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DLSU-GSB-BUS8300/Module on “Family Life”

Session III: The Influence of My Family of Origin

MY CAREER GENOGRAM

Guides to Genogram Presentation:

In preparing your genogram, ask yourself these questions and share the answer in your
genogram presentation.

1. What were your grandparents’ and parents’ educational and career goals?

Mother Side/Grandparents Father Side/Grandparents

- both did not finish their elementary - both did not finish their elementary
- career goal was not much of a concern - career goal was not much of a concern

Mother Father
- W/ M.A.(Educational Management) - college graduate (Commerce)
- college graduate (Education) - to have a stable job
- Career goal is to become a teacher

1.1 Were they able to achieve these? Who and what helped?
My parents were both able to achieve their career goals through the help of family
members and by having part-time jobs to support their studies.

1.2 Are they similar / different from your own goals? In what way?
My goals are a bit different in the sense that I have benchmarks and milestones that I
wanted to accomplish at certain points.

2. How were successes and failures handled in your family?

Successes and failures are shared among all the members of the family since major
decisions are shared among all family members.

2.1 What were the effects of these experiences on you and on your other family
members?
These experiences have made our family closer and stronger. We share
common goals and vision especially as regards our family business.
2.2 What effect did these successes and failures have on shaping your values and
beliefs about the purpose of work, meaning of success and significance of
money?
Reinforced my faith in God, my purpose in life, and the value of humility.
I see my work as an extension of my purpose in life.
Though money is very important, I see it only as second to a fulfilling job.

3. What did your grandparents expect of your father/mother when they were growing up?
(Intelligence, achievement, hard work, obedience, etc.)
As for my father, nothing much was expected from him by his parents since they see him
as a very simple minded person. However, it turned out the other way since, with
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modesty aside, my father achieved greater heights than his brothers and sisters. As
regards my mother, nothing much was also expected from her since she only wanted to
be a teacher since childhood, unlike her other brothers and sisters who took up careers
as lawyer, engineer, etc.

3.1 While growing up, what was your role or job assignment in and out of the family?
How were these expectations similar/different from those your father/mother had
when they growing up?
Being the eldest, I was always assigned to look over my brother. Later on, more
and more responsibilities have been delegated to me by my parents. My
childhood was a bit different from that of my parents since I was trained to handle
big responsibilities early in my life.
3.2 How did you feel about these expectations then?
At first I was getting offended since I am having shorter time to spend for leisure.
However, I have no regrets since this has helped me become a very responsible
person.
3.3 How are these affecting your work ethics now?
Being trained in responsibilities early made me become a very dedicated person
to any endeavor that I take on. It also helped me become a result oriented
person.

4. How was the relationship of your parents to your grandparents?

As for my mother side, it was excellent. Unfortunately, our family did not have a
good relationship with my grandparents on my father’s side.
4.1 How did this affect their life and work?
It made me realize how hard it is to be poor that I really took it upon myself to
help out my parents in making a change in our economic status.
4.2 How did this affect your parents’ relationship with you?
It made us reliant on our own resources.
4.3 How did this affect your choice of career? Did it encourage or discourage you in
working for your own goals?
As regards my career, it didn’t have an effect. It made me realize how hard it is to
be of low economic standing that it made me think of some really big goals in life.
4.4 Were there any direct or indirect requests for your career goals? (Threatened,
demanded, or were you given a choice, left on your own?)
No. Though I was being conditioned to become a lawyer, I was still later on given
the free hand to choose my career.
4.5 How did you respond to the request?
At first I tried to weigh my options, then, later on decided based on my personal
preference.
4.6 How do you feel now about the way you responded then to your family’s
preference regarding your career?

File:dlsu 3 CAREER GENOGRAM.doc\Myrna

5. If you look back to your grandparents and parents and the stories you heard about their
lifestyle, work and relationships, what values, strengths and weaknesses were passed
down to your generation? (Strengths such as: Industry, perseverance, education,
respect, God centeredness, etc. / Weaknesses such as: Abuse, alcoholism or addiction,
infidelity, tendency to withdraw, etc.)

5.1 How do these affect you now at home, at work and in relating to others?
My parents had the most influence on my personality especially in terms of work ethics.
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I’m having difficulty relating with local authorities in the city since our family has been
active in local politics.
5.2 How do these affect the way you handle problems and make decisions?
My parents’ attitude is to take things slowly and being cautious in making decisions.
5.3 Do these experiences have any bearing on the choices you have made or are
making in your career?
Yes. I took up management since I thought it to be a very flexible career since I have a choice between getting employed
locally or abroad.

6. How did you feel about your gender and sibling position with regards to roles and
expectations? (Be surrogate parent to younger sibling, run household, expected to
financially support family, etc.)
I have no regrets being the eldest and taking much of the responsibilities since this have
made me become a person who doesn’t hesitate in taking charge when conflicts arise.
6.1 What skills and responsibilities did these assignments require you to develop?
Dedication, sense of responsibility, self denial, and honesty.
6.2 How have these skills and responsibilities shown up in your career path?
As an employee and entrepreneur, I have always preferred positions in
operations.
6.3 Were there any assignments you would have preferred instead of the ones you
were given? Why?
No.

7. Did your parents agree or disagree on your academic career goals?

7.1 Why and how did they disagree? They agreed since they realized that I can help
them out in the business.
7.2 How were you affected by their disagreements?
7.3 Did you have to choose between them? What was the effect of this on you, then
and now? No.
7.4 In retrospect, did you make the right choice? Yes since I am very happy with my
work.

8. Was one parent closer to you or more involved with your choices?
8.1 How was this closeness explained? Yes, my mother.
8.2 How was the distance from the other parent explained? Not much.
8.3 How did your closeness or distance affect your relationship from your siblings, then
and now? Not really.
8.4 What would be different now if you were close to both of your parents, then? Yes.

Points for analyses:

1. Note occupational and life-career balance patterns represented in your three-

generation family tree.
2. Consider any family pressures, constraints, or expectations influencing your career
choice. Look into the possible influence of any “hand-me-down dreams” – the
unfulfilled life career aspirations of your parents and grandparents tat you are
unconsciously – or even consciously – trying to fulfill.
3. Look into family influences on your relationship at work – with authority figures, in
your teams, with subordinates.
4. Define your family of origin’s value about work, success, and money.
5. Consider the feelings you have about your current work and work-life balance.
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File: dlsu 3 CAREER GENOGRAM..doc\Myrna