The transition from middle school to any high school is tough — harder classes, more homework and getting adjusted to a new building. Pile on dealing with 11 stories and elevators, the whole thing can seem overwhelming to new students. Hoping to make this daunting process a little bit easier, juniors Janejha Jones, Jordan Artis, Javier Manzanarez and Taylor Walker started the UNITED club, a program where the upperclassmen volunteer to mentor underclassmen.

While this is the inaugural year for the club, it has already hosted a variety of activities from team-building exercises to one-on-one advice sessions about scheduling and time management. The concept is to pair freshmen and sophomores with juniors and seniors that share common interests so they can ask questions and learn about what it takes to be successful in school. “I didn’t have an older sibling to help me through my first couple years of high school, so I had to figure everything out on my own,” said Walker. “I think a mentor would have helped me a lot.”

In addition to providing guidance for the underclassmen, this club gives the juniors and seniors a chance to work on their mentoring skills. While the mentors are used to being students, this club gives them the opportunity to see things from a teacher’s perspective. “I’ve always wanted to be a mentor,” said Manzanarez. “I’m excited to see how each individual grows.”

This may only be the first year of the program, but it has already made a significant impact on everyone involved. While the founders are set to graduate soon, they hope that their club will continue long after they are gone. “I’m definitely interested in becoming a mentor in the future,” said sophomore Maya Nelson. “This club has helped me meet so many people that I wouldn’t have known otherwise.”

Starting high school can be intimidating, but the members of UNITED club know it doesn’t have to be that way. With their fun activities and icebreakers, this club is making a difference for the newest Warriors.