Abstract
High school guidance counselors have a tremendous job of balancing their administrative responsibilities and providing students with career and college guidance. However, collaborative efforts that bring together guidance counselors, institutions of higher learning, and local community members can provide students with the guidance needed to set and achieve lifelong dreams. A qualitative research design was used to evaluate the merit, worth, and effectiveness of a daylong career development conference offered to male high school juniors and seniors residing in a Midwestern metropolitan area. By following <a href="https://ejournals.lib.vt.edu/JCTE/article/view/570/807#perna"> Perna's (2006) </a> multilevel conceptual model, organizers of the <em><span class="i"> Man Up! Men's Leadership Summit </span></em> brought together 166 high school males and community leaders to discuss how to chart a career path. Three themes emerged that support the effectiveness of this model. Implications are discussed and suggestions for future directions are offered.
Highlights
I think what was good about this day is that at my high school my dreams were shot down
The two university professors consulted with school administrators, guidance counselors, and local community professionals about the organization of the daylong college/career readiness conference
The two university professors kept field notes during the conference as a way to record immediate impressions of the conference’s events. This conference was organized to study how male high school students would respond to an opportunity to build a commitment to seek postsecondary college or career options
Summary
I think what was good about this day is that at my high school my dreams were shot down. I was told I will never succeed in what I do and that scares me. I was at one point so sure who I was but the real world, it gets scary. This program told me that my dream of becoming governor could happen and come true if I put all my heart into it, and that made me feel so much better about myself. After participating in this program, I know I need to go to college to become what I want to become. Being here made me feel welcomed and that there is hope for my future. (student response on evaluation form, March 2011)
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