At our most recent event, our 10th-grade students celebrated an important milestone: their final event as College Access students. Before they officially move on to the College Success Program as juniors, we gathered at the bowling alley for an evening full of food, fun, friends, and mentors.
The College Access Program serves as an introduction to the many possibilities of higher education. Over the past three years, students have learned about college systems, explored what it takes to become a strong college applicant, visited campuses, tried new activities, and connected with professionals from different careers.
At the heart of that experience is exploration. I often tell students that figuring out what you like is just as valuable as figuring out what you don’t like. That means being willing to try something new. Whether it was visiting a new campus, trying a new activity, or simply stepping outside of their comfort zones, our goal has always been to give students opportunities to discover more about themselves and the world around them. Even during our celebration, I discovered it was someone’s first time bowling, and that single-handedly made planning the event worth it!
Those experiences matter beyond college preparation. Knowing yourself and remaining open-minded will serve our students wherever life takes them.
Of course, our students haven’t explored these possibilities alone. Mentorship has always been a foundational part of Operation Jump Start since its inception. Mentors encourage students to try new things, explore career paths, overcome challenges, and celebrate their accomplishments along the way.
While the formal OJS mentoring ends after 10th grade, the relationships certainly don’t have to. I wouldn’t be surprised to see many of these mentors cheering from the sidelines at high school graduations, college graduations, and all the big and small milestones in between.
Now, the Class of 2028 is ready for its next chapter. As juniors, they’ll enter the College Success Program and begin the more intensive work of preparing for life after high school: researching colleges, writing applications and essays, navigating financial aid, and making decisions about their futures. A laundry list of things that could potentially overwhelm anyone. Unlike everyone else, though, these students have the backing and support of everyone in the OJS community. And while I can’t promise a lack of challenges up ahead, I can guarantee a feeling of accomplishment when you get to the other side of this college goal you’ve been striving for.
This event may have marked the end of their College Access journey, but it certainly isn’t goodbye.
To the Class of 2028: stay curious, remain adventurous, and don’t be afraid to try something new. Reach out when you need support, celebrate how far you’ve come, and remember that you’ve already built the foundation you need to take on what’s next. Your next chapter is just beginning.
