Case Study Thoughts

     I find it appropriate to speak about my interview for the case study paper which is coming due for this blog post.  It was an intriguing and interesting experience and I was not prepared for the amount of information that would be freely shared.  I believe that individuals enjoy having their stories heard, especially when it is someone younger asking a person who is older than them.  I also believe that the questions allow them to gain insight into their own decisions and path they chose to take.  For confidentiality reasons, I will not disclose the name of my interviewee.

     While interviewing my chosen person for the case study paper, I learned about their life and heard personal stories that I would not have access to if it was not for the interview.  They did not simply answer the questions, but the questions allowed for self-reflection which they reported to me as well.   They were gaining insight to their decisions and I was witnessing it firsthand.  I find it interesting how each person has an extremely individualized path to get where they are in their career.  There are many more factors that go into choosing a career than I believe the average person realizes and I got to hear this person's path.  

     When asking the simple, general question "how did you chose your career?" most people come up with a response of a couple sentences that explain a basic path of either they knew what they wanted to do or thing's just happened to work out in that direction.  But what we do not hear about is how certain decisions and actions have domino effects in their life and how things went wrong or right for awhile.  I learned personal details of failings and successes that led to indecision and need for guidance.  

     I think it is good for us to reflect, not just as counselors, but as friends, sons, daughters, etc. that sometimes we need to simply ask and listen.  And maybe we need to let people us ask and actually answer them.  I feel as if these things will connect people more and we will learn more about each other, and in turn, help us because we can learn from other's mistakes and we can learn from theirs.  For example, I learned that a mistake in priorities can alter your life, but can lead to a path that will allow you to be more successful.

     I hope as a counselor people will be able to be as honest and open in their sessions with me as my interviewee was because I believe the client would be able to often help themselves with the gain in personal insight.  I also believe that being honest and open might make us vulnerable, but is best in helping us grow as individuals.