Our experience has found that it is invaluable to have a “navigation team” on your career journey—a few key people to turn to for support, practical advice, honest feedback, and sometimes even a little cheerleading along the way. Your navigation team should be made up of people with a variety of qualities: people you admire, people whose advice you trust, people who will listen to your ideas, people who are successful, and people who will help you whenever you are stuck or in an emergency.

Your team might be made up of parents, friends, teachers/professors, mentors, counselors, coaches, or professionals in your future career field. Sometimes these people simply emerge at the right time, and sometimes you need to seek them out to help ensure your success in accomplishing your dreams.

Connect with the Best People, Assemble Your Personal Network, and Navigate Successfully to Your Dream Career!

You can download it for free here: http://www.scribd.com/doc/68564657/Navigation-Team-Action-Guide

The aim of the scholarship is to award students who are passionate about figuring out or confirming what they want to do with their lives college and career-wise, and who wish to use their gap year to “test drive” their future choices. The scholarship is connected to the Test Drive Your Future™ program, which teaches high school students, college students, and gap year students how to make clear, confident, and conscious career choices.

Last year’s scholarship winner was Amanda Brinegar who participated in a gap year with Global Citizen Year in Senegal, Africa. Amanda was chosen as the 2010 scholarship winner because her essay most strongly demonstrated her drive and determination to use her gap year to “test drive” a few possible ways that she might be able to contribute to the world in her own unique way.

To be eligible for the scholarship, a student must be a US citizen, have graduated from high school, and will be eighteen to twenty-five years old during his/her gap year experience.

The program directors are hoping the scholarship program will expand next year to accommodate a greater number of scholarships awarded. Runners-up will receive free access to an upcoming multi-media e-course called The Test Drive Experience (estimated value $200.)

The Test Drive Your Future Gap Year Scholarship is sponsored by A Little Bit More Fun, Inc, a Hawaii-based lifestyle products company that produces guidebooks and other items to help make life and life decisions a little more fun.

Students who wish to apply can learn more at http://testdriveyourfuture.com/gap-year-scholarships/ Any questions can be directed to Beth or Jim Hood at admin@testdriveyourfuture.com.

GPS Gal: What’s your current course of study? What degree will you graduate with?

Jessica: I am about to graduate with a general associate of arts degree. I am taking a “gap year” following that, which may turn into a career. However, if I go back to school after that, I will major in communications.

GPS Gal: How long is your program of study? Where are you going to school?

Jessica: I’m getting a 2-year degree at Rogue Community College. I may take some language classes during my gap year as I will be in Spain. I hope to eventually go back to school for two or more years.

GPS Gal: Why did you choose this subject/career path? How did you make this choice?

Jessica: I have always loved writing, and I started professionally writing when I was 17. I also love learning about culture and how people communicate. I didn’t really choose my subject; it chose me. I was just sitting at home one night last year thinking about the things I like to study and do, when COMMUNICATIONS hit me!

GPS Gal: What’s the most interesting thing about what you are learning?

Jessica: I love learning about different societies and cultures and how they communicate differently.

GPS Gal: What are you planning to do with your studies? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

Jessica: For my gap year, I will be an au pair in Spain. I would like to continue being an au pair for several years after as a way to earn money and travel to different countries. I am also currently freelance writing, and I hope that my adventures will make my writing career even better. In 5 years, I see myself travelling the world for humanitarian causes and writing about it.

GPS Gal: How important is it to you that you enjoy your job or career in the future? Did you consider this when you made this choice?

Jessica: I once read a book called “Fire Your Boss”. While I liked some of the tips, the book told me to hate my job because I would eventually have to quit or be fired anyway. I didn’t like the philosophy. I know that sometimes I’ll have to take some time to LEARN to love my job, but I want to feel comfortable in my work instead of feeling like a sellout.

GPS Gal: How did you choose your college? What 5 elements were the most important to you?

Jessica: 1. Money- I was accepted into a good school and even got a bit of a scholarship, but I still couldn’t afford it. Don’t bash community colleges- they’re great for people short on money and often provide many of the resources that universities have. 2. Distance- Seriously, why waste time and gas money to go somewhere far away when you can enjoy local comforts? 3. Opportunities- I don’t recommend schools that only have two or three majors because you will probably change your mind sometime during college. Keep your options open. 4. Resources- My college in connected to a nearby university (both schools even share one of the buildings), which makes transferring easy. Things like tutoring centers, computer labs, and easy-to-reach advisors are also important to me. I guess I can think of a 5th element, but if you come up with your own element, it should be something that is meaningful to you!

