Discover Life After High School

A new program, Life After High School, is teaching teens important skills they need for college, career and adult life. The program runs at libraries throughout the city and cover everything from college applications to mock interviews to cooking. Kelly Rottmund, CLP Teen Services Coordinator, says that the goal of the program is to “provide teens with access to as many resources and skills as possible. We want to offer a broad range of programs while making them specific to the needs of the individual neighborhoods.” Kelly sees librarians as connectors. “We’re not experts in everything, but we can look to other librarians or others in the community to bring specific skills and programs to the Library.”

The Library partnered with Junior Achievement to present “Economics for Success” a financial literacy session that engages teens through educational games, and “It’s My Future,” a career readiness series that helps prepare middle school students for the working world. Ziara Raglan, a junior at Pittsburgh Brashear High School, has attended several of the Life After High School programs at CLP– Allegheny, including the financial series.

Life After High School Programs focuses on key points including homework help and tutoring, applying to college, SAT/ACT test prep, financial aid information, homework help and tutoring, applying to college, SAT/ACT test prep, financial aid information, job search and applications, cover letters and résumé writing, mock interviews, money management, cooking, sewing, woodworking, and bike maintenance.

“These kinds of programs are important for youth like me because they help you to understand what’s going to hit you in life,” says Ziara. “Teens need help understanding how life is set up. “These kinds of programs are important for youth like me because they help you to understand what’s going to hit you in life,” says Ziara. “Teens need help understanding how life is set up.