Young Adults on a Journey

A participant at The Bridge may…

• have been to college and decided they need better preparation for self-management or a more developed sense of passion and motivation before going back.
• be considering a more technical, hands-on vocational path and need life experience, work experience, professionalism training, and vocational exploration before going into the work world or choosing a technical college for education.
• have unique skills and personal resources, but needs to continue to strengthen their support network and individual resources to allow them to better navigate through adult life.

A Bridge participant may not know exactly where they want to go in life. Or they may know where they want to go, but need support in making the changes necessary to get there. In any case, these young adults have the level of insight needed to recognize that they would benefit from a supportive and eye-opening preparatory experience before making the next step.

Quick Look at Participants

• 17-23 years old
• Separate campuses for young men and women
• 8-14 young men at a time
  
• 4-8 young women at a time
• Completed high school (or only have a few credits remaining, which can be done at New Summit Academy)
• Looking for a gap semester or hybrid gap year
• Enrollment between 6 months and 18 months, average of 8-9 months

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A Bridge participant may be... 

• intellectually bright but lacking the executive functioning skills (time management, future planning, organization, decision-making) to follow through.
• allowing their world to shrink in on them without reaching out for support and are functioning with few and inefficient resources to productively prepare for their future.
• a nontraditional learner (i.e. artistically talented) and struggling with a level of anxiety or depression that dampens their performance and damages confidence.
• motivated to change but not knowing exactly how and may be avoiding doing what it takes to make change happen.
• losing confidence in themselves because they made some poor decisions, possibly leading to insecurity about the direction of their vocational path or ability to manage independent living as an adult.

What We Offer

• Career exploration through internships & work experience with professional mentors
• Service learning & community service hours
• Classes online or at bilingual universities (or New Summit Academy for high school seniors nearing completion)
• Community living with staff mentors & peers
• Individualized support & mentoring
• Holistic, individualized goal-planning and follow up
• College counseling support
• Family involvement & growth
• Cultural immersion home stays & Aventura trips
• Spanish language lessons & cross-cultural immersion
• Character development of work ethic, responsibility, & relationship building
• Self-sufficiency and development of independence through life skill workshops & community living
• Healthy recreation and social integration

How We Support

We love everyone in our community.
We are not as interested in your problems as we are in your passions
​and your potential to build resilience and overcome problems.
We are all perfectly imperfect, striving to learn, grow, and give.
​Let us accompany you in discovering your passions and your own unique path.

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Testimonials

“I feel much more confident about myself as a person, and have matured a lot since being here.”

“I’m learning more about myself, learning important life skills, practicing Spanish, living more independently with a crucial safety net, and gaining confidence that I’ll succeed outside of here.”

“I have practiced staying busy and productive for almost all of the day. I now manage and schedule my time to organize my day and follow my priorities.”

More Testimonials