💼🚀 LaunchPad: Turning Passions into Purpose
🎒 An Afterschool Career Lab for Ages 15–18
🌟 Real Goals. Real Skills. Real Futures.
High school students are standing at the edge of what’s next—and they’re asking big questions:
What do I love? What am I good at? Where do I start? LaunchPad is a dynamic, teen-led afterschool experience that helps students turn talents into career paths, interests into opportunities, and ideas into action. Through hands-on projects, networking, and creative self-discovery, LaunchPad helps teens build a future that’s bold, meaningful, and uniquely their own.
🧭 How It Works
LaunchPad helps students explore careers with purpose, guided by:
🧠 Self-Discovery & Identity Mapping: Explore passions, strengths, values, and goals through reflection and personality tools.
🔍 Career Exploration Tracks: Deep dives into pathways like creative arts, STEM, entrepreneurship, social impact, health & wellness, and more.
🎯 Real-World Simulations: Hands-on challenges that mirror what professionals do in the real world—team planning, pitching ideas, solving problems.
🎤 Professional Spotlights: Live or virtual sessions with guest mentors, alumni, or local changemakers from diverse industries.
🛠️ Portfolio Building: Create resumes, personal websites, project portfolios, or digital pitches to showcase their growing skills.
🛠️ Sample Projects + Experiences
Students lead or co-create projects such as:
🎬 Career Storytelling Video: Interview someone in a field of interest and create a short, shareable video story.
📊 Passion-to-Project Challenge: Turn a hobby into a micro-business, fundraiser, or awareness campaign.
🛠️ Skill-Building Bootcamp: Learn resume writing, email etiquette, mock interviews, and goal-setting strategies.
📢 Pitch Your Path: Present a personal “career concept” that blends talent, impact, and purpose—Shark Tank-style.
🗺️ Life Design Lab: Build a “future map” with education, career, lifestyle, and impact goals.
🎉 LaunchPad Futures Fair
The program concludes with a high-energy LaunchPad Futures Fair, where students:
🎤 Present projects, pitches, or portfolios
🤝 Network with local employers, colleges, or mentors
📝 Get feedback on resumes or interview skills
🏅 Receive awards and recommendations for leadership and growth
It’s part showcase, part stepping stone—and 100% youth-powered.
🎁 LaunchPad Toolkit
Each participant gets a LaunchPad Toolkit, including:
📓 Career & Identity Journal
🧰 Portfolio templates (digital + print)
💻 Access to a curated directory of career sites, internships, and skill-building apps
🛠️ “Mini Missions” for home exploration (budgeting, mock applications, etc.)
📨 Monthly inspiration emails featuring scholarships, teen job boards, and passion projects
🌟 What Teens Walk Away With
🎯 Clarity: A stronger sense of direction and purpose
🗣️ Confidence: Communication, presentation, and self-advocacy skills
💼 Readiness: Real tools for internships, jobs, and college planning
🎨 Ownership: A portfolio that reflects who they are and where they’re headed
🌎 Connection: Support from mentors, peers, and a growing network
✨ Because the Future Isn’t One Path—It’s Yours to Build
LaunchPad isn’t just about careers. It’s about becoming a leader in your own life.
With the right tools, voice, and vision, students don’t just prepare for the future—they create it.
💡 Their talents.
🗣️ Their story.
🚀 Their next step.
Let the journey begin.