When students transition from middle school to high school, the change of scenery, workload, and overall adjustment is tough for some, if not all, students. Going from seeing the same classmates every day to having to learn new faces and the names that come with those faces can be challenging for these students, especially if they’re timid or afraid to ask for help. I know that when I was entering MHSHS, I was extremely nervous to see so many kids in my grade and other grades all in the lunchroom and was unsure as to where to sit. Having one friend from middle school was the only person who was saving me from absolute terror and saving me from being overwhelmed in such a large space. I decided to ask some fellow junior peers, “How did you feel the first day of school freshman year? Did you feel nervous or confident?” and nearly all of their answers were identical. Afsara Monzur, 11th grade, said, “I felt very nervous because I didn’t know what to expect, and I didn’t have any friends, so I didn’t know who to talk to. The first day of school I was extremely quiet and only talked to one person.” Janel Sevilla, 11th grade, said, “I felt nervous because I was insecure about the way I looked and wanted to branch out but didn’t know how to talk since I didn’t want to appear weird.” Lastly, Rihanna Morris, 11th grade, said, “I felt nervous because I didn’t know anybody because I was the only person to come here from my middle school, and also, it was a new borough. The school had students from different backgrounds, so I felt scared and intimidated.”

If MHSHS had a mentorship program, it would be a lifesaver for so many students who are afraid to ask for help, whether that’s finding their way around the classrooms or knowing what to expect from teachers. The way this program could work is that juniors and freshmen could meet frequently at the beginning of the school year (2-3 times a week) after school in the Black Box Theater room and discuss what to expect from each class and the amount of workload that the teacher gives. To create a safe and comfortable environment for the students, each one to two freshmen could be assigned to one junior who they could turn to for advice for any of their school questions. As time goes on during the school year, the frequency of this program could decrease (1-2 times a week), and by this time, clubs in MHSHS will be available for students to sign up for, and with their mentee, these students would ask which clubs would be best for them based on their interests. As a way to not make the meetings feel repetitive, once a month, a meeting could be held as a potluck so that students could get together and be surrounded by their peers, allowing students of all grades to interact and make new friendships. This program would be an amazing opportunity for all students from any grade and is a club that isn’t available in our school yet.