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According to Edwards and Bloland (1990), exploring leisure activities during career development is imperative in creating a balance one's life.

This concept is important for parents to understand because children need to have a way to release their pent up energy and a way to manage their emotions through extra-curricular activities. Below you will find a website that will help you explore different options.

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As kids get back into the groove of school, many families are also adjusting to new schedules which include practice times and weekend games for extracurricular activities. Whether they choose team sports, dance or scouting, extracurricular activities offer many benefits to children. Studies show that involvement in extracurricular activities raises self-esteem and improves social skills. Some activities offer the obvious benefits of physical fitness and improving teamwork. Others provide students with an outlet for creativity and a means of personal growth. Popular sports such as soccer, football, and track and field are already underway for the fall season. Other kids tend to choose extracurricular activities that are slightly off the beaten path.

Music

Fourteen-year-old Kathryn has played piano for six years and upright bass for three years with her middle school orchestra. In addition, she has worked with the choir at both her school and her church. She recently attended the Inspiration Point Fine Arts Colony in Eureka Springs, Arkansas for a weeklong summer camp offering intensive, individualized instruction in vocal, piano, and string performance. As a first-year participant, she was advised to select one of the three areas in which to focus, and she selected piano. "We received intensive private instruction, in both piano solos and ensembles. We also had to practice sight-reading, which is one of my least favorite things," she admits.

When asked about her favorite camp activity, Kathryn did not hesitate. "I made so many new friends from all over!" Indeed, Kathryn admits that some of her performances didn't go exactly according to plan. "I probably spent a little more of my practice time hanging out with my friends than I should have. My solo night was a little embarrassing, especially since I know that piece backwards and forwards," she says. Still, when asked if she is considering attending again next year, her face cracks into a wide smile. "Absolutely!" she exclaims. "Camp was the time of my life, in spite of the missteps. I can't wait to go back!"

Scouting

In this country, the phrase "Scouting" generally refers to Boy Scouts and Girls Scouts of America. However, other groups such as Camp Fire (www.campfireusa.org) also should be considered. Put simply, the scouting movement supports young men and women in their physical, mental, and spiritual development. What exactly does that entail? As a former Girls Scout leader, I can tell you that there are many different types of troops. (Mine once had a campout at the Waterford Hotel!) I can also tell you that the "campout" was a reward for nearly doubling our goal in a local blood drive that our troop undertook in honor of a critically ill baby in the OKC metro. Regardless of whether your style is more Troop Beverly Hills or "live-off-the-land" Survivor-style, the basic idea of scouting-to leave the world a better place than how you left it-is essentially universal.

Eric, an Edmond native and Eagle Scout, was inspired by his father to begin scouts in the 6th grade. "I love the organization, because it created lifelong memories for me through summer camps, high adventure camps and other group activities," he said. In spite of the wide variety of activities offered, many boys and girls quit participating before reaching the highest honor-Eagle Scout for boys and Gold Award for girls. For Eric, that was never a consideration. "It's such a prestigious honor, and I was determined to achieve it," he says. For his Eagle project, he painted a map of the United States on the playground of an Edmond elementary school-his alma mater. He has since assisted with other Boy Scout projects and plans to continue to be involved.

Pack 21 Assistant Den Leader John Ford of Edmond was a Boy Scout himself and became involved in a leadership role for his son. "My own dad was a scout leader, and I looked forward to our meetings. It was a great opportunity to spend quality time together. It's been great to be a role model for the kids and watch these boys grow into young men," he says.

Wrestling

While many boys grow up wrestling, it isn't every day you find a girl with a similar passion for wrestling. Ashley Sword-Buster began wrestling during her junior year of high school at the urging of her younger brother's wrestling teammates. She tried out for the team when a spot opened up in her weight class, and was the only girl on the team. While her teammates and assistant coach were supportive, the head coach wasn't supportive of having a girl on the team and gave her little encouragement. "I actually won my first high school match by forfeit, because the guy on the opposing team refused to wrestle me," she says with a smirk.

