Uncategorized - JFF Britebound Center

Back-to-School Special: Learning from High School Counselors about Education and Career Navigation in Practice

Fall is here, and school is back in session across the US. Earlier this summer, I had the chance to conduct a focus group with school counselors from across the nation who were attending the American School Counselor Association Annual Conference. These dedicated counselors work with high school students every day, and they offered important […]

State Legislatures in 2025 Embrace Expanding Students’ Access to Personalized Career Guidance

With summer ending and a new school year starting, many young adults ages 16 to 24 are likely considering their plans for the upcoming year and what’s on the horizon. Some may be deciding on classes or which career pathway to pursue, how to balance coursework with their job or other responsibilities, and when and […]

Shadow Series: Middle Schooler Becomes a Car Detailer for a Day

Sure, Tobias isn’t old enough to drive, but he definitely knows cars. This 13-year-old from New York lives and breathes art, design, and all things German engineering. One day, he dreams of turning his interests into a future in the automotive industry. To explore his career options, he’s making the trek out to Astoria […]

Shadow Series: Is This Sustainability Buff a Fit for Farming?

Kelleah is all about being green. It’s her way of giving back to the world, and she’s so into it that she even built her own sustainable fish tank at home. Now she’s wondering how she can use her passions for ecosystems and the environment to make an even bigger impact in the future. […]

Shadow Series: A Day in the Life of a Video Game Designer

When Reina’s not playing games and collaborating with her friend, or building a super-computer with her dad, she’s dreaming of creating video games. After this high schooler learned how to start coding, she became curious about what goes into bringing her favorite games to life behind the scenes. In this video, Reina heads to […]

Shadow Series: An Aspiring Drone Pilot Explores how to Get His Career off the Ground

Meet Jeremiah. He’s a homeschooler with a serious passion for drone racing. He’s so into it that he even started taking classes in aerial vehicle design and operation, which got him thinking: What sort of drone pilot jobs exist? So, today he’s exploring one avenue – drone filmmaking – with a real-life professional. Follow […]

10 Things I Learned from My Internship as a First-Gen Student

Starting a remote internship as a first-generation college student felt like decoding a secret language. I wasn’t just adjusting to Teams calls or learning new tools: I was navigating unspoken professional norms with no roadmap and no family anecdotes to guide me. Through trial and error, I learned lessons that transformed my anxiety into ownership. […]

The Journey to ‘Future Me’: Career Navigation Insights from Our Interns

This summer, the ASA Center for Career Navigation at JFF launched our first-ever summer internship program—supported by Origami Works—with interns Skylar Brown and Ibrahim Garcia. Throughout the internship, we explored the core principles of career development and addressed the challenges young people face in navigating their career paths. This experience reinforced the critical importance of […]