Life Beyond Highschool
Faculty Mentor Name
Tierra Smithson
Abstract
While volunteering at our community host site; Parklane Elementary, we developed a two day interactive simulation upon which students in grades 3rd through 6th experienced and learned about careers that can be pursued after high school. During our time at our site, we learned that a lot of our students were both misinformed and/or uninformed about the post-secondary options available to them, often viewing it as unattainable for their future. In response, we created a presentation that highlighted and explained multiple post-secondary options such as four year universities, trade schools, certification programs, and jobs that don’t require a four year degree. We also included available resources to help fund these options including federal funds and scholarships. Through hands-on activities, we were able to create new learning opportunities for students who are new to the topic. For example, students participated in hands-on activities where they explored the different career paths and discussed what steps would be needed to achieve them. Our goal was to increase awareness, motivation, and confidence among students by helping them understand that there are many attainable paths to success after high school.
Life Beyond Highschool
While volunteering at our community host site; Parklane Elementary, we developed a two day interactive simulation upon which students in grades 3rd through 6th experienced and learned about careers that can be pursued after high school. During our time at our site, we learned that a lot of our students were both misinformed and/or uninformed about the post-secondary options available to them, often viewing it as unattainable for their future. In response, we created a presentation that highlighted and explained multiple post-secondary options such as four year universities, trade schools, certification programs, and jobs that don’t require a four year degree. We also included available resources to help fund these options including federal funds and scholarships. Through hands-on activities, we were able to create new learning opportunities for students who are new to the topic. For example, students participated in hands-on activities where they explored the different career paths and discussed what steps would be needed to achieve them. Our goal was to increase awareness, motivation, and confidence among students by helping them understand that there are many attainable paths to success after high school.
