Teens with Strong School/Life Balance are More Confident About
their Future Career Aspirations
BALTIMORE, July 15,
2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- New research
from Pearson's (FTSE: PSON.L) Connections Academy, the fully
online public school program serving K-12 students, underscores the
importance of school/life balance for teens. The study found that
students with a strong school/life balance often have a clearer
understanding of their future aspirations, with 76% knowing what
career they want to pursue. Connections Academy surveyed U.S.
parents, along with students in eighth through 12th grade in
May 2024.
Just as working professionals value
work/life balance for personal fulfillment, it's encouraging to see
that students are also realizing the importance of balancing school
activities with their personal lives from an early age.
According to the research, less than half of students feel they
have an excellent or good school/life balance (45%), and more than
a fourth (29%) with fair to very poor school/life balance feel it's
having a negative impact on their ability to start career planning.
The data also showed there is a disconnect between parents and
students, with nearly double the number of parents believing their
students have an excellent or good school/life balance (80%).
Other findings showed that parents and students are more aligned
on what is needed for career exploration. Students want to know
what skills they need to have or develop that are attractive to
employers (49%). They also seek information about work experience,
internships and apprenticeships (46%), as well as knowledge on what
education programs are the best pathways to their desired careers
(42%).
In the career decision-making process, real-world experiences
like job shadowing and projects with companies were rated as the
most valuable resource by both parents (65%) and students
(53%).
"Just as working professionals value work/life balance for
personal fulfillment, it's encouraging to see that students are
also realizing the importance of balancing school activities with
their personal lives from an early age," said Dr. Lorna Bryant, Director of Career Solutions in
Pearson's Virtual Learning division. "Generation Z's eagerness to
integrate practical career experiences with their academics, while
also focusing on their wellbeing, will ease their transition into
their first roles and bodes well for the future workforce."
Additional key findings include:
- For students thinking about careers the most important factors
were work/life balance (47%), work that is meaningful/satisfying
(39%) and a physically, mentally and emotionally safe work
environment (38%). These outranked income potential (34%), job
stability (20%) and workplace culture (11%).
- Students who know what career field they want to pursue ranked
the most important factors, passion and genuine interest (62%),
making a positive impact (50%) and having a career aligned with
their skills and strengths (48%), that drive their career
choices.
- Students and parents who see having a negative school/life
balance affecting their career planning say students are most
missing out on understanding their interests (51% for students, 49%
for parents) and making connections with others (45% for students,
47% for parents).
- Overall, students found that engaging with peers, fellow
students, and friends was their most helpful tactic for balancing
school and life (52%). Implementing strategies for prioritizing
work and organizing tasks (making lists, learning time management
and using calendars) were the second most popular tactics (43%) for
students.
- To help students foster a healthy school/life balance, parents
prioritize encouraging time management or organizational skills
(65%) and promoting taking breaks from schoolwork when needed
(57%).
- Students want help from their parents the most in finding jobs
(48%) and having parents sharing resources (43%).
- Two in three students say they started thinking about their
careers before 11th grade (68%). Some (14%) begin thinking about
their careers in K-sixth grade.
The top four industries of interest differ slightly between
students and parents:
- Students: Healthcare (26%), Arts, design, entertainment, sports
and media (24%), Business (16%), and Engineering and architecture
(14%)
- Parents: Healthcare (23%), Software, IT, and other
computer-based work (22%), Arts, design, entertainment, sports, and
media (16%), and Engineering and architecture (16%)
Recognizing the demand for job-focused skill-building and career
exposure, Connections Academy has tailored opportunities to its
middle and high school students via expanded college and career
readiness offerings. Launched in spring 2023, the tri-credit
approach enables students to receive high school credit,
industry-recognized micro-credentials, and eligibility for college
credit toward over 150 U.S. bachelor's degree programs.
Partnerships with professional organizations such as the Future
Business Leaders of America, The Home Depot, HOSA-Future Health
Professionals and the SEMI Foundation further expose students to
careers across industries.
More insights from the research are available upon request. To
learn more about Connections Academy, visit
http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com.
Methodology
Allison Performance + Intelligence analyzed survey data provided by
Pearson. Survey sample consisted of 1,019 U.S. students in 8th
through 12th grade, and 1,012 US parents/guardians who have a
student in eighth through 12th grade. Fielding was completed in
May 2024.
About Connections Academy
Connections Academy is a unique, tuition-free, online public school
program for K-12 students. With 20+ years of expertise in online
learning, we know how to create a high-quality educational
experience that keeps students motivated and engaged in a safe,
virtual learning environment. In addition to academics, teachers
focus on building fundamental life skills, working closely with
families to help students learn how they learn best. Here, students
gain the skills and confidence they need to direct their own
educational journey, learning to thrive in the real world by first
learning how to be resourceful and resilient. Connections
Academy-supported schools offer grades K through 12, though some
public school programs do not offer all grades. Connections Academy
is part of the global learning company Pearson. For more
information, call 1-800-382-6010 or visit
http://www.ConnectionsAcademy.com.
About Pearson
At Pearson, our purpose is simple: to add life to a lifetime of
learning. We believe that every learning opportunity is a chance
for a personal breakthrough. That's why our c. 18,000 Pearson
employees are committed to creating vibrant and enriching learning
experiences designed for real-life impact. We are the world's
leading learning company, serving customers in nearly 200 countries
with digital content, assessments, qualifications, and data. For
us, learning isn't just what we do. It's who we are. Visit us at
pearsonplc.com.
Media Contact
Annie Drury, Connections Academy,
619-533-7978, annie.drury@allisonworldwide.com,
https://www.connectionsacademy.com/
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SOURCE Connections Academy