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Chapter 7 Learning About Yourself
Your Aptitudes and Abilities
Many people have natural talents and can learn to do new
things quickly and easily. Natural talents and the potential
to learn easily and quickly are aptitudes. For instance, some
people can play a song on a musical instrument after hearing
it only a few times. They have an aptitude for music.
If you have an interest and an aptitude for something, you
would probably be very successful in a related career. If you
enjoy writing and do it well, you would probably be a good
author or journalist.
Some people discover their aptitudes on their own. They
may discover their aptitudes when learning something new.
Sometimes others can see your aptitudes when you can’t.
Your friends, family, teachers, and employers can all help you
discover your aptitudes. You can also discover new interests
and aptitudes by doing volunteer work, having an after-school
job, or by exploring a hobby.
A school counselor can give you an aptitude test. Such a
test does not have right or wrong answers. It just helps you
learn about your aptitudes.
Skills you must develop are your abilities. Sometimes
abilities are aptitudes that you have developed and improved.
For instance, an aptitude for quick, coordinated movements
could be developed into the ability to type quickly and
accurately or play the piano well. Different jobs require
different abilities.
Sometimes people choose careers for which they have no
aptitudes or abilities. This puts them at a disadvantage next
to workers who have the natural ability to perform well. For
example, an individual may want to be a professional singer.
Without an aptitude for music or the ability to sing, that
person does not have the personal resources for a successful
singing career. It is very important to recognize your aptitudes
and abilities when considering a career.
The average person has many aptitudes and abilities,
but not all lead to a career. For example, one of your favorite
pastimes may be repairing cars. This does not mean you
should become a full-time automotive technician. You may
simply enjoy fixing cars as a hobby. If so, your other interests
would determine the direction of your career.
Making a
Difference
List your aptitudes and
abilities. Prepare a list
of volunteer jobs that
could utilize your talents.
Choose a job from
your list and perform
a volunteer service.
Refl ect on how this
experience made you
feel about yourself.
aptitudes
The natural talents a person
has or the potential to learn
certain skills easily and quickly.
abilities
The skills a person has
developed.