Resume: Your Story - Script

Warm-Up: What's Your Superpower? (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Good morning, everyone! Let's start with a fun thought experiment. If you could have any superpower, specifically for school or life in general, what would it be and why? Would it be super-speed for finishing homework, the ability to instantly understand any subject, or something else entirely? Think about it for a moment, and then I'll ask a few of you to share."

(Allow a few students to share their superpowers and reasons.)

Teacher: "Those are fantastic! Now, imagine you're trying to convince someone that you have these amazing 'superpowers.' How would you tell them about it? Today, we're going to talk about a real-life tool that helps you showcase your unique 'superpowers' and experiences: a resume. It's how you tell your story to the world, whether it's for a job, a volunteer position, or even college."

Introduction to Resumes (10 minutes)

(Display Resume: Your Story Slide Deck - Slide 2: What is a Resume?)

Teacher: "So, what exactly is a resume? Simply put, it's a document that summarizes your skills, experiences, and accomplishments. Think of it as your personal marketing tool! It's designed to introduce you to someone you want to work for, volunteer for, or get into a program with. It's not a full autobiography, but a concise, powerful snapshot of who you are and what you can do."

(Pause for questions. Address any misconceptions.)

(Display Resume: Your Story Slide Deck - Slide 3: Why Do I Need One?)

Teacher: "You might be thinking, 'I'm only in 9th grade, why do I need a resume?' That's a great question! Even in high school, resumes are incredibly useful. Can anyone think of a reason why a high school student might need a resume?"

*(Call on students for ideas. Guide them to reasons like:)

• Teacher: "That's right! Many of you might look for part-time jobs in the summer or after school. A resume is essential for that."
• Teacher: "What about helping out in your community? Volunteer opportunities often ask for a resume."
• Teacher: "And as you get older, especially for college applications or even scholarships, having a well-organized resume of your achievements will be a huge advantage. It tells your story and shows what you've been up to!"

(Display Resume: Your Story Slide Deck - Slide 4: Key Sections of a Resume)

Teacher: "While your resume will evolve, there are some core sections that are almost always included. Let's look at the basic building blocks:

• Contact Information: This is pretty straightforward – how can someone reach you? Your name, phone, email.
• Education: This is where you list your current school and your expected graduation year. For now, it will be simple!
• Experience: This is a big one. It's where you list jobs you've had, but it also includes volunteer work, significant school projects, or even substantial responsibilities you have at home. We'll talk more about this in a moment.
• Skills: What are you good at? Do you speak another language? Are you proficient with certain computer programs? Can you manage a social media account? These are all valuable skills!
• Awards & Activities: Any honors you've received, clubs you're a part of, sports teams, drama productions – these show your interests and commitment.

"Don't worry if you don't have something for every section right now. That's totally normal for a 9th grader! The important thing is to start thinking about what you do have."

Brainstorming Your Story (10 minutes)

(Distribute the My First Resume Worksheet. Display Resume: Your Story Slide Deck - Slide 5: Brainstorm Your Experiences!)

Teacher: "Now it's your turn to start telling your story. I'm handing out the My First Resume Worksheet. This isn't about writing a perfect resume today, but about brainstorming all the amazing things you've already done or been involved with.

"Look at the prompts on the worksheet. Think broadly! For example:

• Have you helped coach a younger sports team?
• Are you responsible for taking care of younger siblings or elders at home?
• Do you manage a social media account for a school club or a family business?
• Have you learned a new skill through a hobby, like coding, playing an instrument, or photography?
• Did you complete a significant group project in class where you took a leadership role?

"Every experience where you demonstrated responsibility, learned a new skill, or contributed to something matters. Don't underestimate anything! I'll give you about 10 minutes to work on this. I'll be walking around to answer any questions and help you think of ideas."

(Circulate, assist students, and encourage them to think creatively about their experiences.)

