High School Students Gain Greater Insight and Career Options Available With YouScience

YouScience is transforming the way students at Shawnee and Northwestern High Schools approach career planning. Instead of guessing what might fit, students complete YouScience assessments that reveal their natural aptitudes and align them with their interests. The results provide a roadmap for high school coursework, postsecondary education, and career opportunities.

From Assessment to Action

The process begins with the YouScience assessment. Students learn how their problem-solving style, reasoning ability, and work preferences translate into real careers. Once results are in, the YouScience Navigators (Ron, Morgan, and Dara) meet with students to connect those findings to course schedules and career pathways. For many, this is the first time they see how classroom work links to future goals.

Planning Coursework With Purpose

Students sit down with navigators to build course plans and identify potential career exposure opportunities that align with their aptitudes. There is potential for math, science, and career-tech courses that can now be tied to future certifications or degrees, helping to expedite future learning and save costs over time. This structure enables students to take ownership of their education, with a clear end goal in mind.

Career Exploration With Direct Connections

Beyond planning, students research careers, create résumés, and explore training programs to further their professional development. Local employers and higher education partners can offer students opportunities to connect directly with industries that align with their strengths. Events such as “SHE DIG” for young women in heavy equipment, IT, and business, Discovery Days, and construction site field trips expand that exposure.

Building and Validating Skills

YouScience also supports students in earning industry-recognized certifications. These credentials validate skills and make students more competitive in the workforce. Automated data reports track progress and align with state requirements, providing schools and navigators with accurate insight into outcomes. If students take the assessment seriously from the beginning, which many do, it can yield valuable insights.

Success Stories That Illustrate The Impact

Morgan Hanrly, a YouScience Navigator, recalls a student who discovered rotary drill operation as a viable career after the assessment highlighted his mechanical reasoning strength. What began as a vague interest turned into a clear career option supported by coursework and training.

Ron Long at Northwestern stresses reframing assessments so students view them as opportunities, not obligations. This approach builds confidence, particularly for seniors who are making immediate career decisions.

Navigator Dara Errett emphasizes “planting seeds early” by working with students before senior year. Individual sessions provide students with the opportunity to identify their passions and develop realistic plans for their future.

Impact On Student Motivation And Community Workforce

By aligning courses with career pathways, students gain clarity, confidence, and motivation. The program also strengthens the local workforce pipeline by connecting aptitudes with employer needs. With targeted exposure and credentialing, students can find more opportunities to participate in local industries after graduation.

The YouScience Implementation Across Springfield Schools is Just Beginning 

Greater Springfield employers, educators, and community leaders can strengthen this initiative by engaging with YouScience programs. Connect with Kaityln Tyler, the Talent and Education Manager at the Greater Springfield Partnership, to explore how collaboration can expand career pathways for local students.