GPS Gal: Do you have any piece of advice for girls in high school who are preparing to go to college about their educational or career choices?

Jessica: Keep your feet on the ground (i.e. only go to a school where you can eventually pay off the tuition and don’t major in something where there is no future) but dream big. You can take others’ advice, but ultimately you don’t have to listen to anyone else. Go after your own goals, one step at a time.

GPS Gal: Do you have a mission (sense of purpose) for you life? If you could put it into a mission statement what would it be?

Jessica: I always say I have a mission, but I can’t really put it into words. I’m a Christian, so “serve God” is the preamble of my mission, but what I do beyond that always changes. In one chapter of my life, it may mean to study hard and get good grades. In another chapter, it may mean to reach out to those in need.

GPS Gal: Thank you, Jessica. We wish you all the best in your travels and hope that you find many wonderful things to write about!

Visit Girlzone.com for more interviews with the GPS Gal.

“I would like to be a zoologist or a chef. I love animals and cooking, which one?”

I love questions like this because it’s fun to explore different types of careers, especially ones that you don’t hear about everyday, like a zoologist! What a very broad spectrum of interests you have! Let’s explore them in three different ways:

One of the first things I have my students do when they are looking at different careers is to look at the facts. I have a few different places on the internet that I go to get information about careers. One of my favorite new places is a website called www.iseek.com. This is actually a website that is specific to Minnesota (and no, I don’t live in Minnesota—I actually live in Hawaii!) but it has so much great information that is super clearly laid out, that it’s totally worth a visit. So lets see what iSeek says about the two careers you are considering. We’ll look at a couple different categories and you can look at the rest when you have time.

Here are the links for each career on iSeek:
Zoologist
Chef or Dinner Cook

1. Preparation- what skills and training will you need?

To be a chef or dinner cook:You must have a high school diploma or GED; complete formal training; complete on-the-job training, have a good sense of taste and smell; and have the ability to work as part of a team. To be a zoologist or wildlife biologist: You must have a high school diploma or GED; complete at least a bachelor’s degree in a biological science, have excellent oral and written communication skills; and be self-motivated. Think about what kind of training you want to get, do you have the drive to get a four year bachelor’s degree, and maybe even a PhD? Consider the different skills that are required—what skills are you most interested in using?

2. Outlook- how many people are employed in these careers and where?

There are 914,160 people employed as chefs or cooks in the entire United States whereas there are only 19,530 people who are employed as zoologists. So this might mean that there are less jobs out there (ie. you would have to work a little harder to make it in this field- does that sound like a good challenge to you?) There is also a higher concentration of zoologists in certain parts of the US like Alaska, Wyoming, Montana, Oregon, and Washington. Is there a part of the country that you are pretty sure you want to live in?

3. Wage- how much money would you be able to make in this career?

Money isn’t everything, but this is another area where there is quite a discrepancy between these two careers. Zoologists on average earn $60,670/year whereas chefs earn $38,770/year. This could make a difference to you based on what kind of lifestyle you are hoping to achieve in the future.

Now keep in mind that facts don’t always add up, so it’s always a good idea to combine multiple factors when you are trying to make a decision about something as important as a career. You want to keep in mind what type of skills you have the aptitude for (meaning you are naturally prone to learning these skills), what your interests are, and what matters to you most in life. And one of the best ways (you’ll hear me say it again and again) to make a decision about which career would be a good fit for you is to test drive it!

Volunteering at a zoo or wildlife refuge would be an amazing way to gain skills for this career and really test out your interest in this field. Likewise working a part-time or summer job in a restaurant as soon as you are old enough to, would give you the inside scoop about what type of work environment you’d encounter as a chef. Try out a cooking class, start making a meal for your family once a week, maybe even see if you could be their “head chef” and lead your family members or friends to make a meal together! Oh, also check out a previous GPS Gal interview with Bianca who went to culinary school to be a chef. She’s now in Germany actually working in a restaurant!

Click here to read other GPS gal posts on Girlzone.

I am studying to be a Certified Substance Abuse Counselor. When I’m finished with the school I will need to complete 6000 hours of actual work in the field then I will be able to take the test to become a CSAC.

Where are you going to school? How long is your program of study?

I attend the Pacific Academy of the Healing Arts. The program is 270 clock hours of classroom study plus 400 hours of work experience. The courses are offered one day a week for a full year, but half of the courses can be completed online.

