ABSTRACT
This study aimed to understand and find out the factors influencing the career choice of Grade 10 Students of Aplaya National High School. Descriptive-correlational method of research was used in determining the relationship between the factors influencing the career choices of the respondents. The descriptive analysis was applied as the study described the current status of an identified variable; together with correlational analysis, it attempted to evaluate the extent of a relationship between variables by using statistical data. The respondents were the Grade 10 Junior High School Students of Aplaya National High School SY: 2021-2022. A total of 308 students 138 are male and 170 are female. The results of the study revealed the following: there was a significant relationship between the level of manifestation of students’ personality profile and level of manifestation of decision-making process among Grade 10 students; there was a significant relationship between the relationship between the level of manifestation of students’ personality profile and level of program preference among Grade 10 students; and there was a significant relationship between level of program preferences and level of decision-making process among Grade 10 students. As an output, a Career Guidance Advocacy Program proposed which was intended for the use of the School Guidance department to serve as part of the existing career pathing intervention for the students’ notion regarding choosing the right track and career.
Keywords: career choice; decision-making process; program preferences; career guidance
INTRODUCTION
As stated by Abraham Lincoln "The best way to predict the future is to create it", we have to create our future and one way of creating our future is by making decisions that will be beneficial for ourselves. Decision making is an act of choosing between two or more courses of action. People say that decision making is one of the hardest process of selecting an option/thing considering all possible outcomes. This is the process wherein a person carefully chooses a specific thing over so many things.
Making course decisions is a process. According to a 2016 foreign study by Harackiewicz, Smith, and Priniski, t is all about exploring and experiencing the world of education. It is also about understanding abilities, interests, skills, and value and combining these to create a meaningful students’ life.
Students nowadays experiencing difficulties in making decisions most specifically in choosing what course in college to take. And perhaps, choose to work over education. There are a lot of reasons why people find it hard to make decisions in life such as, insufficient information about something, social influence, financial status of the family, location of the school and desired course in terms of education. Decision making is the process of making choices by identifying a decision, gathering information, searching ideas, considering pros and cons and assessing alternative resolutions.
Unfortunately, based on the study conducted by Dowden in 2017, people have to make decisions all the time, ranging from trivial issues like what to have for lunch, right up to life – changing decision like where and what to study after Junior High School and who to marry. Some people put off making decisions by endlessly searching for more information/getting other people to offer their recommendations. And others resort to decision – making by taking a vote, sticking a pin a list/tossing a coin.
The researcher learned that before making an action it is better to have a plan on what should be done on the beginning and be ready for the unexpected circumstances of the end of the actions. Parents want the best of their children. Parents can best support their students by facilitating the decision-making. That doesn’t mean making the decision for them but just to guide them. It is possible to find some fulfillment and enjoyment from a career.
Course selection is one of many important choice’s students will make in determining future plans. This notion was supported by the findings of Abarro in his 2016 study, decision will impact them throughout their lives. The essence of who the student is will revolve around what the student wants to do with their life – long work. Every student carries the unique history of their past and this determines how to view the world. That history created in part by the students, environment, personality and opportunity, will determine how students make career choices. It then follows that how the student perceives their environment, personality, and opportunity will determine the career choices students make.
Course decision – making begins with an awareness of the world around you and the ability to understand what is personally important the options are endless and constantly changing. Today’s list of careers may look different next year.
This study aimed to understand and find out the factors influencing the career choice of Grade 10 Students of Aplaya National High School. The importance of helping the students map their career choices, possible profession, and interests as early as high school. Based on the findings, the researcher will develop a guidance program intended to guide the students in choosing the correct and align strand for the students. The program will revolve around the possible strategies that the school can offer to help the students discover their interests and eventually help them choose proper track and career. The study will also be beneficial to the school Aplaya National High School for them to be able to have a program intended for the incoming Senior High School.