I have a (10th grade) student who is a native Arabic (Egyptian) speaker. He is also fluent in English (family moved to US when he was four). He has a physical disability from spina bifida (needs forearm crutches to walk, has a cath). His older brother is a surgeon; my student works to get “Cs” in his classes. He has a great personality, other kids love him, no self-pity. He says he wants to be a video game creator/artist (as do most of my 10th graders) but has no particular ability in art or computers. I see him in hospitality or something similiar, but I thought I’d ask for some concrete ideas from our CC braintrust for a direction to suggest. Thanks in advance!
Government agency translator …
Translation. Editing, Proofreading. Statistical analyst. Needs to start getting proficiency with the computers.
Though really, anything goes, if his talent and determination will so carry him, along with luck.
–What are his best subjects, as far as grades?
–What subjects does he enjoy the most?
He’s already very lucky.
A neighbor boy with spinal bifida has been in a wheel chair since he was 5, he’s seven now.
If he is interested in design and art, there may not be many classes at his high school, ( there wasn’t at mine), but there might be after school clubs or camps that could give him more experience.
Most of " talent" is persistence & practice.
Thanks for the help so far! My student is a happy, play-it-as-it-lays kind of kid; I don’t see him in a high pressure job. His grades are all pretty level, and, as I said, he works to get “Cs,” with math a weakness - so not the typical CC kid - and his family is realistic about that. They’d be happy if he did well at our community college. His favorite subject depends on the teacher…history right now.
I think his Arabic is enough of an advantage to get him into a good job, not necessarily define what his job will be…
Sales/marketing/PR seem reasonable, plus hospitality that you mentioned. Government might be suitable, especially if he can expand upon any interest in history.
For concrete ideas… video game marketing!