It’s no secret that students today experience anxiety and uncertainty over their futures. According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), around 40% of 15- and 16-year-olds are unclear about their career expectations, double the number from about a decade ago.
The program developed as a direct response to ongoing conversations with FirstHand alumni students about how the Science Center could continue to support them.
With an extensive background in youth development – including 12 years with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, as well as assisting students with job placement and workforce skills in her role as Career Transition Readiness Specialist with the Philadelphia Job Corps Center – FirstHand’s Associate Program Manager, Felicia Jones, was well positioned to lead the sprint. Here’s what they covered.
Goal Setting: Have a Gameplan for Getting There
The program kicked off with students creating vision board, which helped set the tone for the rest of the week: students were focused on not only having a vision or goal, but dialing in on what it would take to achieve it. What steps would they have to take?
Felicia noted that part of the process was working through the fear of failure, and said that it was important for students to understand that you can make changes and modify your goal as you progress.
“We had a student who was absolutely terrified of making the wrong decision when it came to picking a college,” she explained – so they walked him through what a transfer looks like if his first-choice school doesn’t end up being a good fit.
Other students recognized that they had interest in fields like STEM, but weren’t sure where to go with that.
“We had them map out their strengths, their interests, what they think they're good at, and then begin to forge that into a pathway of: what would it look like, and what are your options? So if you're good at mathematics, you might want to look at engineering. If you're good at hands-on stuff and building, you may look at carpentry or construction.”
“We were going through a pathway of our life from different goals that we had, and she gave us random different roadblocks in life that could probably like stop us from achieving our goals and how we recover,” said Cole, who attends Girard College (an independent boarding school for students in first through twelfth grades).
Goal setting with FirstHand students
Let’s Get Real walked the students through the concept of SMART goals (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound) so that they had a clear roadmap for success, and they worked as a group to help develop their goals.
“One young man wanted to go viral on social media: that was his goal,” Felicia explained. Fellow students probed him to define how he could reach that goal. “What does he want to do? Well, maybe his background is photography. How do we go about that? How do we set the steps, the timeline?” The process of taking every goal seriously and mapping out a process for reaching that goal helped the students develop a framework for turning ideas into reality.
A consistent thread among FirstHand students was a desire for “side hustles” – lucrative side jobs they could use to boost their earnings and use to engage their multiple talents and interests. “I have aspirations in technology and engineering because I like math and science. But if I ever get the chance, I would like to do like a side gig of acting, like shows or being in movies,” explained Cole.
You Get Paid: Then What? Exploring Financial Literacy
Financial literacy was a popular educational request among the alumni polled. Although every student will one day be expected to understand things like how to pay off a credit card, these are life skills rarely taught in classrooms – yet understanding them can help students better prepare for their financial future.
Jamil completed FirstHand’s Data Explorers Sprint in 2026 and was interested in continuing with FirstHand programming. He’s going to be a college freshman at Thomas Jefferson University this fall, and his favorite part of Let’s Get Real was the financial literacy session – he was drawn to the information on budgeting, savings accounts, and building credit. “[It was good to know for] a financial situation later in the future,” he explained. “Maybe for college, or in the future – building your credit score can help you buy a house or buy a car.”
Students heard from Univest Bank and Trust Co. representatives about financial literacy topics like basic banking, budgeting, saving, credit, and fraud prevention.
“One of the most rewarding aspects of community banking is investing in the next generation. What stood out most was their curiosity and eagerness to learn. They asked thoughtful questions about opening their first bank account, building credit, avoiding fraud, and making wise financial decisions. It was encouraging to see them connect practical financial knowledge with their future goals. Experiences like these reinforce the importance of equipping young adults with both the confidence to pursue their dreams and the financial tools to support them,” said Univest Manager Maraine McCormack AVP, FC Manager and VP, Business Development Officer Dan Tangi.
“I will definitely be using the information,” said Cole. “It made me realize I could take money out of the paychecks I make now and put them towards saving.”
FirstHand students and mentors
Speaking Up: A Crash Course in Networking
Talking to other adults is an essential life skill – but for young adults, speaking up and networking can be very intimidating. After practicing with their peers, program participants were asked to pitch themselves to Science Center staff. The students were nervous at first, but quickly made the most of their one-minute allotment to talk about who they were, and where they were going in life.
“When I found out about the speed networking activity, I knew right away that it was something I wanted to be a part of. In my experience in working with high school students through our Career Pathways initiative, I've come to notice that it can sometimes take some practice before young people become fully confident in being able to introduce themselves in a professional manner and make professional connections,” explained Briana Cannon, Science Center Community Liaison.
Students received feedback from the staff in real time about what was working – talking loudly and confidently, asking questions, and maintaining eye contact, for example.
“The students that I interacted with were all very engaged and I could see their confidence building as the rounds progressed. Some of them even found a way to go further into conversation beyond the activity to get my contact so that we could stay connected. My hope is that they become more and more comfortable in their abilities to network and make connections from here on out, and to be empowered by this skill that they are strengthening.”
Career Readiness is More Than a Passing Grade
The Let’s Get Real program was created to help students build the skills that aren't always taught in the classroom, combining practical life skills and professional soft skills with technical knowledge.
Understanding things like goal-setting, financial literacy, and networking can help students figure out what they want to do – using the full resources that are available to them. This alumni program is the latest example of FirstHand evolving in response to the needs of its students, but certainly not the last.
And this kind of hands-on support isn't just anecdotal, it's already showing up in the numbers. Among a sample of 500 former FirstHand participants old enough to have completed high school, 63% have enrolled in some form of post-secondary education or training according to the National Student Clearinghouse, well above the School District of Philadelphia's 49% college matriculation rate. Of those enrolled, 23% have persisted in STEM and/or healthcare majors.
Felicia hopes that students remember that FirstHand is a resource for them, even after they finish their programs. “We don't have all of the answers, but we will help and support as best we can when it comes to their future,” she advised.
