With our pilot year concluding, we have much to celebrate. Apprentices gained poise and keen insights into workplace culture. Our Site Partners were unanimously positive in their feedback, noting that Apprentices arrived ready to go to work and exhibited a seriousness of purpose that belied their ages. And Apprentices have landed in highly selective jobs and summer programs!
It’s still a little early to know if we have helped students over the long term. One of our goals is that Apprentices will be successful in their ninth grade year in high school, typically the most treacherous year for becoming ‘off-track’ for graduation. But we are off to a strong start: seven students have been accepted to programs that combine academics and career interests. And will support them through high school.
Five Apprentices have been selected for Summer Science Academy, at the Brigham and Women’s Hospital, a paid summer internship where students explore science topics while working in various hospital departments. Two Apprentices have been accepted with full scholarships to MassArt’s program, ArtWard Bound, a four-year college preparatory program that combines academics and study of the arts. And, four students applied to ABCD Summerworks jobs program and will be notified this week if they have been selected from the lottery for paid summer jobs. The remaining students have summer plans that include residential summer camps, academic programs, or family travel. All Apprentices will move into high school next year with a career portfolio and a sense of their own work competencies.
All of our Site Partners expressed an interest in hosting an Apprentice next year.
