Expanding Horizons: How College Visits Are Helping Teens See What's Possible

At Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore, preparing young people for success means helping them imagine a future beyond what they see every day. Through our Life & Workforce Readiness pillar and growing teen strategy, we are creating meaningful opportunities for teens to explore college campuses, discover new career pathways, and begin envisioning the futures they want to build.

This summer, teens from Clubs across Baltimore and the Eastern Shore stepped onto college campuses including Morgan State University, West Chester University, University of Maryland, Bowie State University, and the University of Maryland Eastern Shore. For many, these visits marked their first time experiencing college life firsthand.

Rather than simply touring campus, teens had the opportunity to walk through residence halls, visit classrooms, learn about admissions and student life, and ask questions of current students and university staff. These experiences transform college from an abstract idea into an attainable goal.

"Our goal is to make higher education feel accessible," said Kyra Nichols, Manager of Club Experience at the Baltimore Ravens Boys & Girls Club. "When teens can picture themselves walking across a campus, sitting in a classroom, or talking with college students who have stories like theirs, it changes the way they think about their own future. That's where confidence begins."

College visits are one piece of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore's broader commitment to Life & Workforce Readiness. Alongside career exploration, leadership opportunities, financial literacy, workforce development, and mentorship, these experiences help young people develop the skills, confidence, and vision they need to thrive after high school.

"We're exposing our teens to limitless possibilities," said Kahron Connor, Great Futures Manager at the Baltimore Ravens Boys & Girls Club. "Every visit starts conversations about goals, careers, and what comes next. Even if a young person hasn't considered college before, these experiences help them realize they have options and people who believe in them."

As Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore continues to expand teen programming, experiences like these remain central to our strategy. By connecting teens with colleges, careers, mentors, and new opportunities, we are helping them build not only a plan for tomorrow, but the confidence to pursue it.

Because every young person deserves the chance to see just how far they can go.