Paideia’s Peer Leadership program seeks to help ninth graders adjust to high school by pairing them with senior mentors. The goal is to build connection, confidence, and community among students, though each year’s group brings unique experiences and qualities to the program.
Knox Stallings ’29 believes the premise of Peer Leadership is strong but sees room for small improvements: “I think the idea of it is good, but I would rather have my break to do homework,” Knox says. “It should be a bit more academic, but still have the leeway to talk.” On the other hand, Nadia Burroughs ’29 has had a positive experience in her Peer Leadership: “I think Peer Leadership gives you an opportunity to meet new people and make new friends,” said Burroughs.
Elsie Johnson ’26, a current peer leader, said her experience as a freshman inspired her to become a mentor herself. “Coming into high school as a freshman can be so nerve wracking, and my peer leaders were such great mentors,” Johnson says, “I have close friendships I made because of my peer leadership group freshman year that have lasted all of high school.”
Jessica Smith and Joseph Cullen, the current faculty advisors for Peer Leadership, emphasize that no two peer leadership groups are the same. “Every group is different,” Smith says, “This group takes it very seriously and comes with their own ideas about what works for ninth graders.”
“Peer Leadership helps knit the school together—it’s part of what makes Paideia such a kind and connected community,” Cullen says. With recent losses at Paideia, Peer Leadership gives this year’s ninth-grade class an extra arm of support.
As this year’s freshmen find their place in the community, the Peer Leadership program lives on to help them navigate the challenges of high school with a little more confidence and a lot more support.
