Beyond the Tassel: Helping Students Discover What Comes Next

What comes after high school?

For some students, the answer is clear. For others, figuring out what comes next can feel overwhelming. The South Baldwin Chamber and Foundation are launching Beyond the Tassel, a new initiative designed to help students explore careers, discover opportunities, and better prepare for life after graduation.

The program is launching in partnership with the career coaches at Foley High School and Elberta High School and will initially focus on career exploration tours. Students will visit local businesses and industries, meet professionals, learn about different career paths, and gain firsthand insight into the education, training, and skills required for various careers.

But the vision for Beyond the Tassel goes beyond career tours. As the program grows, we hope to build connections to internships, training opportunities, career partnerships, and other experiences that help students make informed decisions about their futures.

The Power of Mentorship

To strengthen the program, the South Baldwin Chamber and Foundation are partnering with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Gulf Coast to provide students with one-on-one mentors, or “Bigs.”

Mentors will have the opportunity to join students on career tours and continue the conversation afterward, helping students reflect on what they experienced, explore careers that interest them, identify education and training requirements, and think through their next steps.

“We’re excited to partner with the South Baldwin Chamber Foundation to bring the power of mentorship to Beyond the Tassel. Young people benefit tremendously when they have a caring adult in their corner who can help them explore possibilities, build confidence and begin envisioning what their future can look like. By connecting students in Foley and Elberta with dedicated mentors - who we call Bigs- we’re not only helping them prepare for what comes after graduation, we’re helping them see just how much is possible for their lives.”

— Aimee Risser, CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Gulf Coast

We Need Our Business Community

We are looking for local business professionals who are willing to become mentors and invest in the future of a South Baldwin County student. You don’t have to have all the answers. You simply need to be willing to show up, listen, share your experience, and help a student think about what comes next.

The tassel is only the beginning. Help a student discover what comes beyond it.

Interested in becoming a mentor? Begin your volunteer enrollment with Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Central Gulf Coast by clicking HERE.