The Upperclassmen Mentorship Program has replaced the traditional freshman orientation to create a sense of community within the building and make the freshman transition into high school smoother.
Evan Guttman, one of the founders of the program, explained UMP was a collaboration between himself, fellow senior Preston Parker and Assistant Principal Willie Cook. One of the organization’s primary goals was to create a connection between the upperclassmen and the freshmen, Guttman added.
“We’ve all gone through three years of high school, and we know what we’re doing at this point,” he said. “Hearing it from us, being around an upperclassman for a whole day before the first day of school is what we wanted.”
The idea for the program was inspired by an administration policy meeting where the freshmen at the time expressed their frustrations about the orientation they received, Guttman said.
The complaints sparked the organization of a high school version of Where Everybody Belongs, the eighth grade leader program for sixth grade orientation, he said, adding the plan was introduced to Cook in order to make both the organization and assembly of the program run more effectively.
Cook welcomed the opportunity to establish the program.
“They had a proposal, they had already created a website, they had already created a logo, so obviously I was very impressed,” Cook said. “The idea was born.”
He also explained having an assorted group of people on the welcoming committee will be the best way to welcome the freshmen.
“I want the mentorship core to look and be representative of the high school’s populations and all demographics,” Cook said. “I don’t just want the person that’s involved in every single school thing or captain of every single sports team. I want the people with the 2.5 GPA, I want the folks with a 3.0.”
For the first time in school history, the freshmen were invited to the gym for a staggered start on Aug. 15, Cook said.
“Freshmen came and they had the entire school to themselves, other than UMP mentors and people that were here for the club fair,” he added.
Freshman Emilia Gonzalez attended the orientation and appreciated having upperclassmen run the program, explaining it was beneficial to her as well as her peers.
“I think it helped because I was able to talk to people. You guys have already experienced freshman year, you know what it’s like,” she said. “I think it helped a lot of freshmen feel more comfortable.”
Gonzalez added that she would consider joining UMP when she becomes an upperclassman herself.
“It was helpful for me,” Gonzalez said. “I’d want to help other people in the future.”
Starting with the ice cream social on Friday, Sept. 13, the program plans to continue their goal of bringing the grades together with events throughout the year, Parker said.
“The point was to build excitement around our first football game of the season,” he explained. “As a senior, I only have so many home football games, and the freshmen don’t really know what it’s like.”
Guttman was happy with how orientation went, saying they met the goals they had gone in with.
“It brought a connection to the upperclassmen, and I think it made Bexley a better, tight-knit community,” he said.
