None of us start as a blank slate. We all come from somewhere and that somewhere has given us particular things that we carry with us now. These things (ideas, worldviews, experiences, pasts) shape us and inform who we are and how we have gotten here.

Whether you realize it or not, it is vitally important to understand where you come from as you begin to identify and define who is on our team. In this activity you will read an article about one person's experience and, then, create your own Education & Career Family Tree

TASKS

1) Read THIS (Links to an external site.) to read about one person's experience of growing in their understanding of where they come from and how it effects relationship building. Think about how your family history informs how you see and experience the world.

2) You will create a family tree that maps out your extended family’s career choices, education levels, and college majors (for those who attended college). Don't forget, your family aren't always blood-relatives. The people who shape you, who are around you, and/or who you live with are sometimes, even often, as influential as blood-relatives.

Instructions: Your family tree should include information up through your grandparents on both your mother’s and father’s side. This includes siblings, parents, aunts, uncles, cousins, and grandparents. 

Plan ahead because you may need to contact some of your family members to determine their career, education level, and college majors. Please try to be as accurate as possible. 

You can view an example of a Career and Education Family Tree here:

Example of Career-Education Family Tree (5).jpg

3) Respond to the following reflection prompts (no less than 200 words):

What trends do you see in your family’s education levels?
If some of your family members went to college, do their college majors match their careers? Explain.
Is there anyone in your family who studied or did something very different from everyone else?
Do you see any connections between your family history and the ideas your currently have for your future?
What values are inherent in in your family tree?
How do your family relationships help you, or distract you, from your current goals?