How did you choose your college? What 5 elements were the most important to you?

An ad in the paper caught my eye. After meeting the owner/instructor, it just felt like a fit. The most important thing to me was that the instructors and I get along. Also, the length of the course, how in depth each course would be, the cost and what I could do with the Certification after finishing.

Why did you choose this subject/career path? How did you make this choice?

The longer I lived in Hawaii the more I knew something needed to be done with all the drug abuse I was seeing but was not sure what I could do until one day I saw an ad in the Tribune saying “We can change the world”. I called and met with the two instructors and knew this was for me. After talking with them and reading about their vision for the Big Island I had to start and here I am.

What’s the most interesting thing about what you are learning?

Oh so many things: the many different types of counseling there are, relapse prevention, early intervention, professional ethics, diseases, and how to deal with multicultural competency.

What are you planning to do with your studies? Where do you see yourself in 5 years?

I plan to work with the communities on the Big Island to teach them about how to prevent drug abuse in their communities. I hope to have a small practice that will work closely with young children to prevent them from using drugs or alcohol.

How important is it to you that you enjoy your job or career in the future? Did you consider this when you made this choice?

Yes I did consider it and it is important that I enjoy what I am doing. As long as I am helping people I will enjoy my job.

Do you have any piece of advice for students in high school who are interested in pursuing a similar career or course of study?

Don’t look at just what you can earn in what you want to do but how your choice will affect your life and the lives of others. Enjoy what you do and also give your all to what you do.

Do you have a mission (sense of purpose) for you life? If you could put it into a mission statement what would it be?

I would like to help children, families, and communities by leading them or showing them the way to prevent and recover from the use of drugs and alcohol in their lives.

I felt called to use my gifts in the service of children. I also grew up in a family of teachers. So, I guess its a little bit of nature and nurture.

Did you have to go to college in order to be in this career? If yes, what did you study?

Yes! I received my BA in Spanish and Elementary Education. I just finished my Masters in Educational Administration.

What’s the most interesting or challenging thing about your job?

As a 6th grade English Teacher at an international school in Mexico, I’m teaching in a different country than my own. There are many cultural differences that can be both interesting and challenging. Also, working with extremely fortunate (wealthy) students can be challenging when I try to help them broaden their perspective and see more of the world. Sometimes I feel frustrated when I can’t get through to my students. I feel like I haven’t really done my job well.

Do you think it’s important for people to choose a job or career that they think they will love?

I think people should definitely choose a career they will love. However, I think that its important to love life, first and foremost, that way they can enjoy everything they do. A job/career doesn’t determine your happiness and love for life.

Can you briefly describe what you do on an average day in your career?

I design activities that allow students to work independently or in small and large groups. They develop their English capabilities through reading, writing, speaking and listening. I also work collaboratively with my colleagues on administrative requirements of our program and designing potential activities.

Do you have any piece of advice for students in high school who are interested in pursuing a similar career

Remember that being a teacher isn’t only loving kids. You need to be able to separate your life from your work. Remember that, in any profession, you will work with people who you don’t like and you won’t always agree with your boss!

Do you have a mission (sense of purpose) for your life? If you could put it into a mission statement what would it be?

If you want peace, work for justice. -Pope Paul VI
Be the change you wish to see in the world. -Ghandi

I’ve never been great at academics, and I wasn’t very successful in high school. I knew something in the arts was more my strength, and I had been doing my own hair and friends hair (and my Barbie’s hair) for years, so I thought I’d give it a shot.

Did you go to college in order to be in this career?

I graduated with a license in cosmetology from the Gene Juarez Academy in Seattle, Washington. The program was roughly 13-14 months, with a total of 1600 hours clocked in.

How did you choose your college?

Well, I did a quarter year of college at Bellevue College and I really enjoyed it and took mostly art courses. When it came time to sign up for the next quarter and I realized I was going to have to take math and science courses… I was not so excited. That’s when I decided on beauty school.

What’s the most interesting thing about your job?

Definitely the people I’m meeting. I’ve heard so many different stories, and have met some really interesting people that I wouldn’t have normally come across. I’m currently working as a stylist at a children’s salon and I love it! Working with kids has always been a passion of mine. Eventually, by the time I own a house, I would love to do hair out of my home and still keep a couple days a week at the kids’ salon.

How important is it to you that you enjoy your job or career in the future? Did you consider this when you made this choice?