Not only did she participate at the high school level, she won a scholarship and went on to compete at a college level. Currently, 22 colleges and universities have a varsity women's wrestling program, including Oklahoma City University. "It became a little easier mentally when I reached the college level and wasn't the only girl competing. It was nice to know there were more people like me," she says. Ashley even participated in the Olympic Trials in 2008, before suffering a career-ending injury. She went on to get an art degree from Oklahoma City University, but is glad to see the girls' wrestling is growing and gaining support. "There are now three states-Texas, California, and Hawaii-with high-school level girls' wrestling programs. That's a step in the right direction," she says.

No matter what your child's passion is, there is probably an extracurricular program that can satisfy it. If your child's school doesn't offer a program, there are typically options available in the local community to fill those gaps, whether it's horseback riding, art classes, photography or fencing. If you or your child have an interest that isn't exactly considered mainstream, look online or ask other families for suggestions-and if all else fails, start your own group!

Other Extraordinary Extracurriculars

Shannon Fields is a freelance writer and single mom to two girls. An Edmond resident, she graduated from the University of Central Oklahoma and is an HR manager in the medical field.

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Studies show that involvement in extracurricular activities raises self-esteem and improves social skills. Popular sports such as soccer, football, and track and field are already underway for the fall season. Other kids tend to choose extracurricular activities that are slightly off the beaten path.

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Edwards, P. B., & Bloland, P. A. (1990). Integrating leisure guidance into a career counseling center. Journal Of Career Development (Springer Science & Business Media B.V.), 16(3), 185-194. Retrieved from http://content.ebscohost.com/ContentServer.aspEbscoContent=dGJyMNHX8kSeqLY4v%2BbwOLCmr1CeqK5Ssae4S7aWxWXS&ContentCustomer=dGJyMPGutk%2B2prNJuePfgeyx43zx1%2B6B&T=P&P=AN&S=R&D=bth&K=16509947

Humanmetrics, Inc. (2017). Retrieved from http://www.humanmetrics.com/personality

MAPP Career Assessment. (n.d.). Interest Assessment. Retrieved from www.assessment.com

National Career Development Association. (2017). Internet Sites for Career Planning. Retrieved from https://www.ncda.org/aws/NCDA/pt/sp/resources

O*Net OnLine. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.onetonline.org/

PBS Parents. (2012). The role of parents. Retrieved from http://www.pbs.org/parents/education/going-to-school/supporting-your-learner/role-of-parents/

Siversten, J. (2015, September 22). The importance of parent involvement in your child's education. [web log comment]. Retrieved from http://www.washingtonchristian.org/blog/the-importance-of-parental-involvement-in-your-childs-education

The College Board. (2017). College: what it’s all about and why it matters. Big Future. Retrieved from https://bigfuture.collegeboard.org/get-started/know-yourself/college-what-its-all-about-and-why-it-matters

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Need some advice on how to manage the teenage years?
Click on the podcast below.

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PCL 50: Dad Edition with Stuart Hall by The reThinkGroup

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Speaker and author, Stuart Hall, joins Jon Acuff and Carlos Whittaker in today's special dad edition of the Parent Cue Live podcast to talk about his experience in parenting teenagers.

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Click on the green words to access the website.

30 Ways to Support a Middle Schooler

Parenting Classes in Hays County

PBS Parents

A Parent's Guide to the Middle School Years

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Parent involvement is crucial to a child's success. Siversten (2015) explains that parent involvment is not only linked to improved behavior, regular attendance, and positive attitudes, it also shows your child that you truly care about him or her. Children who have their parents involvment in their education have higher self-esteem, have discipline, have more self-motivation, and tend to achieve better grades (Siversten, 2015).

PBS Parents (2016) recommends several ways parents can foster a love of learning.

1. You are their first teacher in life. Show them at a young age how fun and valuable learning is. As they progress through school, keep up the positive culture of being a life-long learner. Also, show them how to take ownership of their learning.

2. Find and acknowledge your child's strengths and study how they best learn in order to help with more difficult concepts. For example, some students like visuals while others need movement to learn something new.

3. Practice the skills your child is learning in school in a non-threatening way.

4. Read to your child no matter how old they are. Some suggestions are to alternate chapters where the parent reads one and then student reads the next. Let children choose books they are interested in or start a series with them.

