Student Experience
The Good Life Program engages students in learning opportunities that foster critical thinking, collaboration, and personal growth.
An overview of The Good Life Program
Students in the program participate in an immersive summer experience, followed by ongoing mentorship and activities throughout the academic year. These experiences foster a sense of belonging, encourage intellectual curiosity, and provide practical tools for future success. Below is an overview of what the program includes for participants.
Immersive Summer Experiences
Rising Juniors Summer Program
The Good Life Rising Juniors Program will take place June 8, 2025 - June 13, 2025.
This one-week summer immersion program is designed to introduce participants to the humanities and foster a college-going mindset. Students engage in seminars, field trips, and mentor-led activities, with evenings dedicated to supervised recreational programming and small-group connections.
Rising Seniors Summer Program
The 2024 Good Life Rising Seniors Program will take place June 1, 2025 - June 20, 2025.
The summer program for rising seniors is a three-week program that includes:
Advanced humanities coursework
Throughout the Good Life Program, students explore classic works of literature and philosophy that challenge their thinking and invite deep self-reflection. The accompanying writing prompts encourage students to analyze the texts critically, considering their own beliefs and values in relation to the ideas presented. By the end of the program, students will demonstrate their ability to analyze and critique texts, reflect on their own experiences and responses to texts, and critically evaluate other perspectives and points of view.
Civic engagement projects
The program marks the start of an ongoing civic engagement project for participants. While on campus during the summer, students will work on identifying, researching, and planning a civic engagement project to carry out during the coming academic year.
“How to College” workshops
While at the University of Mississippi, students will participate in a series of “How to College” seminars and workshops. These will include sessions on academic study habits, application and scholarship information, and other topics.
Evenings and weekends for the rising seniors cohort offer supervised enrichment activities, mentor-led recreation, and special workshops tailored to personal and academic growth. Rising seniors are also encouraged to attend the UM MOST (Mississippi Outreach to Scholastic Talent) Conference in July for additional college preparation and networking opportunities.
Both summer programs culminate in a celebratory banquet hosted by the students for their families and faculty guests.
Living on Campus
During their summer programs, Good Life participants live in campus residences and dine on campus, creating opportunities to bond with their cohort while experiencing life on a college campus firsthand.
Year-Round Engagement
Following the summer programming, both the rising junior and rising senior cohorts will participate in year-round activities, ensuring ongoing mentorship and growth. These activities include:
- Community Gatherings: Program staff and mentors join students in their local communities for civic service projects, experiential learning, and collaborative activities.
- Online Workshops: Virtual sessions focus on college readiness, scholarship writing, and career exploration.
- On-Campus Events: Students return to the University of Mississippi campus for field trips and an annual spring conference that reinforces program themes and builds cohort connections.
- Mentorship: Regularly scheduled check-ins with mentors combine practical goal-setting with relational activities, ensuring students stay supported throughout the year.
Program Costs
The program is designed to be accessible. Participants pay a $25 registration fee to secure their spot, with all other expenses, including housing, meals, and materials, fully covered.
Interested in Joining the Program?
Good Life participants are nominated by their schools. To learn more about the process, visit our Join the Program page.
"The Good Life Program makes me feel like you can always keep going, you can always keep striving for greatness.” - Angel Harris, student participant
Snapshots of the Good Life program
Good Life faculty member Ashleen Williams giving a student participant a tour of a university building.
Two student participants working on an assignment together during a visit to the university museum.
Community member working with a student participant during a visit to the university museum.
Student participants walking to Rowan Oak to learn more about the history of Oxford.
Student participant giving a presentation during class sessions.
Two student participants enjoying a field trip to the Oxford Creamery after a visit to Square Books.
Student participants receiving a tour at the University Museum to learn more about how art and humanities intersect.
Group photo of student participants at the final banquet where the families of student participants interact with faculty and partners.
Group photo of student participants.
Student participant receiving a tour of Square Books to learn more about how literature and history intersect with humanities.
Student participants looking at paintings at the University Museum.
Good Life Program Students
2024 Cohort
| Alexia Floyd | Madison Shannon Palmer High School |
| Angel Collins | Madison Shannon Palmer High School |
| Angel Harris | North Panola High School |
| Ar'Nesia Sacks | Madison Shannon Palmer High School |
| Jamaria Jones | Madison Shannon Palmer High School |
| Kaliyha Jenkins | Coffeeville High School |
| Precious McGee | Madison Shannon Palmer High School |
| Samantha Longstreet | Coffeeville High School |
Reflections from our students
“At first, I thought the good life was more living your life to the fullest in the context of having fun and finding peace and happiness. Now, I think it is about finding who you are, doing the things you love to do, enjoying life, taking risks and not being afraid to take those risks that lead you to your good life.”
Ar'Nesia S.
Madison Shannon Palmer High School
