Pacifica Stories

The transition from middle school to high school can be incredibly daunting, but Pacifica provides a multitude of resources to incoming students to make them adjust easily to high school life. One of these resources is our student Mentor Program.

The Mentor Program at Pacifica is designed to help cultivate a smooth transition for new students by pairing them with a buddy who has been in their shoes. It is created for older students to pour into younger ones in order for them to learn how to be successful in high school, build lasting friendships, and feel more comfortable on campus. This year, one of our academic counselors, Ms. Danielle Golson, took charge of the Mentor Program. She sought to pair incoming students with mentors who had similar interests and personalities to best ensure a connection between them. 

“I have greatly enjoyed facilitating the Mentor Program,” says Ms. Golson. “I look forward to all the ways that it will change and improve over the years to best serve all students who participate in it. As a whole, it is my goal for the Mentor Program to continue to produce strong leaders out of its mentors and confident and cared for students out of its mentees.”

In order to become a mentor, current Pacifica sophomores, juniors, and seniors must complete an application and training session. Ms. Golson selects students who demonstrate leadership skills and an interest in building relationships with new students. Once she has selected and trained all of the mentors, she compiles a list of their hobbies/interests to pair them with a mentee. Mentors then make first contact with their mentees over the summer to provide a touchpoint before the start of school. When new students show up on campus for the first time, they’ll already have a friendly face who knows their name and wants to introduce them to all things Pacifica!

Throughout the year, but primarily at the beginning of the school year, there are several opportunities for mentors to connect with their mentees. These include the Orientation lunch, pizza parties, pop-up coffee bars, and holiday events. All of these events are designed to create low-pressure environments for mentors and mentees to have fun and get to know each other on a deeper level. Current mentors say that they enjoy the program because they like getting to know the freshman and transfer students, while mentees say that it’s fun to know upperclassmen around campus.

“So far I have seen a tremendous impact from the Mentor Program,” adds Ms. Golson. “I have witnessed mentors stepping out of their comfort zones, rising up as leaders, and demonstrating genuine care for their mentees. I have also seen how the mentees have gained a new friend, acquired a sense of confidence, and found their place at Pacifica because of their mentors.” 

Our Mentor Program is just one of the ways in which our student body cares for our new Seawolves. We aim to see every new student comfortable and at home on our campus.