The BE Your Dream! (BYD) program provides inspiring presentations with different and needed topics for the youth to focus on their dream. BYD is one of the initial programs of the Make Every Dream Count (MEDC) campaign. MEDC will provide programming for 2,500 middle school and high school students in SW Washington. This will be their opportunity to find their desired profession through coursework, literacy, and engagement. It is a youth intervention tool to have a better quality of life.
The dropout rate continues to rise to approximately 17% in Clark County, which is approx. 900 students every year without proper education. Due to budget cuts, schools have not any extra monies to address subjects outside of the curricula. We have found the formula to keep students engaged and successful in school. Unfortunately, the school's budget is limited and cannot award us the entire funding necessary to provide our programs and services to all the middle and high school students in need.
Providing specific customized programs to meet each school changes eases the load on teachers, staff, and the student body. Surprisingly, 87% of students do not make any post-high school plans while they are in school. We systematically breakdown barriers to dreams, and turn them into realistic goals. They are required to accomplish those goals with aid of others, overcoming their fears, thinking outside the box, and guidance from our teachers.
The immediate effect of this project will provide a needed support system for all 2,500 to graduate on time, resume building experience, and open their minds to post secondary education opportunities. In addition, the students who are need of extra motivation, guidance, and mentoring will receive it. As a long term impact, this will be the catalyst to improve graduation rates in the state of Washington to above 90% (currently 83%).
