Listening to Stories of Peers with Chronic Illnesses: Extracurricular Career Exploration Activity for High School Students

Using achievement goal theory and positive youth development frameworks, this exploratory study reports findings of an innovative career exploration experience for high school student members of a health science academy (HSA). Students interested in healthcare careers (n = 9) completed two interacti...

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Main Authors: Priti P. Desai, Jordan Horn
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Mississippi State University 2020-03-01
Series:Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
Subjects:
Online Access:https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/jhse/vol8/iss1/4/
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author Priti P. Desai
Jordan Horn
author_facet Priti P. Desai
Jordan Horn
author_sort Priti P. Desai
collection DOAJ
description Using achievement goal theory and positive youth development frameworks, this exploratory study reports findings of an innovative career exploration experience for high school student members of a health science academy (HSA). Students interested in healthcare careers (n = 9) completed two interactions with adolescents living with complex congenital heart defects or acquired heart disease (n = 9). Adolescents with cardiac conditions shared their medical treatment journey and life experiences with peers using Beads of Courage, a narrative medicine tool, and a journal that guided reflection. Post-interaction evaluation indicated HSA participants ranked interacting with peers with cardiac conditions as the third extremely helpful learning experience out of nine options, next to shadowing in a healthcare setting and attending career informational meetings. This activity helped them reach Health Occupation Students of America learning outcomes, such as increased sensitivity toward patients’ stories and motivation toward healthcare career choice. Adolescents with cardiac conditions reported appreciation for the opportunity to teach about their healthcare experiences, which increased their confidence in speaking about their medical treatment journey. The youth development technique of peer listening, advancing high school students’ career exploration, and providing a platform to share their experience for adolescents with chronic illness merits further exploration.
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spelling doaj.art-dc94f783372d401ab7d250a30080be4e2022-12-22T03:39:47ZengMississippi State UniversityJournal of Human Sciences and Extension2325-52262020-03-0181120https://doi.org/10.54718/FWCS3878Listening to Stories of Peers with Chronic Illnesses: Extracurricular Career Exploration Activity for High School StudentsPriti P. Desai0Jordan Horn1East Carolina UniversityUniversity of North Carolina Children's HospitalUsing achievement goal theory and positive youth development frameworks, this exploratory study reports findings of an innovative career exploration experience for high school student members of a health science academy (HSA). Students interested in healthcare careers (n = 9) completed two interactions with adolescents living with complex congenital heart defects or acquired heart disease (n = 9). Adolescents with cardiac conditions shared their medical treatment journey and life experiences with peers using Beads of Courage, a narrative medicine tool, and a journal that guided reflection. Post-interaction evaluation indicated HSA participants ranked interacting with peers with cardiac conditions as the third extremely helpful learning experience out of nine options, next to shadowing in a healthcare setting and attending career informational meetings. This activity helped them reach Health Occupation Students of America learning outcomes, such as increased sensitivity toward patients’ stories and motivation toward healthcare career choice. Adolescents with cardiac conditions reported appreciation for the opportunity to teach about their healthcare experiences, which increased their confidence in speaking about their medical treatment journey. The youth development technique of peer listening, advancing high school students’ career exploration, and providing a platform to share their experience for adolescents with chronic illness merits further exploration.https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/jhse/vol8/iss1/4/youth developmenthealth science studentsextracurricular learningadolescents with chronic illnessesadolescents with complex heart defects
spellingShingle Priti P. Desai
Jordan Horn
Listening to Stories of Peers with Chronic Illnesses: Extracurricular Career Exploration Activity for High School Students
Journal of Human Sciences and Extension
youth development
health science students
extracurricular learning
adolescents with chronic illnesses
adolescents with complex heart defects
title Listening to Stories of Peers with Chronic Illnesses: Extracurricular Career Exploration Activity for High School Students
title_full Listening to Stories of Peers with Chronic Illnesses: Extracurricular Career Exploration Activity for High School Students
title_fullStr Listening to Stories of Peers with Chronic Illnesses: Extracurricular Career Exploration Activity for High School Students
title_full_unstemmed Listening to Stories of Peers with Chronic Illnesses: Extracurricular Career Exploration Activity for High School Students
title_short Listening to Stories of Peers with Chronic Illnesses: Extracurricular Career Exploration Activity for High School Students
title_sort listening to stories of peers with chronic illnesses extracurricular career exploration activity for high school students
topic youth development
health science students
extracurricular learning
adolescents with chronic illnesses
adolescents with complex heart defects
url https://scholarsjunction.msstate.edu/jhse/vol8/iss1/4/
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AT jordanhorn listeningtostoriesofpeerswithchronicillnessesextracurricularcareerexplorationactivityforhighschoolstudents