Exploring Perceptions of the Path to Work/Life Success Among Middle School Students of Color

Abstract

There are limited empirical studies examining career-related activities for Black and Latino/a students during the middle school years. Using a constant comparison method, this study examined the narrative data of 63 Black and Latino/a middle school students regarding their perceptions of work and life success. The results of this analysis revealed five overarching themes: exposure, support, attainment, family, and effort/persistence. Implications for career and school professionals, as well as the significance of school–family–community partnerships, are discussed.

Keywords

middle school students of color career work/life success

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

American School Counselor Association. (2014). Mindsets and behaviors for student success: K-12 college- and career-readiness standards for every student. Alexandria, VA: Author.

American School Counselor Association. (2015). The role of the school counselor. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/asca/media/asca/Careers-Roles/RoleStatement.pdf

American School Counselor Association. (2016). ASCA position statements. Retrieved from https://www.schoolcounselor.org/school-counselors-members/about-asca-(1)/position-statements

Blanchett

W. J.

Mumford

Beachum

(2005). Urban school failure and disproportionality in a post-Brown era: Benign neglect of the constitutional rights of students of color. Remedial and Special Education, 26, 70–81. doi:10.1177/07419325050260020201

Brandt

R. C.

Chitiyo

May

M. E.

(2014). Measures used in assessing outcomes of school-wide positive behaviour support. Journal of Research in Special Educational Needs, 14, 229–238.

Bryant

(2015). College preparation for African American students: Gaps in the high school educational experience. Retrieved from http://www.clasp.org/resources-and-publications/publication-1/College-readiness2-2.pdf

Carter

R. A.

Cook

D. A.

(1992). A culturally relevant perspective for understanding the career paths of visible racial/ethnic group people. In Lea

H. D.

Leibowitz

Z. B.

(Eds.), Adult career development: Concepts, issues and practices (pp. 192–217). Alexandria, VA: National Career Development Association.

Catsambis

(1995). Gender, race, ethnicity, and science education in the middle grades. Journal of Research in Science Teaching, 32, 243–257. doi:10.1002/tea.3660320305

Charmaz

(2014). Constructing grounded theory (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

10.

Constantine

M. G.

Erickson

C. D.

Banks

R. W.

Timberlake

T. L.

(1998). Challenges to the career development of urban racial and ethnic minority youth: Implications for vocational intervention. Journal of Multicultural Counseling and Development, 26, 83–95. doi:10.1002/j.2161-1912.1998.tb00189.x

11.

Constantine

M. G.

Kindaichi

Miville

(2007). Factors influencing the educational and vocational transitions of black and Latino high school students. Professional School Counseling, 10, 261–265. doi:10.5330/prsc.10.3.bg613873q5104226

12.

Corbin

Strauss

(2015). Basics of qualitative research: Techniques and procedures for developing grounded theory (4th ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

13.

Creswell

J. W.

(2013). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

14.

Dare

E. A.

Roehrig

G. H

. (2016). “If I had to do it, then I would”: Understanding early middle school students’ perceptions of physics and physics-related careers by gender. Physical Review Physics Education Research, 12, 020117-1–020117-11. doi:10.1103/PhysRevPhysEducRes.12.020117

15.

Darling-Hammond

Berry

(2006). Highly qualified teachers for all. Educational Leadership, 64, 14–20.

16.

Epstein

J. L.

Sheldon

S. B.

(2006). Moving forward: Ideas for research on school, family, and community partnerships. In Conrad

C. F.

Serlin

(Eds.), SAGE handbook for research in education: Engaging ideas and enriching inquiry (pp. 117–138). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

17.

Ford

D. Y.

Wright

B. L.

Washington

Henfield

M. S.

(2016). Access and equity denied: Key theories for school psychologists to consider when assessing Black and Hispanic students for gifted education. School Psychology Forum, 10, 265–277.

18.

Fouad

N. A.

Smith

P. L.

(1996). A test of a social cognitive model for middle school students: Math and science. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 43, 338–346. doi:10.1037/0022-0167.43.3.338

19.

Fram

S. M.

(2013). The constant comparative analysis method outside of grounded theory. The Qualitative Report, 18, 1–25.

20.

