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NXT UP TEENS

Big futures.
Real connections.

Connecting today’s teens to tomorrow’s opportunities.

Hailey and Derek Graffeo holding NXT UP Teens notebooks at Mixology Career Night
Built by students. For the questions we all have.
01 / OUR STARTING POINT

Your future deserves
more than a guess.

We’re Derek and Hailey. We started NXT UP Teens to bring the working world closer—one conversation, one experience, one new possibility at a time.

Start a conversation with us
Why NXT UP TEENS

A little exposure.
A world of possibility.

NXT UP Teens is a student-led career exploration platform for high school students. We begin with what students want to understand, invite professionals who can make the work real, and turn those conversations into Career Nights and next-step opportunities.

Founded by Derek and Hailey Graffeo.

Based in Westchester, New York, NXT UP Teens brings career exploration to our local community—with plans to host future career conversations online through Zoom so more students can take part.

THE PEOPLE BEHIND NXT UP TEENS

Derek Graffeo, co-founder of NXT UP TEENS

CO-FOUNDER & RESEARCHER

Derek Graffeo

Harrison High School · Class of 2028

With plans to study business and finance, Derek saw how many students were uncertain about their careers and felt unprepared to make decisions that could shape their futures.

He co-founded NXT UP TEENS to help teens gain real exposure to different professions before making those decisions. He also enjoys the communication and connections that come from bringing students and professionals together.

Derek’s research focuses on how career exposure and real-world experiences relate to students’ confidence and career decision-making. His first publications are expected in December 2026. Follow the research.

CO-FOUNDER

Hailey Graffeo

Harrison High School · Class of 2027

Working at Mixology made Hailey want to help more students understand what happens behind the scenes of a business—from its day-to-day operations to the people who make it work. She also saw how many teens were unsure about their career paths and felt there was a need for a local program where they could explore those questions. She co-founded NXT UP TEENS to help bring that kind of exposure and connection to her community.

Explore. Learn. Build your future.

The future isn’t far away.
You’re NXT UP TEENS.

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