Before you make a career change, there are several things to keep in mind:

• Take your personality into account: Knowing yourself well is the first step to making the right career move. If you enjoy working with others, and yet find yourself in a job that is isolating or with limited social interaction, you might find that your social needs might undermine how satisfying you find your job. On the other hand, if you get overwhelmed when you are required to be interacting with others on a consistent basis, your job responsibilities might take a toll on you and curtail how fulfilled you will feel by your career choice.
• Be aware of the work environment that best fits you: Do you prefer a fast-paced, time-pressured work environment or would you rather work in a steady, predictable atmosphere? You might find that you work better when you have deadlines and have to make in-the-moment decisions. Conversely, you might feel better when you have ample time to make decisions and to get things accomplished. Since most of us spend the most productive hours of our days at work, it is crucial that we know the kind of environment that best fits us. Otherwise, you might find yourself regularly distressed or bored to death.
• More education is not always a must: Find out if your new career path requires further education (like a new degree) or if your skills are transferable to your new vocational interests. Do not undersell the skills and abilities that you already have acquired and utilized in your previous jobs. If needed, talk to someone who can help you objectively assess your skills and help you to articulate them in a manner that makes you marketable.
• Test the waters before you jump ship: It might be beneficial for you to do volunteer activities or shadow someone in this new occupation before you commit to making a change. You might learn factors not otherwise found through other sources that can help you make a well-informed decision.

There are no jobs without some challenges. However, choosing a job in which you do not mind taking care of the problems that arise may just be the best career choice for you.

While sexting was first referred to as early as 2005, it has received significant attention these past few months. But what is it? Sexting is a word created by joining ‘sex’ and ‘texting’ and refers to the act of sending sexually explicit messages, photos, or videos electronically, primarily between cell phones. While adults may be participating in this activity with some frequency, the concerns stem from the widespread prevalence of sexting among teenagers.

In 2008, the National Campaign to Prevent Teen and Unplanned Pregnancy and CosmoGirl.com commissioned a survey of teens and young adults to find out who sends or posts sexually suggestive material. What they found would surprise most parents… 20% of all teens reported that they have sent/posted nude or seminude pictures or video of themselves. Additionally, close to 40% of teens have sent or posted sexually suggestive messages. Some may respond by observing that this is another case of “kids being kids” and wonder what all of the fuss is about. My concern is just that….THESE ARE KIDS! And the law is responding accordingly.

Recently, a number of jurisdictions have started “cracking down” on sexting among teenagers and charging those who send sexually explicit pictures or are in possession of such pictures that contain minors as child sex offenders. It does not matter if you were the one who originally took the picture. As long as you are in possession, you are breaking the law. For those cases that are successfully prosecuted, the teens have to register with the national child sex offender database.

For those who have not been caught and prosecuted, they may directly experience a number of other unintended consequences. Once the photo is taken and sent, they have no control over where the picture ends up. It could be distributed throughout the entire school within days. It could be posted online only to show up when they are trying to get admitted to college or applying for a job…not the best way to make a good first impression.

But is legal action the best way to address this social issue? I do not believe so. My concern is that this behavior is going to escalate as new technology emerges unless we attend to the underlying issue(s) that are driving this behavior.

The survey found that over half of the girls who sent sexually suggestive images or content did so because they felt pressure to do so, usually from a guy. Conversely, 18% of boys also reported feeling pressured. By far the most common reason for sending sexually suggestive content among both girls and boys was to be “fun or flirtatious.” Moreover, many teens say that it is an effective way of getting someone’s attention. What does this say? The findings suggest that many teens do not have the skills necessary to stand up to this pressure nor getting someone’s attention without the use of images or sexy texts. It also highlights lack of parental involvement in the teenagers’ use of cell phones and online social networks.

As a parent, it is incumbent upon you to take an active role in your child’s online behavior. Whether it is monitoring their MMS messages on their cell phone or tracking their discussions on their Facebook page, it is your responsibility to know what your child is doing. You may ask, “But, what about their privacy?” We need to remember that they are minors and that they sacrifice their right to private interactions once they use cell phones or computers to interact. As long as they are your responsibility, you have the right to be nosy.

To really prevent this behavior from happening in the first place, parents need to be fully engaged in their teen’s life. Helping them to understand and to learn how to respond to the daily pressures encountered in this time of life is crucial for the child. Also, effective modeling on how to engage and connect with others cannot be discounted. Whether we believe it or not, children are much attuned to how adults conduct themselves. By having frank discussions about sexuality, values, and the overt sexualizing of popular culture, we can give teenagers the ability to make clear, informed choices and decisions for themselves.

Here are a few tips for parents on how to best manage their son or daughter’s transition to college:

Give your son or daughter the space they need to settle into their college life. They need to make new connections and learn to navigate their college experience. If they are going to college close to home, do not expect them to come home every weekend. This can be very disruptive to their college experience. In fact, it is important for parents to encourage and support their child to stay on campus on weekends during that first semester.

Avoid becoming a “helicopter” parent. Show that you care and ask questions, but do not demand to know their every move. If you hover over every decision your son or daughter is making, you will rob them from the opportunity to learn how to problem-solve and engage in effective decision-making.

Support and encourage school involvement. The college experience is more than academics. Extracurricular activities often make a difference in their adjustment to college and might help them stay in school. Encourage your child to be proactive and join academic and/or social clubs.

Understand that your role is shifting from parent to “consultant”. Your son or daughter needs someone to listen, reassure, and to help him/her come to reasonable conclusions. If you tell them what to do or do it for them, the message might be that you do not trust that they can handle it. Support them. Believe in them. They will notice.

Some change is inevitable and even beneficial. Your son or daughter will change. This would be true even if they did not go to college. Remember that change does not have to be negative and that individual development requires change and takes time.

Let your student learn to cope with disappointment. Often when they feel overwhelmed, they seek the comfort of home. Perhaps unfairly, this might be when they actively seek to be in contact with you. They vent with you and move on to their next activity. Encourage them to do so. However, be patient and try not to overreact. Listening and waiting is one of the many roles that parents are called to play during the college years and beyond.

They do miss you. Although they might be busy adjusting to their new college life, they likely miss the comfort and familiarity of home. Do not make homesickness an issue just because you miss them. Trust that even if they do not tell you, they are thinking of you.