2. 15
Learning about Yourself

3. Section 15.1
Assessing yourself

4. Objectives After completing this section, you will be able to:
Explain the importance of self-concept.
Describe the components of making a self-assessment.

5. Key Terms
self-concept self-esteem self-assessment soft skill hard skill interest aptitude General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB) ability

6. Developing Your Self-Concept
Self-concept is the mental image you have of yourself
When you have a positive self-concept, you are not easily swayed by negative influences
Self-esteem is a feeling of self-worth and confidence
People with high self-esteem believe they can handle life’s challenges

7. Making a Self-Assessment
Self-assessment is the process of taking stock of your skills, interests, aptitudes, and abilities
Through self-assessment you are better able to plan your future
Self-assessment techniques may involve thinking exercises or written or electronic testing

8. What Are Your Skills and Interests?
To know and understand yourself, you need to analyze your skills and interests
Soft skills are personal skills that affect how an individual interacts with others
Hard skills are teachable skills that are learned
Your interests are the activities, events, and ideas that you like
One way to become more aware of your interests is to take an activities-preference inventory

9. What Are Your Skills and Interests? (continued)
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher

10. What Are Your Aptitudes?
An aptitude is a person’s natural, physical, and mental talents for learning
If you have an aptitude for a skill, you will be able to learn and perform the skill well
Be realistic about your aptitudes
To learn more about your aptitudes, ask your guidance counselor if your school gives any aptitude tests

11. What Are Your Abilities?
Ability is a mastery of a skill or the capacity to do something
Abilities are learned through training and practice
Abilities are developed more easily if you have related aptitudes
Your interests, aptitudes, and abilities all need to be considered in career planning

12. Section 15.2
Exploring Who you Are

13. Objectives After completing this section, you will be able to:
Identify how personalities may influence life choices.
Explain how your values influence your behaviors.
Describe the importance of creating goals.

14. Key Terms
ethics lifestyle goal long-term goal short-term goal standard standard of living resource
personality id ego superego habit learning style values

15. Your Personal Characteristics
Personality is the unique way an individual thinks, feels, and interacts
Your personality influences the way other people feel about you
Your personal characteristics are a combination of your personality traits and your behavioral habits
It is commonly accepted that a person’s personality is influenced by the id, ego, and superego

16. Personality Traits and Habits
Different careers require different personality traits
It is important to consider your personality when establishing your career goals
A habit is something you do repeatedly, in the same way
The habits you form are a part of your personality
They influence the way others see you

17. Personality Traits and Habits (continued)
Goodheart-Willcox Publisher

18. Learning Styles
Learning styles are the different ways people take in information and process it
Because of your preferred learning style, you might find it easier to learn certain kinds of information or develop specific skills
Knowing this can help you plan for college and choose a career

19. Your Values and Ethics
Values are the principles and beliefs that you consider important
Ethics are the set of moral values that guide a person’s conduct
It is important to always behave in a way that is true to your values
Your ethics should be your guide when making tough decisions

20. Your Goals Goals are what you want to attain
A person’s goals are usually based on his or her values
Lifestyle goals reflect what you want from life
A short-term goal is a goal to be reached tomorrow, next week, or within a few months
A long-term goal is a goal that may take several months or years to achieve

21. Standards A standard is an accepted level of achievement
A person’s standard of living refers to the goods and services considered essential
Standards are closely related to values and goals
Knowing your own standards can help you understand yourself and establish lifestyle goals

22. Resources
Resources are all the things that can be used to reach a goal
Personal resources are those you have within yourself, such as knowledge and experience
Personal resources are intangible, not concrete
Tangible resources are the material things you have or can use to achieve goals
Examples include money, tools, clothes, and community resources

23. Identify a job that you might want to have in the future
Identify a job that you might want to have in the future. Which would be most helpful in getting such a job—your interests, your aptitudes, or your abilities?
What is one habit you have that you would like to break? What is one habit you would like to develop?