5. Connect daily learning to school learning. For example, cooking involves measurement or discuss current events.

6. Schedule extra-curricular activities but not too many, so they can enjoy a couple of things instead of being overwhelmed by a never ending schedule.

7. Minimize the use of TV and other digital devices. They begin to control the schedule instead of allowing unstructured play time.

8. Model how to be a life-long learner by trying something new. Let your child see how you work through failures or search for help to become successful (PBS Parents, 2016).

Although these may seem like a few small things, they add up to one big accomplishment-a child who becomes a contributing member of society.

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Click below to access information regarding grants and scholarships.

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Scholarships are gifts. They don't need to be repaid. There are thousands of them, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations.
What kinds of scholarships are available?
How do I find scholarships?
When do I apply for scholarships?
How do I apply for scholarships?
How do I get my scholarship money?
How does a scholarship affect my other student aid?
What kinds of scholarships are available?

Some scholarships for college are merit-based. You earn them by meeting or exceeding certain standards set by the scholarship-giver. Merit scholarships might be awarded based on academic achievement or on a combination of academics and a special talent, trait, or interest. Other scholarships are based on financial need.

Many scholarships are geared toward particular groups of people; for instance, there are scholarships for women or high school seniors. And some are available because of where you or your parent work, or because you come from a certain background (for instance, there are scholarships for military families).

A scholarship might cover the entire cost of your tuition, or it might be a one-time award of a few hundred dollars. Either way, it's worth applying for, because it'll help reduce the cost of your education.
Top

How do I find scholarships?

You can learn about scholarships in several ways, including contacting the financial aid office at the school you plan to attend and checking information in a public library or online. But be careful. Make sure scholarship information and offers you receive are legitimate; and remember that you don't have to pay to find scholarships or other financial aid. Check out our information on how to avoid scams.

Try these free sources of information about scholarships:

the financial aid office at a college or career school

a high school or TRIO counselor

the U.S. Department of Labor's FREE scholarship search tool

your state grant agency

your library's reference section

foundations, religious or community organizations, local businesses, or civic groups

organizations (including professional associations) related to your field of interest

ethnicity-based organizations

your employer or your parents' employers

When do I apply for scholarships?

That depends on each scholarship's deadline. Some deadlines are as early as a year before college starts, so if you're in high school now, you should be researching and applying for scholarships during the summer between your junior and senior years. But if you've missed that window, don't give up! Look at scholarship information to see which ones you can still apply for now.
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How do I apply for scholarships?

Each scholarship has its own requirements. The scholarship's website should give you an idea of who qualifies for the scholarship and how to apply. Make sure you read the application carefully, fill it out completely, and meet the application deadline.
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How do I get my scholarship money?

That depends on the scholarship. The money might go directly to your college, where it will be applied to any tuition, fees, or other amounts you owe, and then any leftover funds given to you. Or it might be sent directly to you in a check. The scholarship provider should tell you what to expect when it informs you that you've been awarded the scholarship. If not, make sure to ask.
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How does a scholarship affect my other student aid?

A scholarship will affect your other student aid because all your student aid added together can't be more than your cost of attendance at your college or career school. So, you'll need to let your school know if you've been awarded a scholarship so that the financial aid office can subtract that amount from your cost of attendance (and from certain other aid, such as loans, that you might have been offered). Then, any amount left can be covered by other financial aid for which you're eligible. Questions? Ask your financial aid office.
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Scholarships are gifts. They don't need to be repaid. There are thousands of them, offered by schools, employers, individuals, private companies, nonprofits, communities, religious groups, and professional and social organizations. What kinds of scholarships are available? How do I find scholarships? When do I apply for scholarships? How do I apply for scholarships?

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Click below to access the Free Application for Federal Student Aid.

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Click below for a checklist about applying to college.

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College 101:
Why should I go to college?
According to The College Board (2018),  college is beneficial for a more successful life. The top reasons to go to college are summarized below.

People who attend college have more job opportunities and normally make a higher salary.

