Ascend - Unbound®

Finding Direction: Hannah’s Ascend Story

January 6, 2026December 15, 2025Hannah Kitchen

Quick Summary: I skipped college, took a gap year that left me feeling purposeless, and found direction through Ascend. The program’s community and structure gave me purpose—and I’m now halfway…Continue readingFinding Direction: Hannah’s Ascend Story

Connection and Influence: What Legos, Mentorship, and One Flight Can Teach Us

July 30, 2025July 30, 2025Jonathan Brush

Introduction One of the best parts about working at Unbound is that our community contains countless talented communicators; people who spend a lot of time thinking about current events and…Continue readingConnection and Influence: What Legos, Mentorship, and One Flight Can Teach Us

What School Didn’t Teach You: The Real Problem with “Real Life” Readiness

July 11, 2025July 10, 2025Jonathan Brush

“I came out of high school knowing how to prove a triangle is a triangle… but I don’t know how to do my taxes.” That quote came up early in…Continue readingWhat School Didn’t Teach You: The Real Problem with “Real Life” Readiness

Struggle Well: Why Doing Hard Things May Be the Best Path After High School

July 10, 2025July 10, 2025Jonathan Brush

“It all comes down to the ability to actually do something that is difficult and learn from it.” That line kicked off a recent episode of the Unbound Podcast, and…Continue readingStruggle Well: Why Doing Hard Things May Be the Best Path After High School

What to Expect as a First-Year Ascend Student

July 9, 2025July 9, 2025Riley Maas

“So what exactly is Ascend?” What an excellent question – we’re so glad you asked! Ascend, at its core, trains young adults to thrive by helping them understand and pursue…Continue readingWhat to Expect as a First-Year Ascend Student

Working with the 1% (Part 3): Doing Something Different Is Hard — But That’s Why It Matters

July 8, 2025July 7, 2025Jonathan Brush

None of the common problems many educators talk about—like widespread AI cheating or student disengagement—match what we see at Ascend. Our students are different. We don’t have the kind of…Continue readingWorking with the 1% (Part 3): Doing Something Different Is Hard — But That’s Why It Matters