A "Career Dialogue Session" connecting middle and high school students worried about their future with adults

Even if you think, "This is what I want to be in the future," you can't actually meet anyone working in that job.
I'm interested, but there are no adults around me I can talk to.

While running mimamo, I have heard such voices from middle and high school students.

The reason why the future becomes blurred

The information and connections children can access vary greatly depending on their region and environment.
Even if there are corporate events and career education opportunities in urban areas, they may be almost non-existent in rural areas or small communities.
Also, the range of people one can consult with differs depending on the networks of parents or nearby adults.

I strongly feel that such a "gap in connections" leads to a gap in future options.

"I wanted to try it, but I couldn't really imagine it."
"I couldn't consult with anyone, so I chose it while still feeling anxious."

I hope that letting go of dreams for such reasons will decrease even a little.
That is the thought behind starting the Career Dialogue Session.

A small and safe place

Career Dialogue Sessions are held irregularly when there is a request.
"I'm interested in this job, but there's no one around I can talk to."If there is such a voice, I will find a guest from the mimamo network.

For 30 minutes to an hour, in a small group.
Children are asked to think about "what they want to ask" in advance, and on the day, they ask the guest directly.
Management members also sit in to soften the atmosphere and provide follow-up if they feel anxious.

The hurdle of "voicing" an interest

Common among the voices of children are:
"It's embarrassing to voice something I'm a little interested in."
"I hesitate to show that I am attracted to it."

At mimamo, there is a system called "Kimi no Jikan" (Your Time), a one-on-one online dialogue where they continue to talk with a dedicated mentor over a long span of six months to several years.
With the sense of security that comes from being online, many children gradually open their hearts there.

"I haven't told my parents or friends, but I'm actually interested in this."
It is not rare to hear such words.

The Career Dialogue Session is also a place where that "thought not yet expressed" can be gently picked up and delivered to an adult.
The experience of having one's voice accepted leads to a certain sense of security for children who cannot find the confidence to take action.

Episode: A high school student aiming to be a pastry chef

A student attending a correspondence high school wanted to be a pastry chef in the future.
But they were torn between "going to a vocational school" or "going to university."

So, I invited a pastry chef who has experienced both vocational school and universityto come and talk directly.

"How much is the amount of practical training and tuition?"
"What is it actually like to learn while working?"
"What kind of expansion did you have at university?"

By hearing real voices, the student's image of their career path became clear.
The student themselves seemed surprised, saying, "I didn't know I could organize my feelings this much by asking someone."
As a result, the student was able to choose a path they were satisfied with.

Episode: One conversation leads to the next question

Another student said, after talking to someone in a certain profession, "Actually, there is one other job I'm curious about."
So, we held another career dialogue session.

Then, by having something to compare it to, it became clearer to them what they were drawn to.
A single conversation sparks the "next question" and expands their options.

I felt once again that a small trigger can become a major clue for the future.

Voices of self-doubt and adult empathy

Among the children who listen to stories at the career dialogue sessions, there are some who say,
"I'm not confident I can do this,"
"What if I fail?"
and so on.

At such times, the words that come from the guest adults are surprisingly similar.
"Actually, I was anxious too,"
"I didn't have confidence from the start either."

Knowing that even adults who seem impressive have carried anxiety and hesitation.
Just knowing that softens the children's expressions a little.
Being able to think, "Oh, I'm not the only one," leads to peace of mind.

Having adults who support you

The adults who come to this space are all people who want to support the children.
"I think I would have been encouraged if there had been a place like this when I was a student,"
"If I could be of any help to the next generation."

Because they participate with such feelings, words like "I'm rooting for you" and "It's going to be okay" are naturally conveyed to the children.

For a child, that leads to the peace of mind that "there is someone on my side."
I believe that thiscirculation of kind feelingsis the important value of this initiative.

My own thoughts

Before starting this mimamo, I interviewed many adults.
I asked, "What kind of place would you have liked to have when you were a teenager?"

The answers that came back were,
"There was no one to listen to me talk about my career path,"
"There was no one to push me forward."

That is precisely why I wanted to create a place where I couldprovide support.
If a child mutters, "I'm interested in something like this," I want to create a mechanism where it can expand even a little from there.
That is the wish I held even before starting this activity.

Having actually started it and seeing high school students struggling with their career paths, I thought about it again.
If this small space could be of help, even just a little.

Even if it doesn't help, if it could be a trigger for some kind of realization.With that thought in mind, I am continuing it.

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