FORT POLK, La. -- It's your first day at a new school. You've left behind all your friends and are nervous to start over. As the counselor walks you to your first class and the door swings open, 30 pairs of eyes stare at you, taking in every detail of your clothes, hair and face. You feel like a sideshow act and want to disappear. If only it were all a bad dream.
Frequent moves and new schools are realities faced by many military children. While there is little research on the effects of this on kids, every move requires the child to start over and re-adjust.
While this lifestyle may eventually lead to adaptability, it can also carry less desirable implications, such as psychological issues, said David Petre, Military Student Transition Consultant for Vernon Parish School District. "Kids may start to feel like, 'Why bother?' when faced with constant moves and fail to make meaningful connections with peers," Petre said. "As an adult, the individual may have difficulty being social or relating to others." Speaking to the sometimes cruel nature of youngsters, he also noted that new kids are often targeted or bullied for their differences. "This is why we are trying to change the culture in schools to an environment of social acceptance," he added.
These are just some of the reasons a "Student 2 Student" training day was held Dec. 3 at Fort Polk's Family Readiness Center for Leesville and Pickering high school students. S2S, a student-run organization that falls under the Military Child Education Coalition, works to make every new student feel accepted and experience an easier transition to their new environment through peer support and interaction. (MCEC is an organization that works to ensure quality educational opportunities for all military children affected by mobility, Family separation and transition). Ten students from each school, who belong to the S2S program, were specially chosen to attend the training.
MCEC trainer Delanie Wilson, who ran the training, said the goal behind the program is simple -- "S2S is about 100 percent acceptance of all students" she said. Wilson, who travels to facilitate S2S trainings, focuses on relatable workshops for teens. At the Dec. 3 training, students learned important aspects to consider when meeting and integrating a new student. They discussed topics like "Finding the Way (around campus, the community, and culture -- such as local customs like Mardi Gras)," "Academics" and "Relationships," an ever-important aspect of life as a teenager.
To teach the students about the significance of trustful relationships, the teens were asked to consider how they might feel if their student "guide" was initially nice to them but failed to introduce them to their friends or rolled their eyes as they explained to their peers why the new student was with them. Addressing not just the error of the guide but also the peers, Wilson offered a reminder: "If your friends are judgmental towards you for helping out a new student, they aren't really your friends."
Hands-on games and activities reinforced leadership skills and gave students valuable ideas for how to "break the ice" when hosting meetings with or for new students. Ideas included a competitive, questions-style variation of musical chairs that had everyone in stiches and an "inner/outer circle meet and greet" that resembled a friend version of speed dating.
After breaking for lunch, criteria for a successful S2S program were discussed, especially the importance of having support of school administration -- principal, school staff and adult sponsors to provide supervision and guidance. Advocacy on the part of the students was mentioned as a vital aspect of administration joining the cause (according to Petre, the S2S program in the Vernon Parish School District is heavily supported by superintendent James Williams as well as the Fort Polk command team). Petre noted that S2S is a successful nationwide initiative that currently encompasses 349 schools. "In some schools, the program is more popular than even basketball or football," he said. "We hope to get to that level."
The student participants seemed enthusiastic about the training, giving emphasis to the idea of growing the program. As Jessica Richardson, 14, a freshman and S2S representative for Leesville High School, noted, "I was a military kid and know what it's like to move to a new school and not have any friends, so it's nice to have someone to show you around and make you feel comfortable."
Ruben Toth, 18, a senior at Pickering High School, joined S2S for a different reason but found a passion along the way.
"My sister started the S2S program at Pickering and asked me to join," he said, "but when I did, I realized how much I love being around people and helping them."
Sam McKay, Military and Family Life Counselor at Pickering High, estimated that about 80 percent of the school's population are military students. "The S2S program is an excellent vehicle for incorporating transitioning students into their new environment. It promotes harmony and unity and gives the new student a sense of relief, as they may be uneasy or anxious about their transition," he said.
If you have a high school student who is interested in S2S, encourage them to speak with their school counselor or S2S peers about joining or visit www.militarychild.org.
Social Sharing