STRīV is a transitional support program for young adults who are navigating the challenging landscape of independent living and the college experience. Their vision of creating a world of well-prepared young adults is bolstered by their mission: to help emerging adults recognize their potential and develop the skills to move confidently toward independence.
 
But how do they do that? In a highly individualized program, it is nearly impossible to outline specific rules of engagement, since each student is navigating their own, unique journey. The answer lies in establishing a set of operating principles that are designed to provide direction for the team as they help each student recognize their potential and learn critical life skills. At STRīV, these principles are known as The Seven Pillars.
 
In virtually every program, as it is at STRīV, the bulk of the student interaction and guidance comes from the front-line staff. “Our mentors do the lion’s share of the work, and having guiding principles can provide them a set of tools with flexibility,” said Dr. Clark Hammond, co-founder and Executive Director of STRīV. He continues, “Our 7 Pillars are anchored in our core values, and support the vision and mission of the program. Essentially, they provide direction for how we achieve our what.”  
 
Sarah Leon is the Mentor Supervisor at STRīV. “As a supervisor, the pillars are super helpful in providing direction, whether I’m mentoring students, or training our team. If we ever we feel a little stuck, the pillars always seem to provide some clarity on how to handle a situation.”
 
These guiding principles are simple, but at STRīV, there is a lot of meaning in each one of them:
 
Pillar 1: The STRīV Way of Being
Pillar 2: Relationship-first Approach
Pillar 3: Individualized Roadmaps
Pillar 4: Masterful Mentoring
Pillar 5: Teamwork
Pillar 6: Meaningful Service
Pillar 7: Healthy Living
 
At face value, these simple statements may not mean much. But to the STRīV team, they provide a sense of unity and direction in this important work. They are the support structures and operational principles that help the daily mission of preparing their students for success.

About STRīV 

STRiV (Strive Forward, LLC) is a transitional living and college support program for young adults who have struggled along their journey toward independence. STRiV provides social/emotional/academic support and life-skills development through one-on-one mentoring, executive skills coaching, and individual & group therapy within a semi-independent living environment.  Located at the base of the Wasatch Mountains in Utah County, STRiV provides supported access to Utah Valley University, myriad vocational programs, unmatched outdoor recreation, and a wide variety of community-based entertainment.