Parents are the key career influencers
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There is one more semester to go before high school students become the grads of 2026.
They will be readying themselves up to embark on new pathways in university, college, work, travel, or a combination of these. Perhaps a ‘gap year’ is in the offing, where more thinking and experiencing is needed to choose the right pathway.
Advice and guidance come from many sources – school guidance counsellors, teachers, career management tools such as www.myblueprint.ca, social media influencers, Tik Tok videos, even music or rock stars. Some Swifties hang on Taylor’s every word.
Supplied photo
Danna Blanco Osorio, a student at Windsor Park Collegiate, is completing her last semester in the applied business management program at the Louis Riel Arts & Technology Centre. She has been accepted into the U of M’s Asper School of Business for fall 2026.
Surely a smart phone would be the ultimate go-to for students to learn anything about jobs, careers, or life paths.
Not so.
Mom and dad overwhelmingly exert the most influence. And by a large margin.
Recurring research suggests that 60-70 per cent of students cite family as the key influence on the road taken after high school.
Relying on mom and dad presents a possible conundrum. Are they equipped to dole out career advice? Are they aware of exponential shifts in evolving work environments and career paths?
These questions may be beyond the scope of the average parent.
Parents, however, offer more than economic or labour market information.
They are in a unique position to share many life experiences and lessons full of struggle, success, and network-building – essential in nurturing career-visioning mindsets.
Arjun Redhu, an applied business management student at the Louis Riel Arts and Technology Centre, appreciates how his parents “give advice, share their experiences, and help me think through my options.”
Danna Blanco Osorio, another grade 12 student in the ABM program values her parents’ advice, “because they’ve been through a lot to get where they are.”
Parents are consummate cheerleaders, always in their children’s corner.
Windsor Park Collegiate Grade 12 student Cristelle Mulangu said that her parents “help me weigh my options… encourage me to aim high… which helps me feel more confident in my decisions.”
Grade 12 student Rosuo Akpo-Edewor, also a Windsor Park student said his parents “celebrate even the small steps I take, which keeps me motivated, confident, and committed to reaching my goals.”
Many parents consciously step out the way to allow their children to discover off-the-radar paths and ignite curious thinking.
Ahmad Alshareh, a Grade 9 student from WPC, noted: “My parents don’t choose my path, they constantly encourage me to think long-term, work hard, and explore opportunities that align with my interests.”
Grade 12 student Emmanuel Ilaye joined the Information Systems program at LRATC because his parents “shaped the character and mindset that helped me choose it.”
The students and research are clear: parents are key influencers in post-high school career planning.
Visit https://macd-mb.org/youth-parents-guardians for insights and strategies to support a student’s post-high school career planning.
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