Gibson

D. M.

(2005). The use of genograms in career counseling with elementary, middle, and high school students. The Career Development Quarterly, 53, 353–362. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2005.tb00666.x

21.

Gushue

G. V.

Clarke

C. P.

Pantzer

K. M.

Scanlan

K. R.

(2006). Self-efficacy, perceptions of barriers, vocational identity, and the career exploration behavior of Latino/a high school students. The Career Development Quarterly, 54, 307–317. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2006.tb00196.x

22.

Gushue

G. V.

Scanlan

K. R.

Pantzer

K. M.

Clarke

C. P.

(2006). The relationship of career decision-making self-efficacy, vocational identity, and career exploration behavior in African American high school students. Journal of Career Development, 33, 19–28. doi:10.1177/0894845305283004

23.

Hahs-Vaughn

(2004). The impact of parents’ education level on college students: An analysis using the beginning postsecondary students longitudinal study 1990–92/94. Journal of College Student Development, 45, 483–500.

24.

Hill

N. E.

Ramirez

Dumka

L. E.

(2003). Early adolescents’ career aspirations: A qualitative study of perceived barriers and family support among low-income, ethnically diverse adolescents. Journal of Family Issues, 24, 934–959. doi:10.1111/j.1540-4560.2009.01635.x

25.

Hill

N. E.

Torres

(2010). Negotiating the American dream: The paradox of aspirations and achievement among Latino students and engagement between their families and schools. Journal of Social Issues, 66, 95–112.

26.

Holcomb-McCoy

(2010). Involving low-income parents and parents of color in college readiness activities: An exploratory study. Professional School Counseling, 14, 115–124.

27.

Jodl

K. M.

Michael

Malanchuk

Eccles

J. S.

Sameroff

(2001). Parents’ roles in shaping early adolescents’ occupational aspirations. Child Development, 72, 1247–1266. doi:10.1111/1467-8624.00345

28.

Kantamneni

Shada

Conley

M. R.

Hellwege

M. A.

Tate

J. M.

Wang

S. C.

(2016). Academic and career development of undocumented college students: The American dream? The Career Development Quarterly, 64, 318–332.

29.

Keller

B. K.

Whiston

S. C.

(2008). The role of parental influences on young adolescents’ career development. Journal of Career Assessment, 16, 198–217. doi:10.1177/1069072707313206

30.

Kenny

M. E.

Blustein

D. L.

Haase

R. F.

Jackson

Perry

J. C.

(2006). Setting the stage: Career development and the student engagement process. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 53, 272–279.

31.

Klingner

J. K.

Artiles

A. J.

Kozleski

Harry

Zion

Tate

… Riley

. (2005). Addressing the disproportionate representation of culturally and linguistically diverse students in special education through culturally responsive educational systems. Education Policy Analysis Archives, 13. doi:10.14507/epaa.v13n38.2005

32.

Lapan

R. T.

Marcotte

A. M.

Storey

Carbone

Loehr-Lapan

Guerin

… Wilson

. (2016). Infusing career development to strengthen middle school English language arts curricula. The Career Development Quarterly, 64, 126–139. doi:10.1002/cdq.12046

33.

Mayes

R. D.

Hines

E. M.

(2014). College and career readiness for gifted African American girls: A call to school counselors. Interdisciplinary Journal of Teaching and Learning, 4, 31–42.

34.

McWhirter

E. H.

Torres

D. M.

Salgado

Valdez

(2007). Perceived barriers and postsecondary plans in Mexican American and White adolescents. Journal of Career Assessment, 15, 119–138. doi:10.1177/1069072706294537

35.

Morris

V. C.

(1975). Models for career education in Iowa: The way we work: Some notes on the philosophical base of career education. Washington, DC: Office for Education.

36.

National Center for Educational Statistics. (2015). The nation’s report card reading 2015: National assessment of education progress at grades 4 and 8. Washington, DC: Author.

37.

Navarro

R. L.

Flores

L. Y.

Worthington

R. L.

(2007). Mexican American middle school students’ goal intentions in mathematics and science: A test of social cognitive career theory. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 54, 320–335.

38.

