During the summer, over 70 Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County teen members participated in the Annual College Tour. These members spent three days visiting six different universities located in five different cities within the state of Florida. The trip was an overall success with the help and dedication of 10 staff chaperones, making it engaging and impactful.
The tour began in Orlando, Florida at the University of Central Florida, where Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County Career Bound Manager and UCF Alumni, Brianna Hollins, led the tour. The members then finished their first day of the tour at the University of South Florida. Starting off the second day, the teens traveled to Gainesville, Florida, where they explored the University of Florida. Heading to their fourth visit, Florida Agricultural and Mechanical University, the teens got to see a familiar face, Kelvin Rolle! Kelvin, the 2023 Florence De George Youth of the Year, had just begun his first year at FAMU, majoring in mechanical engineering. The members spent their third and final day of the tour in Daytona Beach, visiting Bethune-Cookman University and Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
“My daughters were very grateful they had this opportunity! It helped them decide what path they really want to take in the future. Even though it was a business/educational trip, they had a lot of fun,” stated a Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County parent.
The university tours were led by representatives from the student ambassador or freshman enrollment center and/or staff from Boys & Girls Clubs of Palm Beach County who attended the university being toured. An important aspect of these tours is the inclusion of informal sessions, allowing ample time for questions related to student life, financial aid, and the admission process. The primary objective of these college tours is to familiarize teenagers with the potential experiences and surroundings they can expect during their four years at each university.
The Career Bound initiative promotes post-secondary planning and participation in college tours as it offers an opportunity to encounter the environments firsthand in which students will need to thrive once they transition away from the familiarities of home and embrace independence. This program effectively reduces some of the stress associated with choosing a college by ensuring that each participant gains comprehensive knowledge about each university.
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