Wrap-Up & Next Steps (5 minutes)

Teacher: "Alright, let's bring it back together. Can a few people share one interesting experience they wrote down that they hadn't initially thought of as 'resume-worthy'?"

(Allow 2-3 students to share.)

Teacher: "Excellent job, everyone! You've taken the first step in building your personal story. Keep this My First Resume Worksheet; it's a living document that will grow as you do. The more experiences you gain, the more you'll have to add. Building a resume is a continuous process."

"For homework, or just for your own reflection, think about one new skill you want to learn or one new activity you want to try this year that could eventually go on your resume. You can jot down your thoughts on the My Resume Reflection Cool Down sheet. Thanks, everyone!"

My First Resume Worksheet: Brainstorm Your Story!

Building a resume is like telling your personal story, highlighting all the amazing things you've done and learned. You might think you don't have much to put on a resume yet, but you'd be surprised! Think broadly about your experiences – they don't have to be paid jobs.

Let's brainstorm!

1. Contact Information

• Your Full Name:
  
  
  
• Your Email Address:
  
  
  
• Your Phone Number:
  
  
  
• Your City/State (Optional, but good practice):
  
  
  

2. Education

• Your School Name:
  
  
  
• Your Grade Level:
  
  
  
• Expected Graduation Year:
  
  
  

3. Experience (Jobs, Volunteer Work, Responsibilities)

Think about any time you've had a regular responsibility, helped others, or worked on a project. This could be:

• Paid jobs (babysitting, dog walking, lawn care)
• Volunteer work (community clean-ups, helping at school events, church activities)
• Family responsibilities (regularly taking care of siblings, cooking, managing household tasks)
• Significant school projects (group leader, research projects)

List 2-3 experiences and briefly describe what you did.

Experience 1:

• What was the experience? (e.g., Babysitting, Volunteer at Library, School Project Leader)
  
  
  
  
• What did you do? (Use action verbs like 'managed', 'organized', 'assisted', 'created')
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What did you learn or what was the result? (e.g., improved time management, helped others, learned teamwork)
  
  
  
  
  
  

Experience 2:

• What was the experience?
  
  
  
  
• What did you do?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What did you learn or what was the result?
  
  
  
  
  
  

Experience 3 (Optional):

• What was the experience?
  
  
  
  
• What did you do?
  
  
  
  
  
  
• What did you learn or what was the result?
  
  
  
  
  
  

4. Skills

What are you good at? What talents do you have? Think about:

• Languages: Any languages you speak other than English?
• Computer Skills: Can you use Google Docs, Microsoft Word, create presentations, edit videos, or use social media effectively?
• Other Skills: Can you play an instrument, draw, fix things, cook, organize events, lead a group?

List 3-5 skills you have.

5. Awards & Activities

What clubs, sports, or groups are you involved in? Have you won any awards or received special recognition?

• Clubs/Organizations: (e.g., Debate Club, Art Club, Student Council)
  
  
  
• Sports: (e.g., Soccer Team, Track & Field)
  
  
  
• Volunteer Groups: (e.g., Animal Shelter Volunteer, Food Bank Helper)
  
  
  
• Awards/Honors: (e.g., Honor Roll, Student of the Month, Science Fair Award)
  
  
  
• Hobbies that show skill/dedication: (e.g., advanced photography, coding projects, playing a musical instrument for many years)
  
  
  

Think about your contributions in these areas!

My Resume Reflection

What is one new skill you want to learn or one new activity you want to try this year that could eventually go on your resume? How will you pursue it?

My Resume Reflection: Cool Down

Take a few moments to reflect on what we discussed today about building your resume.

1. One Big Takeaway: What is one new thing you learned or one important idea that stuck with you about resumes today?
   
   
   
   
   
   

2. Future Story: Thinking about your future, what is one new skill you would like to develop or one new activity you would like to try that could eventually become an important part of your resume?
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   
   

3. Action Step: What is one small step you can take in the next week to explore or start working towards that skill or activity?