Wayne RESA's Career Counselors & Postsecondary Navigator bring you up-to-date information to help assist your child on their career journey. With the support of our local schools, we aim to provide resources leading to career and postsecondary success for all Wayne County students.

During the holidays and all throughout the year, we often come together for a game night with family and friends. They make for much fun, laughter, and play for those we love most. It’s a way to stay connected and entertained if we are looking to save a few bucks or want to enjoy the comforts of home.

During your next game night, consider adding a career theme to the mix. For example, if you’re playing charades or pictionary, mix in a few job titles as clues. Here are some more examples of how to add career related twists to your favorite games and have fun with all in the family:

1. In 5 Second Rule –Name 4 careers that begin with the letter C. Name 5 careers associated with packaging

2. Bingo - Add job titles to your bingo board and call out job descriptions instead of numbers

3. Jenga – In order to remove a block, you must name an employability skill, career, or goal

4. Family Feud – Name in-demand winter related careers. OR These are the top 8 in-demand careers in our area

5. Would You Rather? – Spark a lively debate around the following question, “Would you rather work on a cruise ship or an airplane?” “Would you rather take care of patients or work behind the scenes of a hospital?” “Would you rather be a police officer or firefighter?” “Would you rather repair home appliances or cars?”

6. Hedbandz/ Guess Who? – Add a few pictures of various professionals to your stack

To help with your Hedbandz clues, check out this video from Highlights, Jobs I Can Have When I Grow Up . They offer a number of great examples that can help younger children build their career related vocabulary and learn more about the world of work. This is really what it’s all about. Enjoy Playing!!

This is the second installment of this year's Career Counselor Connections for parents and other caregivers.

CC Connections

Why Career Technical Education?

Jan 18, 2023 @ 6pm - Zoom

Wayne RESA's Ready to Launch Career Counselors & CTE guests explain what Career Technical Education is, what the benefits are, and how your student can get involved while in high school. All parents of middle & high school students are encouraged to attend!

Register below for this online opportunity.

Is your student interested in a career in business? Do they want to become a Realtor or an Entrepreneur? If so, encourage them to register for an online career chat where they can listen to business professionals share their career journey and expertise. This is an opportunity for students to ask questions of those that work in their chosen career path.

Register below for this online opportunity.

If you’re like most people you started this new year thinking about your goals. We often have a “tradition” of sorts to set our New Year’s Resolutions. As one year ends and another begins it’s normal to re-evaluate what’s important and what we’d like to achieve in the months ahead.

As you move forward with whatever goals you have set for yourself remember these words:

“If you do what you’ve always done, you’ll get what you’ve always gotten.” - Tony Robbins

Part of our needs as humans include our need for certainty. Many of us have a tendency to avoid what’s new and different and instead remain with what’s safe and familiar.

This is our “comfort zone”, and feels good but unfortunately keeps us from tapping our true potential. Additionally, staying in it blocks us from learning. Considering the workforce of 2023 and beyond will be knowledge driven and require constant learning and upskilling, the choice to stay in the comfort zone could be a serious setback.

Your call to action in 2023 will be taking deliberate action to step out of your comfort zone and into the learning zone. Here are 5 ways to start stepping out of our comfort zone.

1. Follow your curiosity: Take a course, join an organization or engage in a new activity that you’ve always had an interest in.

2. Broadcast a goal: Send a message to loved ones and friends on social media about what you want to achieve. This will help create an accountability system.

3. Travel somewhere you’ve never been: Whether it’s an hour away or requires serious travel time, visit somewhere you’ve always wanted to go.

4. Challenge your beliefs: Read books and journals or watch programming that is typically the opposite of your usual. Go into it with an open mind.

5. Change your daily routine: Whatever your normal routine, try getting up earlier, changing the order or tasks, or travel to work or school on a different route.

Proactively making time for health & wellness assists our students in achieving their career & postsecondary goals. In every newsletter, we'll offer tips & resources to help keep you & your student's wellness a priority.

