Life is made of choices From childhood to old age, we are faced with the need to choose and decide every day. And if there are less relevant choices and decisions, daily and functional – for example 'what am I going to wear' or 'I will make that phone call I need now or later' – there are others that need time to think as they will have a significant and transversal impact in all areas of our lives. Among these, those related to education and professional life stand out. Vocational choices are among the most important in our life; They often raise doubts and cause anguish, especially when key decision moments are approaching. What do you want to be when you grow up? For a few, the desired profession is a clear idea from an early age and this is a simples question to answer. However, for most children and adolescents, professional dreams and ambitions change , mature throughout the growth and development of personality, being influenced by several factors: Through life experiences and learning; For the success or failure achieved and for the ease or difficulty felt in each experience; By the perception of competence and expectation of self-efficacy, which reinforce or diminish the interest for a certain activity; For the choices and decisions made at each stage of the school career, influenced by the interests that have been developed. The role of education and vocational guidance The education and vocational guidance process support young people in making informed and conscientious decisions . It is based on a joint work between the psychologist and each student, which deepens the knowledge of two major areas: The young person self-knowledge , exploring their interests, aptitudes, motivations, values and other domains of personality that can influence decision-making, such as, for example, the self-concept or the ability to make decisions; Knowledge of the world around , including: Exploration of training areas; Search for broader information about the options that can be made; Search and have direct and indirect knowledge of professions, seeking to develop a more realistic and informed perspective about it, its areas of knowledge, professional function profile, work contexts, employability, among otherss. The education and vocational guidance process also seeks to equip young people with decision-making strategies and skills that they can implement in the future, throughout their educational and professional career, thus reducing the probability of choice errors in each of the particular phases of decision in which they find themselves. 9 th grade, 12 th grade and whenever necessary In the Portuguese education system, the two main moments in which students are invited to make choices regarding the educational path are: At the end of the 9 th grade of basic education , when they have to decide on one of the scientific-humanistic courses in secondary education aimed at pursuing higher-level studies or for another educational areas. At this time, students are, in most cases, 14/15 years old; At the end of the 12 th grade of secondary education , when they have to choose the higher education or vocational path they want and the best alternatives for their preferences and qualifications. They are, in most cases, 17/18 years old. The school years corresponding to the 9 th and 12 th grades are thus the excellence time for carrying out processes of education and vocational guidance. However, the education and vocational guidance process can also be carried out at any other time , whenever doubts arise, during the secondary level education or even after its conclusion. Life is made of choices, but you have to know how to choose! Author: Rita Pestana Meet the education and vocational guidance team at the Hospital da Luz network. The content published in the Health Guide is intended for the general public and is provided for informational and educational purposes only. It does not replace individual medical assessment, diagnosis, or personalized clinical advice from a qualified healthcare professional. The content is produced or reviewed by physicians and other healthcare professionals at Hospital da Luz and is based on the knowledge available at the time of publication or the most recent update, as indicated at the beginning of each item.
