overview
The Grade is a mentoring program that helps young men to live deep and fulfilling lives by becoming excellent students, friends, citizens, and future fathers. These ideals are pursued through classes, practical activities, mentoring, and presentations by successful professionals. Each month, students attend a seminar and meet one-on-one with a mentor who helps them to personalize the program content and set practical goals.
character traits to be acquired
The Grade helps students to acquire a number of character traits (virtues) that will enable them to accomplish worthwhile goals throughout their lives. Through the mentoring, talks dedicated to specific virtues, and the example of good professional men, students come to understand these traits and identify them (or their absence) in themselves and others.
Self-knowledge
Responsibility (justice)
Integrity
Good judgment (prudence)
Service
Perseverance in commitments
Self-discipline (self-control)
Toughness (courage)
Loyalty
Self-confidence
Magnanimity (good ambition)
Leadership
Sincerity (truthfulness)
goals to be achieved
The Grade helps these young men to achieve a number of practical goals by the end of high school. These achievements are valuable as preparation for college and career. Even more importantly, they are opportunities to develop their character. These goals include:
Awareness of career interests
College selection and preparation
Ease of speaking in front of groups
Familiarity with important philosphical ideas
Articulation of life goals
Self-mastery in use of technology
Scheduling and use of time
Academic excellence
Cultural and civic engagement
Productive use of summer months
True friendships
Habit of extracurricular reading
Etiquette and personal appearance
Resume and interview preparation
By the time a student completes The Grade, he will have:
Interacted with numerous professional men who are known for their competence and integrity;
Had five years of monthly one-on-one mentoring sessions to set goals for the upcoming month;
Taken a Career Inventory test;
Received a book list to guide his extracurricular reading;
Written a personal resume based on achievements from his high school years;
Prepared for, engaged in, and been evaluated on a mock interview;
Participated in numerous skill development activities requiring public speaking;
Experienced a college-level seminar;
Become familiar with the major virtues found in men of character.
