HCS eighth graders connect with community professionals through Living Library

Hampton City Schools (HCS) eighth-grade students explored career possibilities, engaged with community professionals, and discovered ways to make a difference during the Living Library, held October 5–8, 2026. The event, held at the Hampton University Library and the Hampton Public Library, was part of the division’s year-long eighth-grade Signature Experience: Self and Community Impact and Transition.

 

During the event, community professionals served as “Living Books,” sharing personal stories about their careers, passions, challenges, and experiences making a positive impact in Hampton and beyond. Through these meaningful conversations, students explored career interests, learned about real-world community needs, and discovered ways they can use their own talents and interests to make a difference.

 

The Living Library serves as an important step in the eighth-grade Signature Experience, which guides students through self-discovery, community exploration, and purposeful action. Students use information gathered from their conversations as primary research for their Transition Capstone projects, identifying community issues, exploring potential solutions, and developing actionable plans to address them.

 

The experience culminates with students presenting their projects, demonstrating how their personal interests and strengths can contribute to positive change while preparing them for the transition to high school.

 

Through opportunities like the Living Library, HCS continues to connect classroom learning with real-world experiences, empowering students to discover their purpose and recognize their potential to make a meaningful impact in their communities.