If I don’t enjoy something, I don’t do it. So the fact that I’m in this industry is pretty much crucial to my financial well being. I love interacting with people, and having my hands in people’s hair is where they belong. I don’t know if I could see myself ever doing anything else.

Do you have any piece of advice for students in high school who are interested in pursuing a similar career or course of study?

Don’t do what everyone expects of you, do what you want to do. I felt like I was a disappointment for not choosing to go to college, but now that I’m done with school I knew it was the best choice for me, and now I’m 20 years old and starting my career! Follow your passion!

Do you have a mission (sense of purpose) for you life? If you could put it into a mission statement what would it be?

Do what makes you happy, and you’ll make the people around you happy.

I was the kind of kid who spent all my free time in the natural world. I have always felt most connected when I am exploring in the woods or along a stream, usually covered in mud with wet shoes. I was the one who organized all the neighborhood kids to do a trash clean-up, and everywhere I have ever lived, (which is lots of places), I have volunteered with environmental groups. I became a science teacher, and worked with kids in the classroom for 16 years, on the Mainland, in Japan, and in Hawaiʻi. My favorite thing as a science teacher was going on field trips and doing environmental service projects. So, I guess it is natural that I eventually found my way into a job in conservation.

Did you have to go to college in order to be in this career?

Yes. I studied Science Education as an undergraduate, then 18 years later, Tropical Conservation Biology as a graduate student.

What’s the most interesting or challenging thing about your job?

Not a day goes by that I don’t learn something new. No day is like any other!

Is there any part of your job that you don’t enjoy?

Dealing with bureaucratic junk like filling out forms and writing safety procedures for walking in mud. Seriously!

Do you think it’s important for people to choose a job or career that they think they will love? Did you consider this when you made your career choice?

Yes! I feel we MUST do what we love. We were put here on this earth to make it better, to learn something that can become a larger part of human understanding.

Can you briefly describe what you do on an average day in your career?

Every day is different! Here are three different sorts of days that I have now:
1. Office Day – writing grant proposals, editing an Environmental Assessment, making maps on GIS, writing plans.
2. Field Day – setting up plots, flagging trails, GPSing species locations, taking photos, checking a fence line, weeding.
3. Outreach Day – creating a brochure, planning a nature camp, giving a presentation to a community group, taking a club on a field trip.

Do you have any piece of advice for students in high school who are interested in pursuing a similar career or course of study?

Follow your heart with all your heart, and the details will fall into place. I’m sure there are many people like me who want to work in an environmental career because they have a passion for protecting the natural world that they love. Don’t get distracted from that goal. You CAN combine your passion with your work.

Do you have a mission (sense of purpose) for your life? If you could put it into a mission statement what would it be?

Let us then try what love can do.

I was ready for a change from my previous job in retail and found the wonderful family that I work for through a mutual friend. I was not looking to be a nanny, but have always loved kids and this just seemed like a good change.

Did you have to go to college in order to be in this career?

I did go to college for four years, but so far my German degree is not being used.

What’s the most interesting or challenging thing about your job?

I get to watch two wonderful little boys grow and learn and help them along the way. The youngest son is three and has had issues with delayed speech. We have been working with him with therapists over the last year to help him and it is amazing to see the leaps and bounds he has made. I didn’t study child development in college, but I feel I am getting a “hands-on” lesson daily. It is so fun to see how this child has dealt with these issues and overcome them.

Do you think it’s important for people to choose a job or career that they think they will love? Did you consider this when you made your career choice?

I do think it is important to try to find a job you enjoy because that is where you are going to be spending a great deal of your time and if you can find someplace you enjoy being, then the fact that you are working doesn’t really matter.

When I decided to take this job I found it so appealing because I knew that I wanted to have kids of my own soon and thought this would be a great way to “test the waters”. I am so lucky to have found a family who has welcomed me, and my baby, back after my maternity leave. So not only do I get to work with the two little boys again, but I can bring my own little one with me. This is the best of both worlds as far as I am concerned.

Can you briefly describe what you do on an average day in your career?

My job is a mix of chauffeur, maid, mom, cook, teacher and playmate. No two days are the same.

Do you have any piece of advice for students in high school who are interested in pursuing a similar career?

I would say be sure you find a family where you feel comfortable with the parents as well as the children. You are going to play a very important role in these children’s lives and you need to be able to communicate effectively with them and their parents.

Do you have a mission (sense of purpose) for your life? If you could put it into a mission statement what would it be?

It is my goal to help raise healthy, happy, polite children and to give them a sense of security while their parents are away at work.