“Tell me and I forget, teach me and I may remember, involve me and I learn.” - Benjamin Franklin -
The 1:1 Junior Career Mentor Program is unique to Newport Harbor High School. The program started 27 years ago as a component of the first small learning community on campus, the “Da Vinci Academy”, and is funded by the Newport Harbor Educational Foundation. Over the years, the Junior Mentor Program has continued to grow and is now open to all juniors who wish to participate.
The program runs from summer after sophomore year through spring of junior year. Mentors provide career job shadowing to help students explore career options and act as an adult listener outside of family and school. Mentors can empathize with students about being a teen in our complicated world and help students develop strong decision-making skills. The program gives our students the opportunity to test drive a future career interest, as well as a reality check on their dreams before making further educational and professional decisions.
Newport Harbor High School is fortunate to have committed mentors and adults in the community who give their time to help the next generation. All mentors go through a thorough screening process that includes a Department of Justice background check, LiveScan fingerprinting, and TB testing. Mentors are matched with a student of the same gender. The majority of our mentors have been with the program for years, and we work diligently to match students and mentors in terms of both career interest and personal interest to help guarantee a successful year for both participants.
Applications are made available to students during the spring of their sophomore year for entry to the program. The application requires the student to submit a resume and complete a series of assessments designed to help the student determine their top three career choices.
Students and their mentor will meet for a minimum of 5 meetings over a period of 9 months, July – March. All meetings take place off campus at the mentor’s workplace for job shadows and at mutually agreed upon places and activities within the community for the personal social meetings. It is the student’s responsibility to contact their mentor to arrange all meetings. Students are required to submit six reflective papers throughout the program. We ask that mentors present job shadow opportunities that provide real-time learning opportunities. Students must be committed, independent, self-reliant, and able to schedule and attend meetings, as well as arrange their own transportation. This program also requires the support of a parent/guardian and the provided Mentor Coordinator to guide the student and mentor.