Most people experience feelings of grief, sadness, hopelessness, or mild depression at times in life. Especially after a loss of a loved one, a drastic life change, or after receiving terrible news. When these feelings don’t seem to go away it may be time to seek help. A medical doctor is a good place to start. Due to several side effects, it is important to share medications and natural dietary supplements with the doctor. They’ll be able to identify symptoms and perhaps make a referral to a mental health expert like a psychologist, psychiatrist, or a therapist.

The Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network provides free, confidential crisis counseling, suicide prevention, and information and referral services by licensed clinicians 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

Wayne County Crisis & Referral Line
(800) 241-4949

Indicators that a person may be struggling with suicidal ideation are:

• Talking about feeling trapped or in unbearable pain
• Talking about being a burden to others
• Increasing the use of alcohol or drugs
• Acting anxious or agitated, behaving recklessly
• Sleeping too little or too much
• Withdrawing or feeling isolated
• Showing rage or talking about seeking revenge
• Displaying extreme mood swings

The Suicide Prevention Resource Center lists the following three behaviors that may indicate a person is at immediate risk for suicide.

• Talking about wanting to die or to kill oneself
• Looking for a way to kill oneself, such as searching online or obtaining a gun
• Talking about feeling hopeless or having no reason to live

Call or text the Suicide Prevention Hotline at 988

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1 (800) 273-8255

Although warning signs of suicide are listed, there are times when there are no signs. A poem about suicide by Leslé Honoré states it best in this excerpt:

It doesn’t always look like Darkness

And it’s so hard to say the words

Out loud

“I need help

This is too much

I don’t want to try anymore”

If you or someone you know needs help, please reach out. Don’t Give Up! You are not alone, let someone hold your hand. Wayne County has several resources for you to get the help you need for a better tomorrow.

911 AND ANY LOCAL EMERGENCY ROOM ARE ALSO GREAT RESOURCES IN TIMES OF CRISIS

Every newsletter we'll shine the light on a different career field with our Workforce Spotlight!

A financial planner is a personal advisor who helps clients manage their financial affairs and work towards their long-term financial goals.

What is a Flowcode? A Flowcode is a branded QR code, scannable by cell phone cameras. Once scanned, it will take the user to our Wayne RESA Department of Workforce Development's linktree. Our linktree page, houses all of our links to a variety of important resources and events.

Check out our Wayne RESA flowcode & linktree today!

This publication highlights Michigan’s high-demand, high-wage careers that show a favorable mix of projected long-term job growth, projected annual job openings, and median wages through 2030.

There are many occupations that don’t require a four year degree. Sit down with your student and review all of the careers to see how many careers they express an interest.

February’s career focus is Business and Entrepreneurship. Check out the following careers from the HOT 50 your student might be interested in:

Accountant/Auditor

Construction Manager

Financial Manager

March’s career focus is Information Technology. Check out the following careers from the HOT 50 your student might be interested in:

Computer and Information Systems Analysts

Software Development and Quality Assurance Analysts

Wayne Region's MiSTEM Network has programs & opportunities for students in all grades. Click on the Career Pathway Poster below for details & descriptions.

Now is the time for high school seniors to apply for the MAT2 Apprenticeship Program.

MAT2 Apprenticeship Program Benefits:

• Earn while you learn & receive a debt-free AAS degree
• 3 years of coordinated college and work at Henry Ford College or Macomb Community College
• Application of skills learned in college to real-world situations
• 2-year job guarantee upon successful completion

January 24, 3pm - Register here

February 23, 11.30am - Register here

March 14, 3:30pm - Register here

DAPCEP Saturday courses are foundational STEM courses that prepare pre-K to 12th grade students to pursue advanced STEM educational pathways. Taking place in both the Fall and Spring, terms range from 6 to 8 weeks (our youngest learners in the Explorers program participate for 8 weeks). Courses take place both virtually, and in-person. Topics include: artificial intelligence, robotics, aerodynamics, computer programming, coding, chemical and engineering, artificial intelligence, and many more.

CCS is offering virtual career events to learn more about their majors & a future career in:

• * Entertainment Arts - Animation
• * Entertainment Arts - Game Design
• * Art Education
• * Illustration
• * Interior Design
• * Film
• * Communication Design
• * Photography
• * Product Design

.... and more

Scan the QR code or click on the image.