First-String Freshman: The Christ-Centered Learning & Leadership Lab for Rising 9th Grade Student Athletes
A Christ-centered learning & leadership program for rising 9th grade student athletes from culturally rich, underrepresented backgrounds — where faith is the foundation, cultural heritage is celebrated, and academic excellence is the game plan.
Perfect for: Rising 9th grade student athletes (ages 13–15) from culturally rich, underrepresented backgrounds — including Black, Latino, Indigenous, Asian American, and multicultural families — who want their child to enter high school anchored in Christ, proud of their heritage, and fully prepared to lead and excel.
You Were Made for More Than a Label. Walk In Knowing Who You Are.
The jump from 8th to 9th grade is one of the biggest transitions of a young person’s life — new school, new expectations, new pressures in the classroom and on the field. Most student athletes walk in underprepared. First-String Freshman students walk in anchored, equipped, and ready to lead.
This program was built for rising 9th grade student athletes from culturally rich, underrepresented backgrounds — young people whose cultural histories are too often erased, minimized, or ignored by systems that weren’t designed with them in mind. Here, we do the opposite: we celebrate those histories, elevate those contributions, and build academic excellence on top of them. And we do all of it with Christ as the firm foundation.
Faith First. Heritage Honored. Excellence Required.
Every module in this program is grounded in Scripture and fueled by cultural pride. We believe God placed each student in their story intentionally — in their family, their culture, their community — and that story is worth knowing, worth honoring, and worth carrying into every classroom and every competition. Students will sharpen academic skills, build leadership identity, and develop the habits that separate good students from great ones.
What Students and Parents Can Expect
By the end of this program, your student will walk into 9th grade knowing exactly who they are in Christ, where they come from culturally, and what they’re capable of academically. They’ll have real tools — reading strategies, time management systems, math confidence, leadership skills — and a sense of purpose that no classroom, coach, or culture war can take away. This is the summer that sets the standard.
What you'll be able to do
- Know who they are in Christ before high school tries to define them
- Celebrate and articulate their cultural heritage, history, and contributions with confidence
- Develop a personalized study system — including note-taking, time-blocking, and test prep strategies
- Strengthen core reading comprehension and academic writing skills for 9th-grade English and History
- Build foundational math fluency and problem-solving confidence for Algebra I and beyond
- Identify personal God-given strengths, values, and a leadership style using faith-grounded self-reflection
- Create a practical High School Success Plan covering goals, routines, and a first-week action checklist
- Understand how to navigate high school relationships, peer pressure, and social dynamics through a biblical lens
- Develop daily habits of Scripture reading, journaling, and reflection that support mental clarity and academic focus
- Deliver a short personal leadership statement, demonstrating grown confidence in voice, identity, and faith
Curriculum
6 modules · 20 lessons
Your teacher
Coach Tasha
Hi, I'm so glad you and your student are here. I created First-String Freshman because I've seen too many gifted, God-designed young people walk into high school underprepared — not because they weren't smart enough, but because nobody sat with them over the summer and helped them build the right foundation. I've worked with student athletes from a range of cultural backgrounds, and one thing is always true: the students who thrive in 9th grade are the ones who knew who they were before they walked through the door. This program was built to do exactly that. We start with Christ, because He is the only foundation that holds. Then we celebrate and honor the cultural heritage each student carries — because those histories matter, those contributions are real, and they deserve to be elevated rather than erased. Then we do the academic work: reading, writing, math, leadership, time management — all of it. Your student is about to discover they were always more than ready. Let's get them ready on paper too.
FAQ
Ready to start your journey?
Join get instant access, forever — learn at your own pace with an AI coach in your corner.
This school isn't accepting enrollments just yet. Check back shortly!