Introduction
When a young teenager makes the decision not to continue studying and abandons the training options of regular education, there is a whole world of personal, emotional, family, educational or economic circumstances behind it that drive, unconsciously, a determination without that, often, there is no other prospect of employment.
The importance of support and reorientation
At this moment, this young person is faced with a vital dilemma about how to move forward, and as a society we must provide agile, effective and community-based systems to support and reorient these people.
Available resources
Currently, there are several resources available aimed at young people, although a significant part seek to achieve immediate goals, either to get the person to return to the regulated education system or to enter the workforce with the definition of a specific professional profile.
The importance of personalized support
Despite the good will that exists in these objectives, it is necessary to stop and carefully evaluate the specific factors surrounding each young person who finds himself in a situation of Premature School Leaving (a fact that in Catalonia still represents 14.8% ). Disorientation and discouragement are the starting point of the accompaniment process that this young person needs, which makes it difficult for them to make immediate and optimal decisions regarding possible training and work itineraries that they can maintain over time.
The recovery itinerary
Each person’s profile is completely individual, there are no common recipes or general guidelines that, in practice, are useful to them. Guiding these young people requires incorporating a first phase of personal empowerment, especially of self-esteem and self-confidence, which allows them to sustain optimal, positive and mid-term decision-making.
The importance of external aid
It is a recovery route through which they can build a new stage despite the fact that the vulnerabilities, inequalities and external situations that surround the person remain the same. Thus, any step forward must be well founded in this preliminary task of personalized and flexible guidance, where it is the young person who learns to identify what it is that he wants and at the same time commits, from his conviction and self-responsibility, to do the necessary steps.
The importance of coordination
It is therefore necessary to help them generate firm and realistic self-esteem and self-confidence, within reach of their maturing moment and intimately linked to their abilities, intelligence, ways of learning and possibilities to make decisions. In this way we will be able to promote more effective and positive adaptations, whatever the option to follow, academic or work.
The importance of collaborative community action
At this point in the young person’s journey, a coordinated action of the existing public and private resources becomes essential, which not only brings each young person closer to the project, entity, school, additional educational resource or program that they really need, but also encourage networking.
The importance of thinking about the future
We also think that the professional world has been transforming, but even now in some sectors we use old models where the main objective is still to supply the labor market with professionals. In this context, a vision of short-term work with this young person can provide an immediate solution to their current situation, but it can also condemn them to a future of temporary, discontinuous and precarious work over time.
conclusion
In short, helping young adolescents make educational and employment decisions is a complex challenge that requires personalized attention, adequate resources, and collaborative community action. It is necessary to support these young people in their search for self-esteem and self-confidence, and to promote positive and lasting adaptations on their way to a successful working future.
