Cameron and Michelle: Making
Positive Changes
Cameron
was very active in extracurricular activities while studying for her degree in
criminal justice. She volunteered two days a week at a local agency, worked 25
to 30 hours a week at the mall to earn extra money, and was vice president of a
national student organization on campus. She felt she was on a good path to building
experiences to help her compete for the job she wanted at graduation as a case
manager with the local courts
Her
high-energy personality and eagerness to be involved in meaningful work and activities
were an asset. Cameron believed that the more she did, the better qualified she
would be. Cameron was really passionate about everything she did, but found she
had difficulty getting things done. Her grades were very good. Cameron put her
studies before her work and other activities. When Cameron was promoted to
assistant store manager, she was required to stay to the store closing four
nights a week.
She
began running late for her early morning classes once her work scheduled
changed. She had to cut corners on the volunteer and organization projects she
was committed to. She knew she had to make some positive changes, but wasn’t
sure where to start.
Her
roommate, Michelle, was also involved in several activities on and off campus,
but seemed to get major projects done on time, keep up her grades, and even
have a small amount of free time every week for herself. Two nights a week,
Michelle had a routine of keeping two hours open in her schedule.
Although
she was involved in a lot of things, she spent those four hours a week working
on her business plan for her entrepreneurship class. Michelle planned on
opening her own catering business after graduation and was using this class
project as her actual business plan with the help of her current boss and her
teacher. Part of her project was building a financial plan to include starting
small, regularly scheduled investments in a retirement account. Michelle’s
grandparents advised her to do this after retiring and realizing that it was
possible that they could outlive their retirement money. Michelle was grateful
to learn how important this one positive change to her business plan would be.
While Michelle kept a pretty busy schedule, she decided to hold back from making
any extra commitments of her time until she was finished with her business
plan.
Discussion
Questions
1.
How were Cameron and Michelle
different from each other?
2.
What could Cameron do to
better manage her time and still accomplish her work?
3.
Was Michelle’s business
plan realistic? Why or why not?
4.
How important is personal
development to personal career success?
The task is to compose a
report, including (1) summarizing the related theoretical aspects, (2)
analyzing the case on the basis of the related theoretical aspects and
references and (3) giving their personal value judgment on the issue.