Life Skills &
Leadership:
Life After
High School
Season: Summer
Ages: 14-18 years old (must be in high school)
Leaders: San Mateo PAL staff and Officers
Sign Up:
Registration
Form
One of California PAL’s most important programs is our "Life
After High School" youth program. High school aged kids from
various Pal’s across the state come together at Fresno State
University and begin an intense five day learning program
designed to give them the knowledge they need for life after
they graduate. One of the top goals of the conference is to
provide the youth with as much of a "college experience" as
possible. The kids all stay in the college dormitory and eat
at the university cafeteria.For many
of the kids, this is their first visit to a university. The
curriculum includes lectures about preparing for SAT's and ACT
testing, what High School courses they need to be taking to
have a better chance of getting into college, the difference
between the UC and CSU system and applying for FAFSA. Other
important subjects that are covered include school grants and
financial aid, taking AP and Honor courses in high school and
how they should apply to various colleges. Representatives
come in to talk about the benefits of going to a vocational or
trade school, becoming an apprentice in one of the various
trade unions along with other opportunities working in the
AMERICORPS and the VISTA program.
One of the very important components of our program includes
teaching PAL youth about various "life skills" that they will
need when the do graduate and move out on their own. Topics
such as opening a checking or savings account at a bank,
applying for credit and using it wisely, applying for a
passport, registering to vote and applying for the Selective
Service are all covered. A workshop on how to live on minimum
wage is given to highlight the need to better themselves and
earn higher wages. We also have various members of the United
States Armed Forces come by to speak about careers in the
military and what to expect when joining.
The "Life After High School" program directly helps PAL youth
from all around the state and this program has directly
contributed to many PAL kids being able to attend college or
better themselves as they transition into adulthood. |
