LaunchPad
My LaunchPad experience changed my preconceived ideas of what it was like to be lawyer. Getting to shadow my mentor's day-to-day work life in and outside of the courtroom was so informative and helped me realize that I want to work with people; I don't want to sit behind a desk. ” –Upper School student who shadowed a UPrep alum and public defender
UPrep juniors and seniors spend three weeks stepping off-campus to work on a project of their own design in an environment that speaks to their personal passions and/or vocational curiosities. As a result of this LaunchPad experience, they not only develop self-awareness, but also exercise making informed decisions about their paths beyond UPrep.
Each LaunchPad student is paired with a mentor, often a UPrep alum, who works in their field of interest. This provides students with valuable career development and networking opportunities.
I saw a full picture of how a business works by shadowing in all departments. While I want to go into mechanical engineering, I also want to be a business owner, so it was helpful to get a better idea of how a business is managed.” –Upper School student who shadowed at an auto body shop
From shadowing software engineers or public defenders to observing lab research or medical procedures, LaunchPad gives students the chance to engage with the world beyond UPrep and practice the skills they’ll need after they graduate. In addition to the technical skills gained, LaunchPad helps students develop important soft skills such as communication, presentation, problem-solving, and time management. They learn to navigate professional environments, adapt to workplace expectations, and build professional relationships.
As part of the experience, each LaunchPad student writes at least six reflective blog posts and a four- to six-page reflection paper about their three-week journey, and shares their work with our community through a 10-to-12 minute TED Talk-style presentation at the LaunchPad Showcase.
LaunchPad allows students to put into practice all of the executive functioning skills they have learned at UPrep. Having a mentor encourages them to dive deeper and push themselves further in this real-life situation.” –Assistant Head of School for Academics Ed Billingslea
