VIDBE-Q 2026 Volume 71 Issue 3
practicing professional communication, learning interview strategies, building self-
advocacy skills, and preparing for interactions with employers. During the event,
each student hosts a networking table and participates in ten "mini mock
interviews" with community professionals that ask different questions. Students
discuss their strengths, accomplishments, leadership experiences, career goals,
teamwork skills, and professional growth while receiving individualized feedback.
The mock interviews serve as both a celebration of student growth and a
meaningful assessment of employment readiness.
For College Prep students, the culminating project is the Leadership Speech
Project. Throughout the summer, students engage in self-reflection activities
focused on values, goals, strengths, leadership styles, communication preferences,
and personal growth. Students select a meaningful topic and spend several weeks
researching, locating sources, creating outlines, writing drafts, incorporating
feedback, and developing public speaking skills. The project culminates on
Summer Promotion Day, where students present their speeches to peers, families,
staff, and community members. For many students, this becomes a powerful
opportunity to recognize their growth and share their future goals.
As the program ended, many students and families shared feedback that
reflected the impact of both the instructional and residential experience. Student
reflections demonstrated growth in confidence, independence, and self-
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