The Get Your Stuff Together! (GYST) program serves some of San Francisco's most at-risk teen-agers, providing them direction and resources needed to overcome daily obstacles and to lay the groundwork for future achievement.

Located at Ida B. Wells Continuation High School, GYST offers information about academics and GPA improvement, along with goal-setting and planning. The academic program component is vital because only a reported 5% of IBW students - versus a city-wide average of 54% - take courses that qualify them for admission into the UC or Cal State University systems.

In addition to classroom skills, the program teaches personal health; sexuality and delayed pregnancy/fatherhood; job skills; and financial independence. Essentially, youngsters are coached on how to create positive life patterns and are empowered to take charge of their lives.

The program currently enrolls about 80 students each year and enjoys great success. In fact, it has become a regular part of the IBW curriculum. A recent poll on sexual awareness and responsible choice ranked IBW students first among those surveyed throughout the city.

GYST gives youth the power of choice.