Building Confidence, Finding Their Voice: Charlotte LAUNCH’s First Summit
On September 12, College LAUNCH Scholars from the 2026-2027 Charlotte cohort, arrived at The Pearl for their first Saturday Summit. The day was focused on discovering their strengths, building meaningful connections, and preparing for the college application journey ahead. Students spent the morning exploring the VIA Character Strengths framework, learning how their unique strengths shape the way they approach challenges, relationships, and leadership. Through interactive activities like VIA Strengths Bingo and “You at Your Best,” scholars had the opportunity to recognize their own strengths while learning to identify and celebrate the strengths of others.
The afternoon shifted toward one of the most important pieces of the college application: the personal statement. Scholars explored how to turn their experiences, values, and growth into compelling stories that reflect who they truly are. They practiced brainstorming potential topics, identifying their values, developing strong openings, and thinking about how to structure an authentic essay. Students also discussed responsible ways to use AI as a tool for brainstorming, organizing, and proofreading without losing their own voice. We are proud of our scholars for engaging thoughtfully throughout the day and taking another important step toward telling their stories with confidence.
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