Mentoring Upptik Style
Structuring Your Mentoring Sessions
As an Upptik Mentor, your role is to help your student feel less alone and share insights that prepare them for what’s ahead. To do this effectively, we recommend using three tools during your sessions: your life experience, the Multimedia Resumé, and the preselected topics your student may have chosen to talk about.
Your role is to make this experience enjoyable and exploratory for the student, leading them to a clearer understanding of who they are and what they want to achieve. Use these tools as your guide, but don’t be afraid to let the conversation take its own path when it feels right.
Note: For some students, particularly Connecticut Technical High School seniors, the Multimedia Résumé also serves as their official Capstone Project. This means your guidance has an added layer of importance. By helping them complete résumé sections, you’re also helping them meet graduation requirements. For other students, the Multimedia Résumé is simply a powerful tool for career readiness and self-discovery.
The Multimedia Resumé: A Roadmap for Conversations
If your student is part of the Connecticut Technical High School System, their Multimedia Résumé will be graded as their Capstone Project. Each section you explore with them contributes not only to their self-discovery and career preparation but also to fulfilling their school’s project requirements. For students outside this program, the Multimedia Résumé still serves as a roadmap for career and personal growth.
The Multimedia Resumé showcases students’ current strengths and experiences while inspiring them to seek new growth opportunities. It’s not just a task; it’s a journey of self-discovery, guided by your mentorship. As students build their resumé, they’re crafting a vision of who they want to become. With your support, they pursue experiences that shape them into that person, helping them grow into well-rounded, confident teens who take pride in both who they are and who they’re becoming.
Each session, consider focusing on one section of the Multimedia Resumé to open up meaningful conversations.
Multimedia Resumé Sections
Education
Discuss their favorite subjects, challenges, and how these experiences relate to their future goals. If they’re unsure, suggest listing relevant coursework or academic clubs.
Job Experience
Help them identify skills they’ve picked up from jobs, like customer service, time management, and teamwork. Many students don’t realize the value of these experiences.
Community Service
Suggest ideas for community service or volunteering if they’re unsure where to start. This could be anything from volunteering at a local food bank to organizing a school fundraiser.
Life Experiences
Encourage them to share life moments that have shaped them, like travel, cultural experiences, or personal challenges.
Interests
Talk about their hobbies and passions. What do they love doing in their free time? This section is about what excites them.
Achievements
Celebrate their wins—academic, athletic, or otherwise. Achievements don’t have to be formal; overcoming a challenge is also significant.
Extracurricular Activities
Discuss their involvement outside the classroom, whether in sports, clubs, or other activities. Explore new opportunities if they’re not involved in much.
Classes
Review the classes they’ve taken or want to take, and how these align with their goals. Help them identify how their academic choices support their future plans.
Documents and Credentials
Review any official documents like resumes, awards, or certificates. Discuss what types of documents might be relevant if they don’t have much yet.
Recommendations
Talk about who might provide a recommendation, like teachers, coaches, or employers who can speak to their character and achievements.
Skills and Projects
Encourage students to create five short videos that highlight their skills, projects, or personal stories. These bring their Resumix to life and, for Connecticut Technical High School seniors, also serve as an important part of their Capstone Project.
Building Your Own Multimedia Resumé
Before you start mentoring, take the time to thoughtfully fill out your own Multimedia Resumé. The better you know your journey, the better you can guide your student through theirs. Remember, this isn’t just about building a resumé—it’s about helping your student become someone they can be proud of.
If you’re mentoring a Connecticut Technical High School senior, building your own Multimedia Résumé will give you insight into the expectations they’ll face for their capstone. For other students, your example shows how to meaningfully capture experiences in a way that inspires them to do the same.
Preselected Topics: Tailoring Each Session
Your student can choose topics from the list below, giving you a chance to offer targeted advice and share your experiences. Each session can blend these topics with the Multimedia Resumé, ensuring a productive and impactful meeting every time.
Explore the tip links for helpful conversation prompts.
Mentor Tip: If your student chooses this option, remember that their Resumix is also their official Capstone Project. Guide them by:
Helping them connect each section to their story and growth.
Encouraging them to highlight experiences that show responsibility, skill, or perseverance.
Breaking the project into smaller steps so they stay on track.
Reminding them that a strong capstone presentation comes from clarity and authenticity, not perfection.
- What’s senior year in high school like? Tips
- What are the academic challenges I might face? Tips
- How important are extracurricular activities & volunteering? Tips
- What changes can I expect in teacher expectations? Tips
- How should I approach preparing for the SAT or ACT? Tips
- What steps can I take to explore potential career interests or college majors? Tips
- What’s applying to college like? Tips
- What should I start doing now to prepare for college applications?
- How do teacher recommendations work, and when should I start asking for them?
- What are college visits like?
- What questions should I ask?
- Preparing for the work world. Tips
- What’s job training like?
- Do I need experience?
- What resources could help?
- How did you explore?
- What exposures did you have?
- Was there a certain resource that helped you?
- Did you know someone who did what you’re doing?
- What resources could help me?
- How did you decide?
- What should I consider? Tips
- Finances
- Time
- Opportunity
- Geography
- Personality
- Hopes, dreams & expectations
- What resources helped you?
- What are the key steps I need to take to ensure I’m ready for graduation? Tips
- How can I prepare for the transition from high school to college or the workforce? Tips
- Are there any skills I should focus on developing to better prepare for post-graduation life? Tips
- How can I make the most out of my senior year academically and socially? Tips
- What are common challenges students face in their first year after high school, and how can I prepare for them? Tips
- How do you stay balanced?
- How do you stay organized?
- How do you let off steam?
- How do you keep from getting behind?
- What resources can help? Tips
- What surprised you?
- What made things easier?
- What made it harder than it needed to be?
- What didn’t you do that you wish you had done?
- What resources can help? Tips
- What steps can I take? Tips
- What steps did you take?
- What should I be on the lookout for?
- Dos & Don’ts
- What resources can help?
- How hard is it? – Tips
- How much time do I need to spend?
- How many classes should I take?
- How many hours should I work?
- What resources can help?