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.