Cactus Village Community

FRESHMAN STORY . . .By Amber Cannon

Jul 08, 2003

Fear! It?’s the main thing on the minds of millions of freshman entering those double doors, into the high school world. Changing schools makes that fear return. Walking through the halls of a new school makes a student wonder, ?“Will they accept me??”

Students new to Moon Valley need not be afraid. At least that?’s the way Andrea Randlett and Andrea Small see it.
Randlett and Small, seniors, ?‘adopt?’ freshman to help them adjust to high school life. This year?’s adoptee is Michael Keller, a student who came to Moon Valley from Greenway.

The idea of adopting a freshman is not new to Randdlett who said, ?“I?’ve wanted to adopt a freshman ever since I was adopted my freshman year. Adopting a new student normally means showing him or her around school and helping him or her get used to the new and frightening environment. But with Keller, Small and Randlett go beyond the norm.
At Randlett?’s instigation, she and other seniors took Keller to the Homecoming Dance. ?“None of the seniors had dates and neither did he, so we took it upon ourselves to take him.?” Keller also escorted Small to the recent NJROTC Military Ball. ?“I was happy to go with him,?” explains Small.

The seniors give Keller advice on how to act toward girls and on dates. They want to teach him how to be a ?‘whole hearted kind of guy?’. Small believes, "We have given him a certain amount of confidence so when we graduate, he will know more about meeting people, dating, and fashion.?” Keller is happy about the advice, ?“They have given me a lot of advice about girls, and I really like that.?”

This adoption isn?’t just one sided. Keller also gives advice to Randlett. "Michael gives me advice about guys and gives me a guy?’s point of view.?” Keller adds, ?“We both help each other out.?”

A close friendship formed among the group members as this year progressed. ?“We are both really good friends. It just happens I?’m a senior girl, and he?’s a freshman boy,?” states Randlett. Small adds, ?“He is a friend to our whole group.?” Keller sees another perk to the friendship ?— reactions from other freshmen. "They think it?’s awesome I hang out with senior girls!?” he gloats.

The idea to adopt a freshman isn?’t just a good plan to Randlett; Keller also likes the ?‘program?’ and hopes to adopt a freshman when he is a senior. ?“They made me feel welcome,?” he claims. ?“It?’s pretty neat. I am a friend with a lot of seniors now, and that is really cool. I like it. It makes me want to help freshmen when I?’m a senior.?”

The year races on and soon Randlett and Small will graduate. We can only hope the idea of adopting a new student doesn?’t stop with them and Keller. Hopefully, the Randlett-Keller-Small 'Adopt a Freshman Program?’ will continue and touch the lives of future students and help them feel welcome at Moon Valley High School.

Ed Note: What a great article ?— What a wonderful concept
These young people are showing the way to improve our
schools and our society. IT?’S CALLED CARING!
Are you listening, Administrators, Teachers, Parents?...☺