O’Donnell

Kirkner

S. L.

(2014). The impact of a collaborative family involvement program on Latino families and children’s educational performance. School Community Journal, 24, 211–234.

39.

Paa

H. K.

McWhirter

E. H.

(2000). Perceived influences on high school students’ current career expectations. The Career Development Quarterly, 49, 29–44. doi:10.1002/j.2161-0045.2000.tb00749.x

40.

Patton

(2002). Qualitative research and evaluation (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

41.

Perry

J. C.

(2008). School engagement among urban youth of color: Criterion pattern effects of vocational exploration and racial identity. Journal of Career Development, 34, 397–422. doi:10.1177/0894845308316293

42.

Rodriguez

Fox

McCambly

(2016). Work-based learning as a pathway to postsecondary and career success. Insights on Equity and Outcomes, 18. Retrieved from http://www.academia.edu/32222858/Work-Based_Learning_as_a_Pathway_to_Postsecondary_and_Career_Success

43.

Sadler

P. M.

Sonnert

Hazari

Tai

(2012). Stability and volatility of STEM career interest in high school: A gender study. Science Education, 96, 411–427.

44.

Saldana

(2016). The coding manual for qualitative researchers (3rd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.

45.

Savickas

M. L.

(2005). The theory and practice of career construction. Career Development and Counseling: Putting Theory and Research to Work, 1, 42–70.

46.

Schultheiss

D. E. P.

Palma

T. V.

Predragovich

K. S.

Glasscock

J. M. J.

(2002). Relational influences on career paths: Siblings in context. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 49, 302–310.

47.

Storlie

C. A.

Chan

Vess

(In press). Examining positive youth in diverse youth using the future career autobiography. Journal of Child and Adolescent Counceling.

48.

Storlie

C. A.

(2011). Career development for all students: School counselor advocacy with undocumented immigrant youth. School Counseling Research & Practice, 3, 35–42.

49.

Storlie

C. A.

Mostade

S. J.

*Duenyas

(2016). Cultural trailblazers: Exploring the career development of Latina first generation college students. Career Development Quarterly, 64, 304–317. doi: 10.1002/cdq.12067

50.

Storlie

C. A.

Albritton

Cureton

J. L.

(2017). Familial and social influences in career exploration for female youth of color: A study of relational cultural theory. The Family Journal, 25, 351–358.

51.

Storlie

C. A.

Toomey

R. B.

(2019). Facets of career development in a new immigrant destination: Exploring the associations among school safety, belief in self, school engagement, and academic achievement. Journal of Career Development, Retrieved from https://doi.org/10.1177/0894845319828541

52.

Strauss

A. L.

Corbin

(1990). Basics of qualitative research: Grounded theory procedures and techniques. Newbury Park, CA: Sage.

53.

Tucker

Smith-Adcock

Trepal

(2011). Relational-cultural theory for middle school counselors. Professional School Counseling, 14, 310–316.

54.

Turner

S. L.

Conkel

J. L.

(2010). Evaluation of a career development skills intervention with adolescents living in an inner city. Journal of Counseling & Development, 88, 457–465. doi:10.1002/j.1556-6678.2010.tb00046.x

55.

Turner

S. L.

Lapan

R. T.

(2005). Evaluation of an intervention to increase non-traditional career interests and career-related self-efficacy among middle-school adolescents. Journal of Vocational Behavior, 66, 516–531. doi:10.1016/j.jvb.2004.02.005

56.

U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. (2017). Unemployment rate and employment-population ratio vary by race and ethnicity. Retrieved from https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2017/unemployment-rate-and-employment-population-ratio-vary-by-race-and-ethnicity.htm

57.

U.S. Census Bureau. (2016). Educational attainment in the United States: 2016. Retrieved from https://www.census.gov/data/tables/2016/demo/education-attainment/cps-detailed-tables.html

58.

Vega

Hines

E. M.

Mayes

R. D.

Harris

P. C.

(2016). Preparing Latino students for life after high school: The important role of school counselors and school psychologists. National Youth-at-Risk Journal, 2, 70–82.

59.

Yowell

C. M.

(2002). Dreams of the future: The pursuit of education and career possible selves among ninth grade Latino youth. Applied Developmental Science, 6, 62–72.