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LifeLab Strives to Create Meaningful Experiences for High School Students

Lily Taber, Reporter • February 20, 2024

You may wonder, what is LifeLab? What is the purpose? LifeLab started around the Spring of 2018, first in Elementary schools then making its way into middle and high school areas, as LifeLabs are something that can leave a meaningful message with the students involved. Not only could it leave a message with students but can also show them very memorable experiences and moments that they can always look back on.

All LifeLabs have some sort of meaning to them; they all want to prove something or create some sort of an impact. LifeLabs are designed to educate students and set them up for success. They aim to show the big impacts behind things that students really need to know about the world after graduating. Some LifeLabs are centered on behavior and how students should act and treat others, not only during school hours but all of the time.

LifeLabs have five core goals centered around the impact it will have on the students. The five themes include things like heritage, leading to changes, academic skills, showing the parts of being in the community and even diverse career opportunities.

Current LifeLab Experiences

9th Grade LifeLab- Respect Retreat

Youth Frontiers came from Minnesota to focus on the strong theme of “student's voice”. The respect retreat for the class of 2027, focused on relaxing that they and others do matter in the world, even having a better understanding of not having as much disrespectful behavior as it can become very harmful and encourage others to act the same way. This LifeLab, held at the Waterloo Center Of Arts, for the 9th-grade students wanted to have a more encouraging outlook on the whole experience as they wanted to leave students with a message to work on improving all cultures around the school and even the community.
Location: Waterloo Center Of Arts
10th Grade LifeLab- Job Shadow

Experiences around the Cedar Valley show 10th Graders the different job shadow opportunities that they can explore. This experience focuses on the theme of “Work Based Learning” which gives students the exploration of all careers around the Cedar Valley. During the LifeLab, 10th graders spend ½ of their day shadowing. While shadowing, they also get to communicate and experience what happens in the daily life of someone working that job. This LifeLab can show students financial responsibility, money management, insurance, risk management, income and most importantly career decisions.
Location: Cedar Valley Area
11th Grade LifeLab- Financial Literacy

Class of 2025 were able to find out and explore the theme of “Financial Literacy.” As the 11th graders took a trip up to Minneapolis Minnesota, they were able to pick between a Minnesota Twins Baseball game or the Walker Art Museum. While on this trip, students were able to learn about credit and debit, credit cards, awareness of marketing, advertising, financial responsibility, creating and living on a budget, insurance, risk management, income and career choices.

Location: Minneapolis Minnesota
12th Grade Lifelab- Civic Responsibility

“Civic Responsibility” was the main focus of the 12th graders' LifeLab trip as it warmed students up to what they will be doing in the very near future. Students will learn about social, economic and political perspectives of life. 12th graders traveled to Iowa City to visit and tour the old capitol building while on a scavenger hunt that includes prizes. Students also learned about comparing/ contrasting Iowa’s government, unique policies to the state, local state issues and actions used to affect any policies during their LifeLab.

Location: Iowa City, Iowa

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About the Contributor

Lily Taber, Reporter

Lily Taber is a Junior in the class of 2025 at West High School. This is her second year on the Wahawk Insider staff. Lily enjoys being a writer and outside of school she spends most of her free time with her friends and family. This time can consist of camping and sometimes fishing during the summer. Lily can also be found babysitting and caring for others while putting a smile on everyone's faces.