At UP Academy Dorchester, middle-school students are learning to see their future beyond the classroom walls. Through a career-connected learning initiative, sixth through eighth graders are stepping into Boston-area workplaces, engaging with professionals and completing projects designed to link academics to real-world careers.

About 300 students across UP Academy Dorchester and UP Academy Holland (both located in Dorchester), are taking part in the program this year. The initiative, known as Imagine Your Future, pairs lessons in school with hands-on “expeditions” in industries including technology, construction, media, food service and life sciences.

Unlike traditional field trips, the program emphasizes preparation and reflection.

“We intentionally do not call them visits or trips. W

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