Empowering Teens for Academic Success

A recent partnership and collaborations helped us give our youth a strong start to the school year!

This was a truly collaborative effort. It began by partnering with STRIVE Giving. After initial brainstorming sessions, STRIVE created a unique UPshop (independent living skills workshop) of best practices to address the challenges of distance learning. There was a panel of educators offering insights and tips; a personal trainer that led the group in a mini-workout; and ended with a deep dive into creating a personal workspace, developing healthy habits, time blocking and the importance of mindset and positive affirmations. Most of the information also applied to mentors working from home, so everyone learned! One participant said that there were “…good tips and tricks on how to be successful and engaged with distance learning”.

It was good to hear that some of the youth were already incorporating healthy habits into their days. One youth drinks water when he first wakes up and throughout the day. Something he learned from an older brother that was in the Air Force. Another youth goes jogging every morning after her first period class. The personal trainer shared his perseverance to keep his new business running when COVID-19 struck, which was a lesson on resilience for everyone. Sharing healthy habits were really helpful for workshop participants, who noted that they had plans to drink more water each day, write down new habits they want to work on, or use affirmations.

For some time, we’ve enjoyed meeting to mutually share ideas with colleagues from the Wonder Mentoring Program, but have wanted to join together. This workshop was the perfect opportunity, and 3 of the older Wonder Matches joined us! 

Youth that attended the UPshop received a $10 gift card, whiteboard sleeve, dry erase marker, flash drive, and handouts to help with time blocking, habit tracking and self-reflection. All youth were entered into a drawing for two $25 gift cards and both an Aging UP and Wonder youth won the drawings.

In addition, backpacks with school supplies were delivered to all of our youth at the start of the school year. Funding from Ticket to Dream Foundation’s Take Flight Grant made the UPshop and the supplies youth received possible. We’re so thankful to Ticket to Dream for investing in our educational services, and to Strive Giving and Wonder Mentoring for partnering with us for this event.