The Launchpad

A comprehensive year-long curriculum for high school seniors focusing on college readiness, career planning, financial literacy, and social-emotional well-being. This sequence guides students through the complexities of post-secondary transitions with a special focus on arts-based pathways.

AMAcacia McCombs

Senior Stress Survival

Equips students with practical tools to recognize and manage the unique stresses of senior year, focusing on mindfulness, time management, and healthy coping mechanisms.

The Narrative Arc

Focuses on the college application personal statement, helping students identify their unique "hook" and structure their personal narrative for maximum impact.

Options Compass

Guides students through a objective comparison of different post-secondary pathways, including four-year colleges, community colleges, trade schools, and gap years, focusing on ROI and personal fit.

Paper Trail

Provides a step-by-step guide to creating a professional resume as a high school senior, focusing on translating school activities, part-time jobs, and volunteer work into quantifiable achievements.

Wealth Foundations

Introduces students to the fundamental concepts of financial literacy, including budgeting, credit, debt, and the Return on Investment (ROI) of their post-secondary choices.

Debt Demystified

A deep dive into the types of student loans, understanding interest rates, and calculating the long-term impact of borrowing for education.

Credit Climb

Explores how credit scores are calculated, the high cost of credit card interest, and strategies for building credit responsibly as a young adult.

ROI Showdown

Students conduct a side-by-side financial analysis of six distinct college types, calculating the Return on Investment (ROI) based on tuition, debt, and projected arts-career salaries.

Funding the Future

Demystifies the federal financial aid process, guiding students through the FAFSA requirements, deadlines, and the search for external scholarships.

Portfolio Blueprint

Focuses on the selection, documentation, and presentation of visual and written work for college admissions, emphasizing quality over quantity and the power of the artist statement.

The Audition Room

Prepares performing arts students for the high-stakes environment of college auditions, focusing on etiquette, professional presentation, and the mental preparation required for a successful "slate" and performance.

The Writer's Crate

Guides creative writing students through the selection, revision, and professional formatting of their best work for college admissions, including tips for poetry, prose, and screenwriting.

Screen and Stage

Focuses on the specific technical and performance requirements for dance and film auditions, including self-tape production, dance combination mastery, and the nuances of on-camera performance.

The Paperwork Pitch

Focuses on the strategic components of the college application that require external input or detailed organization, specifically requesting recommendation letters and curating a professional activity list.

Life After Launch

Focuses on the practical and emotional transition from high school to independence, covering logistics like housing and health insurance alongside strategies for building new communities and maintaining mental well-being.

The Connection Map

Focuses on the importance of networking and the 'hidden job market,' teaching students how to identify connections and conduct informational interviews.

The Interview Spotlight

Teaches students how to prepare for and excel in job interviews, focusing on the STAR method for behavioral questions and professional body language.

The Lease Ledger

Teaches students how to read a rental lease, understand tenant rights, and calculate the true cost of living independently, including security deposits and utilities.

The Tax Template

Introduces students to the basics of the U.S. tax system, explaining how to fill out a W-4, the difference between gross and net pay, and the importance of the 1040 form.

Household Hacks

Teaches students the practical skills of maintaining a home, including grocery budgeting on a budget, basic tool safety, and creating a sustainable cleaning routine.

Freelance Foundations

Introduces students to the world of freelancing and the gig economy, explaining the difference between 1099 and W-2 work, how to set rates, and the importance of the 'Freelance Tax' (Self-Employment Tax).

The Copyright Shield

Teaches young artists the basics of intellectual property, how to protect their work with copyrights and trademarks, and how to read a simple creative contract.

The Creative Brand

Focuses on building a cohesive digital presence as an artist, covering personal aesthetic, social media as a professional portfolio, and the basics of a personal brand statement.

The Pivot Pattern

Teaches students how to handle post-secondary rejection and setbacks, providing a framework for reframing "failure" as a redirection and identifying actionable next steps.

The Restoration Room

Explores the specific symptoms of creative exhaustion and provides sensory-based strategies for recovering artistic energy and maintaining a sustainable practice.

The Feedback Loop

Teaches students the professional standards of artistic critique, focusing on how to give constructive feedback and how to receive criticism without taking it personally.

The Power of No

Teaches students how to set healthy boundaries with peers, family, and future clients to protect their creative energy and professional time.

The Artist Talk

Teaches students how to present their creative work confidently, focusing on voice projection, visual aids, and the 'Story-First' method for artist talks.

The Focus Filter

Explores the psychological impact of social media algorithms on creative focus, teaching students strategies for mindful digital consumption and intentional "offline" creative time.

The Wealth Engine

Introduces the power of compound interest and the basics of retirement accounts like the Roth IRA, explaining why starting small in your 20s is a financial 'superpower.'

Safety Nets

Explains the basic types of insurance young adults need, including health, car, and renters insurance, with a focus on terminology like premiums, deductibles, and out-of-pocket maximums.

The Citizen Artist

Introduces students to the responsibilities and power of being a citizen artist, focusing on voting basics, understanding local government, and how creative voices can influence community change.

