Breaking Barriers: How Educators Help Students Get Involved in RWL
Written by Jadynne Brady, Blue Springs South High School Junior
Initially published in “P.O.V. Publish Our Voices,” a student-run magazine showcasing the perspectives of young writers.
Real World Learning (RWL) programs offer many unique opportunities that help students learn and grow, becoming increasingly prepared for the future. They learn problem-solving and management skills in both the business and real world.
However, these programs are not well known and many students are unaware of the opportunities that RWL offers.
Junior Brennen Judkins at Kearney High School was unaware that she could be involved with RWL, as it wasn’t something that was now well advertised.
“I didn’t know that it was something that you could join,” said Judkins, “The only way that I had heard about it was through the posts on our schoolwide Google Classroom.”
Her Google Classroom is run by her teacher, Mrs. Holtzclaw, who posts new opportunities, like some RWL programs, and also scholarships.
I think it [the Google Classroom] is very helpful because it allows us students to find opportunities that closely relate to what we want to do after high school and lets us try different things.
Brennen Judkins, Kearney High School Student
She finds that many other students are probably in the same situation as she is.
“Most students, like me, probably have not heard of RWL and most likely don’t know what the program is or its benefits,” Judkins said.
Despite not being a part of RWL, Judkins finds herself very involved.
“[I’m a part of] Scholar Bowl, golf, trap shooting, marching band, ASL club, HOSA, book club,” Judkins said.
While all of these activities provide important skills, RWL gives the skills that students need to thrive in the real world. As someone very involved in school, from a book club to HOSA, Judkins would be very interested in being a part of RWL.
“I am usually interested in any of the healthcare programs that are offered,” she said, “especially if they are tailored to pediatric medicine.”
To combat the lack of knowledge about RWL, Judkins urges programs to make more of an effort to reach more people.
“Try emailing students or posting on social media to reach more people,” said Judkins.
With RWL, students have gained new experiences and have been able to prepare for the real world, with problem-solving and business management that high schoolers not in RWL wouldn’t get.
RWL’s influence must exceed its prior success. That way more students can take advantage of the opportunities RWL has in order to prepare students for a brighter future. For more information, you can go to the RWL Website.
