My occupational Profile
Introduction
Below is an insight to past and future occupational identities. Jo has given me his written permission and I have acknowledged his rights under the Privacy act 1993 by using a pseudonym (Privacy Commissioner, 1993)(Appendix D). I will compare our occupational profiles and their significance and what it means for us both. In this essay I have identified that although we are from different countries, back grounds and cultures we have made significant changes in our lives at the same developmental stages (Edwards & Christiansen, 2005).
Unique as the decisions we have made and as similar as our passions and interests are our occupational journeys reflect ourselves. Weiten (2001) suggest, it is our similar traits and personalities which our current and future contracted occupational goals are focused on that has brought us together (Harvey & Pentland, 2004).
Jo is an English immigrant 31 years old with a partner, who has left his family to pursue a new life in New Zealand. Jo enjoys weekends skiing which also brings in additional income. I am 38 years old married with two children aged 16 and 3 and like Jo now a full time student. In addition to the family I am also working 20 hours a week supplementing our family income. It is my intention to look at our spirituality, occupational patterns, development and occupational well being and what it means, in addition to identifying our similarities and differences.
Spirituality
One of the strongest meanings and ways of describing spirituality is that of essence. Hasselkus (2002) describes essence as a connection with inner and outer self as a way of finding spirituality. Additionally, Townsend and Polajko (2007) defined spirituality is essence of who we are as human beings. Furthermore, McColl (2005), suggests essence is the knowledge of self, our identity and image of our whole being.
So what of my essence or spirituality? (Appendix A) My talents have been in sports...