The Digital Mirror

Explores the intersection of artificial intelligence and creative work, teaching students about the ethics of generative AI, copyright implications, and how to use AI as a tool rather than a replacement.

The Pitch for Art

Teaches students how to articulate the economic and social value of the arts to stakeholders, including government officials, school boards, and potential donors.

The Source Check

Teaches students how to critically analyze media sources, recognize algorithmic bias, and identify common disinformation tactics in digital spaces.

The Digital Handshake

Teaches students the standards of professional digital communication, focusing on subject lines, the 'sandwich' method for requests, and email etiquette for interacting with professors and industry professionals.

The Ensemble Ethos

Focuses on the dynamics of creative collaboration, teaching students how to manage group projects, handle creative differences, and the ethics of ensemble-based artistic work.

The Fine Print

Teaches students how to read and understand creative contracts, identifying red flags such as 'work-for-hire' and 'indemnification,' and how to negotiate basic terms.

The Creative Hustle

Explores the reality of the multi-hyphenate creative career, teaching students how to balance a 'day job' with their artistic practice and manage multiple income streams.

The Creative Guard

Explains the roles of agents, managers, and publicists in the creative industries, and how to spot predatory practices in talent representation.

The Heavy Lift

Teaches students how to calculate the true cost of a large purchase, including financing, interest, depreciation, and hidden maintenance costs for items like cars or professional equipment.

The Quiet Mind

Explores the psychology of imposter syndrome in the arts and provides practical tools for silencing the 'inner critic' to maintain creative momentum.

The Digital Fortress

Teaches students how to protect their financial and personal data in a digital-first world, covering strong password habits, two-factor authentication, and how to spot phishing scams.

The Plastic Trap

Explores how credit cards work, the danger of compounding interest, and strategies for using credit as a tool for building a financial future rather than a trap for debt.

The Safety Buffer

Teaches students how to calculate and build an emergency fund tailored to a variable income, introducing the concept of 'sinking funds' for predictable creative expenses.

The Nomad's Note

Guides students through the logistics of planning independent travel on a budget, covering flight hacking, hostel safety, and emergency protocols for young travelers.

Safe Practice

Teaches students the practical safety standards for their artistic practice, including hazardous material handling, ergonomics for desk-based work, and hearing protection for performers.

The Giving Economy

Introduces students to the non-profit arts sector, explaining how foundations, community arts centers, and grant-making organizations function as career paths and funding sources.

The Artist's Shield

Teaches students how to identify predatory practices in the arts world, including 'pay-to-play' scams, exposure-only work, and how to verify the legitimacy of contests and galleries.

The Tech Backstage

Focuses on identifying and documenting the 'behind-the-scenes' skills that make an artist employable, such as stagecraft, technical software, and project management.

The Artist's Union

Introduces the history and function of creative unions (like SAG-AFTRA, AEA, and the AFM), explaining how they protect wages, provide benefits, and establish safe working conditions for artists.

The Pop-Up Studio

Teaches students the logistics of self-producing exhibitions and performances, covering DIY spaces, permit basics, and how to create a professional 'call for entry' submission.

The Artist's Manner

Teaches students the behavioral standards of the creative industries, including the art of the thank-you note, networking event protocols, and professional gift-giving ethics.

The Artistic Record

Differentiates between a standard job resume and a creative Curriculum Vitae (CV), teaching students how to list exhibitions, performances, awards, and technical commissions.

The Creative Engine

Introduces students to the fundamental skills of arts management, including production scheduling, team leadership, and basic project budgeting for creative endeavors.

The Social Blueprint

Explores the intentional effort required to build and maintain community as an adult, teaching students how to find 'third spaces' and manage the transition of high school friendships.

The Daily Spark

Teaches students how to build and maintain a sustainable artistic practice through small, consistent habits, focusing on the 'Atomic Habits' method for creative output.

The Creative Launch

Teaches students how to plan, execute, and document a significant creative project, focusing on milestones, resource management, and the art of the 'Launch.'

The Long View

Guides students through a long-term goal-setting exercise, helping them map out professional and personal milestones for their first five years after high school using a visual timeline approach.

The Final Checklist

A comprehensive final review and logistics checklist for high school seniors, covering voter registration, insurance cards, professional email signatures, and emergency contact updates.

The Launchpad

AMAcacia McCombs

The Launchpad • Sequence • Lenny.com

The Launchpad

The Launchpad

Stress Survival Handout

Stress Survival Slides

Essay Blueprint Worksheet

Options Comparison Chart

Resume Building Guide

Financial Literacy Fact Sheet

Loan Roadmap Handout

Borrowing Math Worksheet

Credit Climb Slides

ROI Data Profiles Sheet

ROI Showdown Worksheet

FAFSA Fast Track Guide

Scholarship Goldmine Tracker

Artist Statement Builder Worksheet

Visual Arts Portfolio Checklist

Visual Arts Portfolio Slides

The Audition Room Slides

Audition Prep Canvas Worksheet

Creative Writing Portfolio Guide

Screen and Stage Slides

Self-Tape Technical Guide

Brag Sheet Toolkit Handout

Activity List Masterclass Worksheet

Graduation Survival Guide Handout

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