overview

The Grade helps young men see their high school years from the viewpoint of their entire life. It encourages them to develop now the skills and attitudes they will need for future life challenges. Through a combination of classes, career presentations, and one-on-one mentoring, it teaches them to be men of character who are ready for responsibility in:

 

Marriage & Fatherhood

Professional Work

Responsible Citizenship

Friendship with Family, Colleagues, Neighbors, and God

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

Admission to most suitable college

Ease of speaking in front of groups

Familiarity with important philosophical ideas

Academic Excellence

Well Balanced Extracurriculars

Productive Use of Summer Months

True Friendships

Habit of Extracurricular Reading

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

Sincerity (truthfulness)

Self-discipline (self-control)

Toughness (courage)

Loyalty

Self-confidence

Magnanimity (good ambition)

Leadership

By the time a student completes The Grade, he will have:

 

Been exposed to a college application from early in freshman year;

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;

Become familiar with the College Board website;

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;