Career Exploration Academy
Helping Your Teen Build a Confident Future
The Career Exploration Academy is LYFEhouse's signature guided career exploration experience for students who want personalized support as they discover career possibilities and build a plan for their future.
Your teen will:
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Discover their real strengths, not just what they're told they're good at
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Explore careers before they walk across the graduation stage
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Hear directly from professionals in fields they've never considered
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Leave with a personalized Career Action Plan
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Gain confidence talking about their future
A Guided Career Exploration Experience for Teens Ages 14-16
Most teens are asked what they want to do after high school before they've had a chance to explore what's possible.
The Career Exploration Academy is a virtual program that helps students discover their strengths, explore careers, connect with professionals, and create a personalized Career Action Plan through a year-long guided experience.
Eligibility:
Program Cost: FREE
Program Length: September 2026 - May 2027
Eligibility: Students ages 14-16 residing in Alachua County
Format: Virtual
Capacity: Limited Enrollment
Commitment: Approximately 1-2 hours per month
How it Works
"The goal isn't to help your teen choose a career today. It's to give them the confidence, self-awareness, and exploration skills to make informed decisions about tomorrow"
The Career Exploration Academy is a structured program offered through the LYFEhouse Career & Leadership Center.
Designed to fit alongside school, extracurricular activities, and family commitments.
Program Includes:
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3 Individual Career Coaching Sessions
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3 Career Exploration Workshops
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5 Industry Mentor Chats
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Access to a Digital Resource Library
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Personalized Career Action Plan
Estimated Time:
1-2 hours per month
What Your Teen Will Experience
Individualized Career Coaching
Three one-on-one sessions to reflect on strengths, set goals, and build a personalized Career Action Plan.
Digital Career Resource Library
Students receive access to tools, activities, worksheets, and guides that support exploration beyond scheduled sessions.
Career Exploration Workshops
Interactive workshops introduce exploration strategies and provide opportunities for students to engage in meaningful discussion and reflection.
Personalized Career Action Plan
Your teen finishes the year with a written plan outlining their strengths, interests, and clearest next steps.
Industry Mentor Chats
Real conversations with working professionals across industries; expanding what your teen believes is possible for their future.
Meet the Founder
Dr. Simmonds has spent more than 15 years leading career education initiatives throughout Alachua County. She holds a Certified Master Career Services (CMCS) credential, is a professional resume writer, and earned her Doctorate in Educational Leadership from the University of Florida, where her research focused on career preparation of today's youth.
She founded LYFEhouse to increase access to quality career education for youth of all ages. Over the years, she has partnered with organizations including the Alachua County School Board, Dream on Purpose, Okito America, and Caring and Sharing Learning Center to expand access to quality career education.
