51吃瓜

In the past few years, our team has dedicated more time to the younger students in our programme. We focus on skill acquisition, career exploration and seeking value-added experiences to get them in the proper mindset by the time the serious exploration, preparation and applications begin.

As we started engaging students in the younger classes, we found we had to make adjustments to accommodate varying levels of development, as well as students’ diverse learning styles. This has meant opting for a different approach: the use of metaphor and story. 

Using stories has been a practised tradition in many cultures, and is certainly not a new method in teaching. For these students, stories and metaphors are perhaps more tangible than abstract concepts and goals. And they prove useful in helping students to identify their own preferences, skills and talents. 

During our sessions, the stories, analogies, metaphors and anecdotes assist the students in forging their own stories of self-discovery and self-reflection. My experience with using metaphor is positive, with individuals and groups of students.

Examples of metaphors in counselling – and their benefits

1. Making the unfamiliar familiar

Metaphors externalise and deconstruct intricate career and academic notions into familiar expressions – for example, “Choosing a course or career is like picking a route on a map.” This makes complex ideas easier to grasp.

2. Promoting self-examination

Describing a career journey as a “voyage” or a “mountain climb” helps students to reflect on their progress, struggles and motivations. Comparing their multiple skills and talents to a toolbox better helps them understand the dynamic and evolving nature of their identity. They are still developing as people – and their interests are developing, too. This can influence their educational path.

3. Lowering anxiety 

Metaphors can turn a daunting choice into an achievable action – for example, “Your career path is a jigsaw puzzle – you don’t need all the pieces at once.”

4. Inspiring action

Presenting a career as a “journey” instead of a “race or competition” motivates students to concentrate on growth rather than hurrying to the finish line.

5. Promoting creative thinking 

By likening university choices to a buffet or a toolbox, you encourage students to consider alternatives beyond rankings or reputation – which of the buffet dishes on offer do they like the most, and why?

6. Boosting engagement 

“Think of your resumé as a trailer for a movie – showcase your finest moments.” An engaging metaphor – and one that students can relate to – helps students to focus and ensures that conversations are memorable. 

7. Converting abstract goals into tangible concepts

By using a metaphor to represent career goals – for example, “When you build a house, you need a strong foundation” – you can help students to better understand the steps and skills necessary for success.

8. Fostering self-assurance 

Any difficulties encountered are a storm, which students need to navigate. When they are reminded that difficult periods do not last and that they have the fortitude to get through, this serves to bolster their confidence. 

9. Staying true to their personal priorities

“Are you a bridge builder, a trailblazer or a lighthouse, guiding others to safety?” Metaphors help students to link their ambitions to their own values and priorities.

10. Promoting flexibility 

Viewing a career as a river that alters its course over time helps students to accept that learning is a lifelong process, and that they may need to be adaptable to change. 
 

It is always interesting to hear the metaphors that students employ – which, in turn, enriches my development as an adviser and teacher. In the end, metaphors do more than teach – they motivate.