Journeys Symposium Program at GWUOHS helps students prepare for college & life
At The George Washington University Online High School (GWUOHS), preparing students for college—and for life—goes beyond academics. The Journeys Symposium Program is a hallmark of the school’s approach, offering a five-year, student-centered pathway that helps learners grow into confident, capable young adults ready to take their next steps with clarity and purpose.
Unlike traditional advisory or guidance programs, Journeys Symposium integrates college readiness, leadership, service learning, and self-discovery into the student experience year after year. It isn’t a one-time class, but a carefully designed sequence of courses for grades 8 through 12. This program builds self-awareness and skills that help students set purposeful goals for high school, college, and beyond.
Journeys Symposium: A Grade-by-Grade Journey
“Recognizing that growth is a journey, not a race, the program was thoughtfully designed to provide continuous, personalized support across key developmental stages, from early exploration to postsecondary planning.” said Lisa Bell, Lead College Counselor at GWUOHS.
Each year of the program has its own theme, focusing on both academic success and life planning.
8th Grade
Students start the symposium as early as 8th grade. The first class they take as part of the program is Jumping into Journeys, which challenges students to map out their academic plans by scheduling future courses, exploring career choices, and preparing for the rigor of high school.
9th Grade
Students take Career Planning: Envisioning, Exploring, Evaluating. Similar to 8th grade, students further explore their personal interests and dive deeper into what makes them tick, ultimately identifying their learning style and career preferences.
10th Grade
This year, students engage in a hands-on project of their choice in the class Service to a Cause: Community, Compassion, Commitment, with the goal of encouraging them to give back while discovering the impact of community engagement. Bell said students get incredibly excited about this service-learning project.
“Once students complete the project, they must submit a reflection,” she said. “Most students can’t believe the overwhelming sense of accomplishment when giving back to others and their community. It truly is incredible for them to recognize the value of helping others and what that can in turn do internally for themselves.”
11th Grade
In preparation for the end of their K12 journey, students take Laying the Post Secondary Foundation: Visualizing, Preparing, Planning, highlighting the belief that every student contributes a unique and essential story. Through a series of writing challenges, presentations, and discussions, students shape a powerful personal narrative that doubles as their college essay, leaving them with a clear postsecondary plan.
12th Grade
Last, students dive into their senior year with The Capstone Project: Achievement into Action. This includes a practical focus on the college application process and defending their Capstone Project, which includes researching examples of courage, motivation, and influence; current and historical. Participants work with their Journeys instructor every step of the way. Once their subject has been approved by a faculty committee, students partner with a mentor, conduct their research, then present their completed project to a panel of judges towards the end of the semester.
What if my student transfers in during high school?
Students who transfer into GWUOHS during high school are fully supported, with access to all resources—ensuring no one misses out.
“Although the program is a sequence, it doesn’t build off itself to the extent that a student isn’t successful if they missed previous Journeys content,” Bell noted, “Students can jump in successfully whenever they may join.”
*While enrolled students must earn 4 credits throughout the Journeys Symposium to be eligible to graduate and receive a GWUOHS diploma, the requirements are slightly different for students who transfer later in their high school careers. Students who transfer in grade 10, 11, or 12 will
only be required to take .5 credit of Journeys per semester of school with GWUOHS.
The Journeys Symposium is Real-World Preparation
“Each level of Journeys discusses post-secondary planning, with the focus on what life will look like after high school becoming increasingly narrow as students become upperclassmen,” Bell said.
By the time they graduate, students are not just college-ready, but life-ready. The program goes beyond theory, giving students opportunities to pursue passions and create lasting impact. Capstone Projects have even ranged from publishing books and earning pilot’s licenses to creating video games, developing skincare lines, and opening pop-up bakeries.
“Students and parents appreciate the structured time that Journeys provides to learn important information that is not going to be covered in a student’s other courses,” Bell notes, “Besides the content, Journeys is taught by College Counselors, therefore, the students are receiving this
invaluable counseling and information directly through one of their courses.”
Every year, GWUOHS students achieve a 100% or near-100% college acceptance rate, with those who choose alternative pathways graduating with clear, structured plans. Families appreciate the dedicated time to cover information not typically addressed in other courses-
delivered directly by the school’s highly skilled College Counselors.
Looking Towards the Future
Bell intends for the Journeys Symposium to continue to evolve alongside workforce trends, admissions practices, and student needs.
“Guided by a commitment to excellence and a dedication to meeting the changing needs of students,” she said. “By staying current with the latest research and best practices in college and career readiness, the program has remained both relevant and impactful. This evolution has allowed the program to offer more targeted support, integrate new tools and resources, and ensure that all students, regardless of their chosen path, receive the guidance they need to make informed, confident decisions about their futures. The program’s adaptability and responsiveness have been key to its success, ensuring it remains a trusted foundation for student growth year after year.”
At its heart, Journeys Symposium reflects GWUOHS’s belief that students thrive when supported in discovering their interests, building resilience, and setting purposeful goals.
Want to learn more about how your student can benefit from the Journeys Symposium Program? Visit www.gwuohs.com/college-preparation/journeys-symposium/ to explore how our school helps students chart a future full of opportunity.
