Career Exploration Pathway
For students in grades 7-10, Magnolia Project’s semester-long Career Explorations Pathway includes on- and off-campus career exploration opportunities alongside trusted industry mentors. Anchored anchored in personalized curriculum to identify interests and develop skills, the program concludes with reflections and initial planning for a meaningful next phase after high school.
In preparation for their career exploration, students participate in personalized lessons focused on identifying their passions and career interests, understanding the community and the local economy, and developing work-readiness competencies.
The signature experience in the Career Explorations Pathway is spending 3-5 days on or off campus shadowing a trusted industry mentor in their field of choice. Mentors represent industries such as agriculture, manufacturing, education, nonprofits, public safety, and journalism. Many of our mentors were educated locally.
For students not yet ready to journey off campus, we offer immersive classes on campus that highlight careers such as film, cosmetology and barbering, agriculture, culinary, and fitness.
Students build durable skills including self-understanding, interpersonal awareness, professional communication, and critical thinking about goals and tradeoffs.
At the conclusion of the program, students reflect upon their experiences and share their learning with the school community, their family, and their mentor. Students also develop a plan for their meaningful next phase after high school, including concrete next steps such as enrolling in high school or college classes, volunteering, or applying for jobs.