For most 14-, 15- and 16-year-olds, the answer to the question “Where do you want to be at age 40?” might be a little foggy. But for aspiring meteorologist Amber Hughes, a freshman at Douglass High School, the forecast is looking bright.
“I want to graduate as valedictorian of my high school, with a 4.0 GPA, and go to Harvard,” she said. “I’ll get my master’s in atmospheric sciences, move to New York City and eventually become a meteorologist for ‘Good Morning America.’”
Hughes detailed her plans during the “Jumpstart to Success” Summer Academy held at Douglass. Daryl Hardnett, a social studies teacher in the school’s Center for Engineering and Applied Technology (CFEAT), asks all of his students to choose a profession and map out a path to that goal. Students are required to research colleges and careers, as well as the steps they need to take to meet the qualifications of each.