Launched 2017-2019
Jakhi started to fall behind early in his education. Family instability at home prevented him from being fully present at school. When he was engaged, a budding learning disability interfered, particularly with his reading and writing. By the time Jakhi was in 4th grade, he was significantly behind his peers.
Despite this, Jakhi believed he was doing perfectly well in school. He’d learned to use confidence as a defense mechanism, doing his best to convince the world—and himself—that he was an expert at everything he did. Though he was well-liked and charming, Jakhi was actually lacking in self-esteem. He couldn’t control his anger and would get into fights often.
Academically, Jakhi’s manufactured confidence was also doing him a disservice. He thought he’d mastered things he didn’t actually understand, causing him to tune out lessons and give up on assignments. In prior years, he’d managed to compensate for poor academic performance with charisma, resulting in report cards with inflated grades. The Launch staff saw that Jakhi’s attitude was only putting him further behind in his education.
Launch teachers sat Jakhi and his mom down for a tough conversation. When they told them how far behind he was, Jakhi got incredibly upset and didn’t believe them. His mom was equally surprised. Fortunately, the Launch team had a plan in place to help Jakhi succeed.
Over the next two years, Jakhi worked hand-in-hand with Launch Network to grow academically and emotionally. Launch teachers reminded Jakhi often of the progress he was making, fostering a more authentic sense of confidence. The clearer Jakhi was that he was taking steps in the right direction, the more focused and engaged he was with his work. He got better at accepting constructive criticism. He was able to note improvement in himself and perceive his own growth.
[Co-Founder] Sarah Rauenhorst recalls watching Jakhi work on a writing assignment towards the end of the program. After writing for some time, he looked back at his paper and saw that he’d written a 3-paragraph essay. When Sarah pointed this out, Jakhi beamed with pride. The confidence he’d previously only felt in social situations was now spilling into other areas of his life, including academics.
Jakhi is now in 6th grade and continuing to make progress. He’s integrated into general education, relying on additional support when he needs it. His teachers report that he’s engaged in his work and is seen as a leader.
Support from Launch allowed Jakhi’s life outside of school to improve as well. When Justin saw that Jakhi was making strides, he asked him what changed. “My mom,” Jakhi responded. “My mom holds me accountable now.”
By seeing all that Jakhi was capable of, his mom learned that she could push him harder.
“I can see the growth, I can see the change,” Jakhi’s mom says. “Launch has been very beneficial for Jakhi. Launch has been a breath of fresh air.”