1. Build (or Update) a Resume If your student doesn’t have one – now is the time. If they do, help them add what they accomplished this year: JA program participation, any leadership role, a skill they developed. JA programs like 3DE, Career Bound, and the Pre-Apprenticeship Program belong on a resume. College application season will be here before you know it.

2. Informational Interview Practice Challenge your student to request and conduct one informational interview this summer with a professional in a field they’re interested in. Help them draft the outreach message, prep 5 questions, and follow up with a thank-you note. This is the exact skill that JA Career Bound students develop – and it opens real doors.

3. Set a Financial Goal and a Plan to Hit It Whether your student is saving for a car, college expenses, or just wants to build the habit early – help them open or review a savings account and set a 90-day goal. Ask them: “What will you do differently to hit it?” Financial independence starts with this question. It’s a conversation worth having every summer.

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