empower your students to take ownership of their career choices, I suggest you try incorporating the “YOU ARE…” mantra activity in your classroom.
#1: Share with your students that the only person that needs to believe in their choices is themselves! Owning their career path is essential to their success and that they should stop seeking other people’s approval. To help them do this, they should use the “YOU ARE…” mantra
#2: Start your day off by repeating the following.
“You are…”
- YOU ARE in control of your life! Listen to your heart and follow your passions.
- YOU ARE in charge of your own happiness. What makes you happy? Remind yourself, why you chose a career path in the beauty and wellness industry.
- YOU ARE in control of your own success. Your friends and family are not in control of your success. Take full ownership of your career path. Own it!
By starting their day off with one of these powerful mantras can help students quite that internal voice of doubt and uncertainty.