Boys and Girls Clubs of North Mississippi was recently awarded a $7,310 grant from the Taco Bell Foundation For Teens to support a Graduate To Go Career Experience. The grant is targeted at inspiring teens to stay in high school and graduate through an entrepreneur learning experience.
Tupelo Club members are taking part in various entrepreneurship activities where successful entrepreneurs share their passions, successes and even failures in order to gain insight into the choices, education and discipline required to obtain and maintain successful careers and lifestyles. Teens are also gaining insight of salary differentiation among graduates and non-graduates.
Participants are enjoying onsite experiences; most recently visiting the South Gloster Taco Bell. The BGCNMS staff feels that being outside of the day to day activities of the Clubhouse reinforces the reality and possibility of members achieving their goals.
Pre and post career surveys will be taken by teens to rate the effectiveness of the project. Teens will be polled on how successful they feel they could be without earning a high school diploma; the effect of positive role models upon their future; and the importance of goal setting; study habits and discipline.
In conjunction with this project, a career workshop coordinated by Vanessa Brocks, Academic Counselor at the University of Memphis will be held on September 24th from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Haven Acres Club. During the workshop, members will gain insight on the transition to college through presentations by: Mark McCloud, Assistant Director of Student Development at The University of Mississippi; Leontyne Anderson, School Counselor at Tupelo High School and Brocks.
Topics will include, "Taking Care of Business”, "Moving On Up”, and "What You See Is What You Get”. Presentations will focus on academics, career choices and what teens can do now to become prepared for the transition ahead. Also available for participants will be college materials from Mississippi State University, The University of Memphis, The University of Mississippi and Itawamba Community College.