Honors sophomores craft career pathways in new course

Choosing a career is no simple task. It's further complicated by the fact that career paths are rarely straight lines; they tend to wander throughout a person's life, across different opportunities and industries. A new course, Honors 298: Exploring College and Career, required for all Honors College sophomores, guides students through a process of reflection to identify why they are seeking a degree, what they want their professional future to look like and how they can design the remainder of their Boise State experience to align with those aims.

Students engage in weekly readings, journaling, a values sort and a strengths assessment. They also create Odyssey Plans, mapping three possible futures: an ideal five-year plan, an alternative if that plan falls through and one unconstrained by time or money.

"Central is the student's own sense of self and direction," said Emily Jones, an Honors College director and designer of Honors 298.

Social sciences major Lisa Murphy, a non-traditional student in her mid-40s, came to the class with an already established career that she loves: working for Boise State's Office of the Provost as a financial technician. But when Honors 298 asked Murphy to consider past experiences and passions, an unexpected theme emerged - teaching.

"I've always, steadily along my path, had some sort of connection to education and helping others," Murphy said. "When I started to put those puzzle pieces together, there was a spark."

Murphy now plans to attain a master's degree and become an adjunct professor, a fulfilling "side quest" in addition to her full-time role. In the meantime, she is flexing her educational muscles as an instructional assistant for Honors 298.

Her advice to fellow students: be open to new opportunities, and don't be afraid to bet on yourself.

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