Issue link: http://howardcc.uberflip.com/i/665986
A fter working for 35 years managing commercial design and construction projects as a successful civil and structural engineer, Ken Cook realized the time was right to make a change and begin thinking about his retirement. Many people see the "golden years" as a time to finally pursue personal interests outside of the workplace, but for Cook, pursuing his passion meant starting a whole new career. "I have a desire to work with people one-on-one, instead of with numbers and computers, as I have done for most of my life," he said. Cook wanted to pursue a job in the health care field, but he struggled to decide among nursing, dental hygiene, and physical therapy. Eager to gain direction and support in making both the decision and the transition, Cook put a call into the Counseling and Career Services Center at Howard Community College (HCC). "The career center played a pivotal role in helping me explore various careers and figure out which was the best fit for me," said Cook, a 57-year- old resident of North Laurel. "They provided one-on-one counseling, vocational assessments, and a list of resources to assist me in making my decisions. They also encouraged me to volunteer, conduct informational interviews, and connect with people in various online communities to gather more information about the careers that were of interest to me." Through these services, Cook gained the clarity he needed. He was recently selected for admission to HCC's physical therapy assistant (PTA) program, beginning in fall 2016. In the meantime, he is working as a rehabilitation aide in the outpatient physical therapy clinic at Howard County General Hospital, gaining practical skills and experience to further progress toward his ultimate goal. "Through the career center, I gained new insights and facts about work environments, skill sets, personality types, earning potential, and future job prospects," said Cook. "They provided the support and encouragement I needed." While he is entering a new career field, Cook's prospects for employment are high. According to the National Skills Coalition, jobs that require postsecondary education but not a bachelor's degree — such as physical "The career center played a pivotal role in helping me explore various careers and figure out which was the best fit for me." t Marcela Mena-Gonzalez and Assistant Director of Career and Employment Counseling Dave Tirpak Spring 2016 | Pathways 7