A helping hand: JAG guides students through career exploration

Bryan Karu and William Sheward

Story by and Isabel Johnston

Senior Tionna Wesley enrolled in Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG), a class provided for the juniors and seniors at the Pittsburg High School (PHS). 

JAG teaches students how to be more successful in their future lives by making sure they know the basics of enrolling into college or interviewing for a job.

“I have two jobs, so a lot of the stuff that I’ve learned in JAG I have to use on a day-to-day basis,” Wesley said.

JAG has provided Wesley with support on handling experiences outside of school.

“We learn a lot of different skills that help you progress.”

Before enrolling in JAG, several students explained that without it they wouldn’t have thought about their future and how to be successful in it beforehand. JAG fully guides students into adulthood without the stress or anxiety they may have had when figuring out their life after graduation. 

This program really does guide you on the necessities of what you need to do,

— junior Haven Bolte

It’s helped and encouraged an exceeding amount of students, and is a national program. Schools include this as a class all around the country in order to guide them in the path they want and career of their choice.

“There’s a lot of stuff that a lot of people still don’t know our senior year that we learned freshman year in JAG,” Wesley said.

JAG student, Haven Bolte, says,  “This program really does guide you on the necessities of what you need to do,” Bolte said.

Bolte joined JAG because she didn’t used to think about her future as much as she does now, and she believes it can help anyone looking into college or getting a job.

JAG teacher, Jessica Avery, explains that being involved in this class can almost guarantee an easier route into adulthood. “Being able to help them choose a career, learn how to write resumes… interview for jobs… pick a college… pay for college, write scholarship letters… changes the lives of people forever.”

Avery grew up having over 50 foster siblings, so she found out at a really young age that a lot of teenagers don’t have parents who know how to properly help them write a resume for college, or even find a college they’re interested in. 

“Being able to fill that gap in everyone’s life… is just really rewarding,” Avery said.