Over a two-month period in the Fall, our 11th graders participated in several workshops that covered interviewing, relationship building, and etiquette. We worked with amazing partners like Fox 2 News, TJ Maxx, and Scarlett Communications in preparation for an inaugural grand event, the FATE Professional Academy. The event paired our students with the finest professionals in Detroit for a night of networking and professional advice, with our students also publicly sharing stories they had written about their fellow mentees and mentors.
From the moment Le'Morris, one of our 11th graders, walked through the doors of the Henry Hotel in Dearborn that night, we got some firsthand feedback we will forever cherish. Decked out in his professional clothes and jacket provided by TJ Maxx, LeMorris said, "Ms. Kuhu, I'm not taking off this jacket. I'm not going to be able to talk to people if I do."
It was like his superman cape. He fearlessly talked to the adults in the room, got several business cards, and made quite an impression on all the professionals there. And as the night came to the end, Le'Morris said, "This was one of the best nights of my life." In addition to Le'Morris, one of our other students, Stephen, scored him and his peers a visit to local startup, StockX (post coming soon), through his networking that evening.
We are extremely proud of all our 11th grade students and the courage they showed at the FATE Professional Academy. Soon enough, they'll realize it's not the coat, it's the person in the coat.
