Field Trip

When you were in school, did you like to go on field trips?  Did it help you to get a different perspective on what you were learning by getting out of the classroom?  Visits to the museum, zoo, or historical locations allowed you to see and experience things that you read about in books.  As adults, you can also benefit from taking field trips.  There are places that you can go to inform, inspire, and influence your decisions regarding your next steps toward success.  The following suggestions may help you to plan an effective field trip.

1. Identify your field.  What do you want to do?  You are the only person that can answer that question.  You know what fits your interests, skills, and personality.
2. Make connections with people or organizations in your chosen field.  You can call them mentors, role models, or advisors.  The label is not as important as the relationship. 
3. Do your homework.  Know what to expect in the field and be prepared with relevant questions.  Don't expect others to know what you need. 
4. Realize that the field may look different from your expectations.  You may be at the mall, grocery store, or gas station and see something or someone that might be relevant to your field.  Be observant at all times. 
5. You probably can't cover the whole field all at once.  Break it into segments and plan your trips accordingly.  Take notes and write a report when you return from the field.  The data will help you on future trips.

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