73% of interns chose high-demand career pathways
See how Northeast Mississippi career coaches connect student aptitudes to real-world opportunities with YouScience
Products: Aptitude & Career Discovery
Challenge
Students in Northeast Mississippi need exposure to career opportunities that align with both their aptitudes and regional workforce demand. Career coaches wanted a more intentional way to help students explore pathways, build confidence in their decisions, and connect to real-world experiences in high-demand fields.
Solution
Jennifer Dale is a career coach at Pontoc High School and part of the Toyota Wellspring Education Fund Career Coach Cohort, managed by the CREATE Foundation, where career coaches work together to expose, prepare, and connect students to career opportunities across Northeast Mississippi. The cohort uses YouScience Aptitude & Career Discovery as part of that broader career-connected learning model.
At Pontotoc High School, students:
- Complete aptitude-based career discovery in middle and high school
- Explore careers through expos, job shadows, guest speakers, resume building, and mock interviews
- Use aptitude insights to help guide internship and career pathway decisions
Students who choose internships complete career-readiness training followed by paid, hands-on experience with local employers.
Results
Among Pontotoc High School interns from 2022–2026:
- 73% chose one of Northeast Mississippi’s four highest-demand career pathways
- 37% entered healthcare
- 18% entered advanced manufacturing
- 11% entered information technology
- 7% entered transportation and logistics
Internships are offered across all 18 career pathways, giving students flexibility to pursue opportunities that align with their goals and aptitudes.
