Joy at the Heart of Student U
By Kristain Abrams
Welcome back to Youth Work 101; our series dedicated to equipping educators, youth workers, and advocates with tools and inspiration to empower young people. Today, we’re diving into a cornerstone of impactful youth programming: cultivating spaces and cultures rooted in joy. At Student U, joy is essential to our work. It’s our secret sauce for success, the fuel used to create thriving learning environments, affirming communities, and to support resilience in students.
Creating joy-filled spaces empowers students to thrive by fostering confidence, connection, and a sense of belonging. Cultivating joyful spaces requires intentional efforts to ensure safety, inclusivity, and celebration. At Student U, we utilize those approaches through various methods, such as:
Individual Practices
– Growth Mindset: Help students view challenges as growth opportunities through effort and persistence.
– Our ‘Big Ups’ Culture: Publicly celebrate individual accomplishments, reinforcing hard work and success.
Classroom Practices
– Meet & Greets: Start each day with meaningful interactions to make students feel valued and included.
– Collaborative Learning: Foster teamwork and respect through activities that uplift every voice.
– Weekly check ins with their advocates and students from their school.
Community Initiatives
– Summer Academy Brill Bash: Celebrate creativity and dedication with performances and projects at the summer’s end.
– Decision Day: Honor graduating seniors’ resilience and achievements alongside their peers and families.
– As, Bs, and Growth Party: Celebrate student academic achievement at the end of each Quarter with a focus not just on honor roll but most importantly, growth.
– Spirit Week: Host spirit week throughout the school year and in the summer for our in-person programming.
– Restorative Practices: Incorporating restorative practices in community building and professional development trainings for staff supporting students.
What a Joyful Culture Means
At Student U, a joyful culture ensures students feel safe, seen, and celebrated. Safety encourages risk-taking and growth. Feeling seen builds confidence and connection. Celebrations reinforce value and achievement. And some of the ways we bring this to life is through our focus on building:
Safe Spaces: Wellness programs, opportunities for open support through mentors, teachers, & staff, and the creation of inclusive & welcoming environments.
Recognition: Check-ins and shoutouts to ensure every student feels valued.
Celebrations: Events like the Brill Bash and Decision Day create lasting memories of pride and belonging.
Joy isn’t just a goal—it’s woven into everything we do, creating a community where every student can thrive. Take it from Taryn Melvin, a senior at J.D. Clement Early College High School and a long-time Student U member. For Taryn, Student U is more than a program—it’s family.
In a recent conversation she said, “Student U grows with you, nurtures you, and carries your identity through the people you meet.”
Her journey exemplifies how joy-filled spaces can empower students to realize their strengths. Taryn’s story reflects the larger impact of Student U, where intentional programming fosters both academic success and the self-confidence to overcome life’s challenges.
Our Approach: Whole-Child Support & Leadership Development
Last year alone, Student U supported 434 students, offering enriching programs like after-school tutoring, summer academy, and college prep. But beyond academics, students participated in 495 hours of middle school programming and up to 435 hours of high school programming, where they strengthened collaboration, built confidence, and experienced the joy of learning.
This holistic approach extends to family support. We know that when families thrive, students thrive. That’s why we provide wraparound services like health screenings, parent education workshops, and college and career guidance, ensuring that success isn’t just about grades but overall well-being. Our leadership development programs take this a step further, by helping students cultivate identity and purpose through mentorships, clubs, electives, and internships. At Student U, every achievement is celebrated by a community that sees, values, and uplifts each student.
Growing Forward: Joy in Action Across North Carolina
Our commitment to joy extends to the educators and community members who are shaping the future alongside us. This summer, our Summer Academy Leadership Team brought together 75 participants, including educators from 12 schools and partners like Duke and NCCU, to promote culturally responsive and joyful classrooms. Over 50% of our teaching team were certified educators, 40% were returning staff, and 5% were Student U alumni, all working to inspire the next generation.
Looking ahead, we are expanding our Full-Service Community Schools model across central North Carolina, bringing wraparound support to elementary schools and beyond. By deepening partnerships with schools, universities, and community groups, we are closing equity gaps and building a culture of collaboration and joy in education.
At Student U, we’ve learned that joy is more than a fleeting emotion—it’s the foundation for meaningful, transformative education. Most importantly, joy is seeing students realize their own power to dream fearlessly, overcome challenges, and shape a brighter future for themselves and their communities.
Read our full interview with Taryn and explore how joy drives everything we do at Student U. Ready to learn more or get involved? Visit the ‘23-24 Impact Report to learn more about our work and the impacts and impressions we’re making in our students and families’ lives.
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