A New South Kent Program Supporting Boys to Learn Who They Are and Who They Want to Become
South Kent School is proud to launch an exciting new initiative this year: Life Lab: Design Thinking for Future Pathways, a yearlong seminar that helps 5th and 6th Form boys explore their passions, reflect on their strengths, and begin charting their own unique path toward college, career, and personal fulfillment.
This innovative program was designed with one powerful idea in mind: Boys who understand themselves are better equipped to navigate what’s next.
The Power of “Discovery”
Life Lab is not about choosing a major or locking in a career plan, it’s about giving boys the tools, space, and confidence to explore their identities, ask bold questions, and imagine what a meaningful future could look like. Through the lens of design thinking, students learn that life isn’t a straight line, it’s a creative, evolving process that they can shape.
Each month, students engage in self-discovery through workshops, reflective advisory activities, and career-connected experiences. They’ll practice skills like curiosity, reframing challenges, and storytelling while learning how to build a resume, conduct interviews, and communicate with professionals.
Built on South Kent Values
This program builds on what South Kent does best: forming young men of character, confidence, critical thinking, and purpose. Life Lab is being implemented collaboratively by the Career Design Leadership Team and the Advisory Program, with special help from faculty, staff, and alumni who are excited to share their journeys.
Alumni & Industry Speakers
Throughout the year, South Kent alumni and friends will return to the Hillside either virtually or in person to share real-world insight into a variety of career paths, from finance and technology, medicine to architecture, sports, service, and more. Speakers on the Hillside this year include professionals from:
- Salesforce
- Cisco
- ESPN
- Hudson Yards
These talks and the Pathways Speaker Series are designed to spark curiosity, expand possibilities, and show our students what success can look like beyond the traditional path.
NYC Shadowing Trip
One of the highlights of the program will take place in April, when boys will have the opportunity to travel into New York City for a day of job shadowing with industry professionals, many of whom are South Kent alumni. These off-campus learning experiences give students a firsthand look at professional environments, helping them ask better questions, make deeper connections, and build early confidence in the world beyond school.
Key Program Dates
- Sept 24 Student Launch: “Designing Your Life Starts Now”
- Oct–Nov Self-assessment workshops, speaker events, Alumni Connection
- Jan Designing & Prototyping includes resume, interview, and communication skills training
- April NYC Shadow Day with alumni hosts across multiple industries
- May Culmination & Program Reflection
Why It Matters
In a world that’s constantly changing, it’s not enough to prepare boys for “a job”—we must prepare them to be resilient, curious, and purpose-driven. Life Lab helps students see that they are not passengers in life they are designers of it.
Whether your son is just beginning to think about college or already dreaming of the future, Life Lab is designed to meet him where he is and guide him toward where he wants to go.
We’re especially grateful to our alumni community, particularly Kathleen Lindmayer ‘79 and Peter Sibley ‘69 for their contributions in designing this program who are stepping up as mentors, speakers, and hosts. Your involvement brings the mission full circle, and shows our boys what it looks like to live a life of meaning and connection.
Get Involved!
If you’re an alum or parent working in a field you’d love to share with our students either as a speaker or job-shadowing host. We would love to hear from you. To get started simply sign-up with Friends of South Kent or register on Alumni Connection to get involved.