Tag: purpose

Aptitudes, Interests, Skills and Giftings: How are you wired?

Before beginning the process of searching for colleges or skill training in a technical field, it is helpful and informative for your student to spend some time in self-reflection and possibly complete a few different aptitude, interests and gifting tests.

Aptitudes: capability; ability; innate or acquired capacity for something; “natural ability to learn or perform in given areas” regardless of exposure or environment

I use YouScience.com to help students learn more about how they are innately wired, how their interests guide their calling, and how this combined knowledge can inform their career and major research.

YouScience’s Aptitude and Career Discovery application “uses a series of 11 engaging exercises or ‘brain games’ to measure 9 aptitudes that are key to career performance: idea generation, numerical reasoning, spatial visualization, sequential reasoning, inductive reasoning, visual comparison speed, timeframe orientation, vocabulary, and work approach. The results include a review of your strengths, suggested careers that best fit your aptitudes and interests, and detailed information on over 500 careers including a personal fit analysis, job responsibilities, salaries, job forecasts, and educational pathways.”

“What’s YouScience? | Discover careers perfect for you” from YouScience on Vimeo:  https://vimeo.com/647002647

I also use a the free SHAPE Test to help students understand how their spiritual gifts, heart (passions), abilities (skills), personality and experiences do shape their purpose and calling in life as well.

The YouScience and SHAPE Test are best for students 14 years and older. To begin the conversation, though, with middle school students, I use a free Career Interest Survey. This allows the student to begin to see how they are uniquely wired with strengths and interests that eventually may lead to a career path and purpose for their lives.

For it was You who created my inward parts; You knit me together in my mother’s womb. I will praise You because I have been fearfully and wonderfully made. Your eyes saw me when I was formless; all my days were written in Your book and planned before a single one of them began.    PSALM 139:13, 14a, 16

Every person has a unique purpose and calling on their lives that are God-given. Our family, our experiences in life (both good and bad), our strengths and weaknesses, our innate abilities and aptitudes that have been wired into us before our birth, have purpose and intention. Finding that purpose and to see our calling applied is a gift and a worthwhile pursuit.

I can help advise students on their academic plans for both high school and post-high school, whether military, career, tech school, 2-yr college, or 4-yr university. This includes career and major research, as well as, college research that best aligns with their unique wiring.

YouScience program and one hour Consultation

To utilize my services in this process, you can purchase (at a discounted rate) the YouScience and Consultation meeting, or it can be completed as part of the College and Career Prep Course for your juniors and seniors.

If you are looking for more in-depth assistance, feel free to contact me: sharianne@ccctoolbox.com to discuss my one-on-one academic advising options that might be the best fit for your family.

Planning for a New School Year

A man’s heart plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps. Proverbs 16:9

Summertime has typically been my favorite time for planning my homeschooling for the upcoming year. Overtime, you will find what works for you, but here are some suggestions that have helped me and my family over the years.

A great place to start is considering the past year regardless of where your student(s) attended school: public, private or homeschool. For my first step, I spent some time evaluating where each of my kids were socially, academically, spiritually, and physically. Then, I would prayerfully determine where we needed to make changes or stay the course from the previous year. This process would enable me to set new goals and plan opportunities that would meet their needs or our families’ needs for the new school year.

My next step would be to purchase a desk calendar (or use a digital version), typically August-July, and map out our vacations, holidays, and special trips to visit family. Then, I would block out 36 weeks for school. Most curriculum and schools use a 36 week calendar (or 180 days).

Next, I would consider co-ops, sports, music or art lessons, college calendars, clubs or groups that take into account each child’s unique bent and needs. If I knew when lessons, teams, co-ops, or classes met for the year (or when the season began and ended), then I would add those to the annual calendar.

Finally, the most practical step for me each year was using the Weekly Planner worksheet (included here for your use). First, I would block out family commitments, chores, church, and family time. In order to stay organized with 4 kids, each one would have their own color. I would color code blocks with each of their lessons, practices, youth groups or clubs, and classes. At last, I mapped out when we would home school during each day. If we didn’t have enough time to get our school work done, then back to the drawing board I would go.

With high schoolers, we became a little more structured with the core subjects (math, science, history, English and foreign languages) and needed electives that take more time. By considering each student’s graduation plan (those requirements needed by colleges and those required by our family’s goals), I could make a schedule that included driver’s education, community service, dual credit and jobs, as well.

Just remember, this is just a blue print, and every year, we encountered changes to our plans. “Best laid plans of mice and men . . .” always comes to my mind with a little chuckle.

It is important, and sometimes difficult, to remember to include the LORD in the process. He can bring direction, wisdom, and insight. Throughout the years, God has been my constant adviser. Only He knows what the year will hold and will faithfully prepare you for it.

If you would like more ideas, tips and tricks on planning, and even organization, plan on attending any of my upcoming seminars and workshops. Need more one-on-one help, see my Academic Advising link in the menu or email me at sharianne@ccctoolbox.com to discuss the different options.

Spiritual Gifts and Calling

Unique. Purposeful. We are all unique in our aptitudes, gifting, talents, skills, experiences, and passions. We all have a purpose and calling on our lives.

As students begin the process of researching next steps post graduation, I recommend taking some time to understand spiritual gifts and how those gifts and individual experiences inform his/her personal calling, vocation, and future service.

One of my favorite resources has been the S.H.A.P.E. test and materials by Eric Reese: SHAPE: Finding & Fulfilling Your Unique Purpose for Life.

The freeshapetest.com assesses Spiritual Gifts, Heart, Abilities, Personality, and Experiences. The results can give students insight into how God has not only ‘knit them together’ but uses all their experiences for the unique plans He has for them.

Though I do not necessarily endorse the other free Bible studies offered on the link above without reviewing each one, I have worked through Mr. Reese’s book as a small group study with a class of high school seniors. It was eye-opening to my seniors to see how God has used every circumstance in their lives, good and bad, to deepen their faith and serve Him and others more intentionally.

At minimum, the results, which can be emailed back to the student and parent or church leader, can initiate conversations as students plan their community service in high school, career goals, majors and their purposes for higher education.

If you are looking for more ideas or would like me to work with your student personally on assessing their gifts and calling, feel free to contact me: sharianne@ccctoolbox.com