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Deciding what you want to be when you grow up can be a tricky thing to pin down, especially after completing high school. It is for this reason that career counselling is so vital, so that students can take the time to explore their options and truly find the best fit for their future. Understanding this, Marymount International School London works closely with their students to guide them towards jobs that best suit their strengths as well as higher education options that can help them get there.
Source: Marymount International School London
Marymount, an independent Catholic day and boarding school for girls aged 11 to 18, is the first all-girls’ school in the UK to adopt the International Baccalaureate curriculum. The London-based institution offers the IB Middle Years Programme (MYP) for Grades 6 to 10 with eight subject groups: language and literature, language acquisition, individuals and societies, sciences, mathematics, the arts, design and physical education. Nurturing creative, critical and reflective thinkers, the programme includes a broad, balanced as well as challenging framework, all to help the girls build their confidence and connect to the world through the six global contexts (Identities and Relationships, Orientation in Space and Time, Personal and Cultural Expression, Scientific and Technical Innovation, Globalisation and Sustainability, and Fairness and Development).
For students in Grades 11 to 12, the IB Diploma is offered, building on the foundations of the MYP. They study six subjects, three at standard level and three at higher level, and also complete a 4,000-word Extended Essay, understand the nuances of Theory of Knowledge and partake in compulsory activities under Creativity, Activity, and Service (CAS). Highly respected by universities all over the world, the IB Diploma gives students a broad and holistic education that prepares them for their further studies. Marymount boasts a school average of 36 points, which is a very respectable grade.
Marymount students begin thinking about their future starting in Grade 8, so that they have enough time to explore their options. College Counsellor, Marcea Eckhardt has a big hand in that process. “My main driver is to help students find the university where they feel a sense of belonging academically, socially and emotionally,” she says. “I am finding that students need additional support in finding out who they are and in finding the best career options and university courses that match their personality. To enhance their personal growth and knowledge about self, we complete interest inventories, a character trait survey, university readiness questionnaires, and more, to help students then reflect on needed areas of growth and development and where their strengths lie and where possible improvements may be needed.”
For 17-year-old Marymount student Rachael Harris, the IB programme offered more freedom, as the broad curriculum gave her more time to explore her preferences and options. She notes that it requires determination and resilience to complete the programme, but with the help of the educators and the strong bonds of friendship she built, it was achievable. “My most memorable experiences have been trips taken with school, from the football trip to the Netherlands to the trip to Béziers, France in Grade 9, because of the quality time spent with friends,” says Harris. “I also enjoyed large celebrations such as the 100 Days Dinner this year.”
When it came to exploring her future, Harris faced a few hurdles. Being focussed on UK universities did not help as she found it difficult to picture herself in these places. “I did not like how narrowed UK academics were and I could not find anything I liked enough to get a degree in,” she says. “Then I found the liberal arts programme in the US which appealed a lot more to me. I wanted to find somewhere that had good athletics programmes and academics, which took a lot of research to realise.”
Source: Marymount International School London
When she was confused, Harris turned to her Careers Counsellor. “Being unsure what I want to pursue career-wise, I was told to just do what I enjoy,” she adds. “Taking an interest in psychology, I was told to look at occupational psychology for career options which, although I’m still unsure,it is actually a career path I could see myself doing.”
Eckhardt works closely with students to guide them in the right direction. “I helped Rachael via PSHEE lessons, 1:1 meetings with Rachael and individual meetings with her and her parents,” she says. “I provided a lot of feedback to Rachael on her admission essays and also on the NCAA athlete selection process. Rachael is a self-directed student who took on the responsibility of ensuring the internal school deadlines were met.”
At Marymount, students are given the tools to develop their creative and critical thinking which are important skills for their future. The addition of hands-on career counselling, which is a collaborative effort between the counsellor, student and parents, ensures that they explore their true potential and consider all the options they have before them. With this, they are ready for university and beyond.
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