*Note: Footage captured during Halloween*
After more than a year of distance learning, Natalia Gamez stepped onto Patriot High’s campus for the first time feeling scared and unsure about starting high school. Thankfully, supportive upperclassmen were ready to navigate her through her first year and beyond. "They're always there for me," said Natalia.
These upperclassmen belong to Link Crew, a high school transition program that trains juniors and seniors to mentor incoming freshmen. According to The Boomerang Project, the originator of Link Crew, “more students fail 9th grade than any other grade.” Link Crew, when operated successfully, has been shown to decrease dropout rates and improve attendance.
Link Crew mentors are referred to as Link Leaders. At Patriot, their first act of mentorship is to host an orientation for freshmen to help them acclimate to their new campus. From there, new students are paired with leaders they will meet with during advisory for the school year. In these meetings, Link Leaders share lessons, host relationship-building activities, and offer advice.
“There is a mentor and a student that [freshmen] can go to from day one for support,” said Samantha Pinney, Patriot’s Link Crew Coordinator for eight years. “We help them with academic [and] social-emotional needs.”
Link Leaders are selected based on their leadership qualities, but they do not begin as perfect mentors. Social Psychology, Link Crew’s class component, teaches leaders how to best connect with their freshmen through strong communication and empathy-building. “I know that if I don't open up first then they won't,” said Daniel Vidales, Link Leader. The senior credits Social Psychology with making him a better listener and a more approachable mentor.
Social Psychology also introduces “Link Lessons” the upperclassmen share with freshmen during advisory, including how to manage time, make friends and get involved in campus activities, and accomplish goals. Natalia, now a sophomore, is especially grateful for the time management lesson. “I'm taking some college-grade classes so I really need a lot of time management between sports and my [school work],” she said.
At Jurupa Valley High, Link Crew is in its first year, but the campus is already seeing great results. “It’s mind-blowing how much these Link Leaders have grown,” said Jorge Rodriguez, Link Crew Coordinator. Mr. Rodriguez’s leaders began the year with anxiety over mentorship, but are now confidently interacting with their freshmen.
The freshmen are benefiting, too. Though Hadeel Hazameh is comfortable going to her teachers for help, she believes she might have felt lost without Link Crew because the leaders, being students themselves, uniquely understand what freshmen are experiencing. Alyssa McPherson agrees. “I feel like I'm willing to trust them more because they've been in my spot,” said the freshman.
Link Crew contributes to a kind, safe, and successful high school experience by introducing a support system to freshmen on day one. No matter what obstacles arise, behind each freshman is an upperclassman ready to help.
“It feels good to have someone to support you when you're going through something and just learning new things,” said Fatima Capacete, JVHS Link Leader. Added fellow leader, Chris Douglas, “Link Crew is important for the freshmen so they can have someone to talk to. Someone to look up to as a role model, and a good person.”
