Following the Leaders – A Ninth Grader’s Perspective on the Peer Leadership Program
Photo: Peer Leaders from the Class of 2024, along with the Class of 2027.
By Matt Strauss ’27
Marketing and Communications Department Student Intern
The Upper School Peer Leadership program is an exciting opportunity for ninth grade students to connect with upperclassmen and learn the fundamentals of high school life. Peer Leadership is a required minor class for all freshmen that meets once a week to discuss different topics and enjoy a wide variety of activities. Each year, small groups of 8-9 incoming freshmen students are assigned to a dedicated pair of seniors who become their “peer leaders” throughout the entirety of the year. These senior mentors extend helping hands to the freshmen, aiding them as they tackle the challenges that face them at the beginning of their high school journey.
The Peer Leadership program was created in 2014 when a need was identified for students new to the Upper School to be informed about common social and academic issues they might face. Julie Lyons, one of the three faculty members that advises the Peer Leadership program and helps plan activities shared her perspective on the goals of the program. “In general, there are two goals of Peer Leadership,” she said. “One is to help new and returning ninth graders get oriented to the Upper School in terms of culture and community, by talking about events, and different things that are different from Middle School topics. The second major goal is to blend new and returning students into one class for group and class cohesion. It’s all about community and relationship-building through the lens of an upperclassmen.”
Each year, sixteen seniors are selected through a very competitive application process which takes place toward the end of junior year. Haila Desai ’23, one of this year’s peer leaders, has enjoyed mentoring the younger students: “As a peer leader, you get to share your experiences to help younger students.,” she said. “High school brings a lot of stress, and for me, I wanted to help ninth graders navigate those hardships and be a person they could depend on.”
The peer leaders truly care about the well-being of their ninth graders. They facilitate weekly sessions covering a diverse array of topics, ranging from serious subjects like consent and drug safety to the unwritten norms of high school such as what students should wear for prom. Through these sessions, students, regardless of their pre-existing relationships, forge strong bonds. They continually make new discoveries about each other’s personalities and are always sharing personal anecdotes about their own lives.
Natalie Choi ’27 reflected on her positive experiences in the Peer Leadership class this year: “I enjoy peer leadership because it’s a way for me to bond with people in other grades along with people in my own class, and I feel like this year our Peer Leadership class was its own kind of family or group, and it gave me something to look forward to every week.”
As part of their responsibilities, peer leaders receive funding to purchase snacks for their “kids,” ensuring a welcoming atmosphere in the classroom. Special occasions, including birthdays, are celebrated with treats chosen by the students, fostering a sense of friendship among the students. Devin Phillips ’27 expressed his fondness of the Peer Leadership program by thinking back to his favorite times. He said, “I really enjoyed playing games and doing other challenges that my peer leaders planned for us. I also had a lot of fun merging with the other Peer Leadership classes to see some of my other friends and doing activities with them.”
Sixteen current juniors were recently selected as 2024-25 peer leaders and the program’s cycle will begin once again this Summer as they will be trained to prepare for their roles as Peer Leaders for the incoming freshman class.