Prepare Students for Their Future: Develop a Course for Students to Explore Their Purpose

Female high school student smiles and gestures with her hands up in surprise and discovery as other students watch in a classroom.

People take different roads seeking fulfillment and happiness. Just because they’re not on your road doesn’t mean they’ve gotten lost.

– Dalai Lama XIV


ACTIVITY

  • Develop a course for students to explore their purpose, gain a better understanding of who they are, and what they value.
  • The course should be authentically student-centered and provide for student agency, autonomy, voice and choice. It should serve as a guide for them to discover and explore themselves and their purpose and futures.
  • Not only are students more likely to engage in the course because it’s directly relevant to them, but future-focused courses provide students with a lower-stakes environment to practice life-ready skills and directly plan and prepare for their actual future (not a hypothetical or generic future).

Related Articles

Resources We Love (And Hope You Will Too!)

During our May Counterpart meetings, we asked folks to share what they have been engaging with recently. Below is a list of all the resources shared by our incredible community, offering a taste of the diverse and inspiring content they’re currently exploring. This list has something for everyone: from thought-provoking articles to captivating podcasts to must-watch documentaries. So, take a peek, pick your poison, and get ready to dive into something fantastic!

Passion. Pride. Promise. Two Leaders Help Pave the Way for Their Students & Communities

Tucked away in the hills of rural western Oregon, the Vernonia and Gaston school districts defy many of the stereotypes most of us hold when we think of rural schools. Their communities face both common and unique challenges. Vernonia Elementary Principal, Michelle Eagleson, and Gaston Superintendent, Summer Catino, share how their small schools and communities achieve greatness.

Case Study: Merced Union High School District

Through its work with Inflexion, MUHSD is seeing strong results in student outcomes and in closing the opportunity gap for underserved students. California School Dashboard data show College/Career Indicator scores for African American, Hispanic, English Learners, students with disabilities, students who are homeless, and students who are socioeconomically disadvantaged are 16 to 29 points higher than the state average.

Responses