People who attend college learn skills of independence because they get to choose classes, schedules, and extra-curricular activities.

People who attend college can explore a variety of options to study more of what they want to study.

People who attend college are presented with additional opportunities of campus life such as working for the school newspaper or playing sports.

People who invest in college are investing in themselves and learning critical skills needed for our ever-changing society (The College Board, 2017).

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This personality tests gives a four letter personality code that shows strengths and weaknesses and links the personality to  recommended careers.

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Personality test based on Jung and Briggs Myers typology

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Online test based on Jung and Briggs Myers typology provides your personality formula, the description of your type, list of occupations, and option to assess your compatibility against any soulmate

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This is a 22 minute survey compromised of 71 questions about likes and dislikes that give results of personal strengths and weaknesses as well as job matches.

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Assessment.com - Home of the MAPP Assessment - Assessment.com

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Looking for a new career or job? Take the online MAPP test and find out what truly motivates you!

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This website allows you to search occupations and take a personality test to find the best career choices for you.

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Detailed descriptions of the world-of-work for use by job seekers, workforce development and HR professionals, students, developers, researchers, and more. Individuals can find, search, or browse across 900+ occupations based on their goals and needs. Comprehensive reports include occupation requirements, worker characteristics, and available training, education, and job opportunities.

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Welcome Simon Middle School Students and Parents

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Welcome Simon Middle School Students and Parents

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The goal of our Career Counseling Center is to provide adolescents and their families with the tools and resources to plan a successful future!

On this site you can find the following:

1. Career Exploration (blue)

2. College information (yellow)

3. Parent Resources (green)

To request an appointment with the counselor, please click below.

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Simon Middle School
3839 E. FM 150
Kyle, TX 78747
512-268-8507
Angelina.Garcia@hayscisd.net

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America's Promise Alliance (2018) explains that "opportunities for career exploration give young people broader exposure to the working world they will one day enter."

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To the right, you will find four websites that allow you to explore your strengths and weaknesses and determine which career or major suits you best.

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This website has a variety of information about career development, trends,  and help finding the best career or major in college.

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The Internet offers a huge variety of career resources. Many of these resources can be used for self-help career planning (see links below), although we recommend searching for a credentialed career services provider. For the benefit of career development professionals, we have undertaken a time-consuming effort to collect, organize, curate, and publish online, a listing of free, current, and credible Internet resources.

In addition to the professional judgment of the volunteers from the NCDA Technology Committee, NCDA has set the following guidelines for inclusion of the resources linked on this page:

1. Follow the mission of NCDA which is "to inspire and empower individuals to achieve their career and life goals" and may not violate the NCDA non-discrimination policy.

2. Be viewable by anyone with Internet access without any major or substantial services requiring payment (in other words the critical information is free and the site does not try to entice users into paying for fee-based services)

3. Contain accurate, factual, unbiased, and current information

4. Have strong and obvious relevance to career development

5. Be easy and clear to navigate

6. Provide information of use to the client

7. Be professionally prepared and executed (embedded links work, presentation is professional, grammar correct, appropriate use of images, no typos, extra resources and assistance provided when appropriate).

8. Display content that is appropriate and fair to all cultures and genders

9. Use professional email addresses for contact purposes.

If a new site fits the above guidelines, submit the title of the resource, the link, a 2-3 sentence description of what the site contains, and additional information for the reviewers. Submit the request now using our form- do not email NCDA. Lengthy "sales pitches" about a new site will not be considered. Updates (typically quarterly) will be made at the editor's and reviewers' discretion.

Looking for a resource to help with your career planning?

Click on the category below to find the Internet resources you wish to review and use. Before using the links, please review the NCDA Legal Notice and Disclaimer.

[Note: New links were added in April 2023 after a review of the request forms. Reviews are conducted by the NCDA Technology Committee.]

Career Service Centers are granted permission to link to this Resources webpage - please give credit to NCDA!

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NCDA | Internet Sites for Career Planning

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The Internet offers a huge variety of career resources. Many of these resources can be used for self-help career planning (see links below), although we recommend searching for a credentialed career services provider. For the benefit of career development professionals, we have undertaken a time-con…