Young people can accomplish so much of what they need to do in a day with just the push of a button.
Much of what used to involve getting up and going someplace or getting together with other people is now accessible within the palm of your hand…without so much as looking up.
So how do we expect struggling tweens and teens to make investments in the future when instantaneous results and immediate gratification are often one click away? Maybe if there was a place where they could go to see a glimpse into the future, then they might make better school-related decisions today.
Something akin to a Dickensian theme park where the ghosts of things to come magically, mysteriously (and ominously) portray the results of today’s uninformed decisions or stunted growth mindsets. Or, perhaps, a more Capraesque Virtual Reality experience where they work beside underdogs who overcome great adversity and go on to do great things.
A place where we could get them thinking about the life they want and how the ride there could be made smoother by more focused attention on their education. A place where, say 10% of the kids who walk in the door saying they won’t graduate high school end up changing their minds before they walk out the door again.
A place where 15% of the kids that walk in saying they are unlikely to graduate from a 4-year college suddenly change their response and say they are likely to graduate with a 4-year degree.
And what if we could move the needle on that group of youngsters for whom a Bachelors Degree isn’t likely or necessary to having a rewarding career? What if we could get 25% of those students who say they are unlikely to graduate from a 2-year college to change their minds in just four hours?
Well, we can. And you don’t have to buy plane tickets, meal plans and express passes to do it. All you have to do is make sure your students experience JA Finance Park®, where the “theme” is all about taking stock of your aspirations and becoming “adults for a day.” And as inspiring as it is, there is nothing magical about it. Just combine 12 prep lessons at school with a real-world simulation at JA Finance Park®, and you will see similar results.
Come see for yourself on November 29 as we cut the ribbon on the new Delaware Pathways center in JA Finance Park® along with Governor Carney and Woodbridge School District Superintendent Heath Chasanov. Junior Achievement of Delaware is proud to partner with Delaware Technical Community College as a Work-Based Learning Activity Provider for Delaware Pathways
Rob Eppes
President
Junior Achievement of Delaware
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