Summer is a time for sleeping in, lounging by the pool, or playing video games for most students. Most don’t even want to think about returning to school until the first day of school rolls back around. 

 

But that is not the case for Pineville High School’s Link Crew. The 80+ member club, made up of Pineville’s most philanthropic juniors and seniors, are spending their summer preparing the school for incoming freshmen. 

 

The program pairs an upperclassman with an incoming freshman to help them navigate the transition to high school. For some, it’s pragmatic help. The campus is large and it’s challenging to adjust. For others, it’s a social-emotional learning experience that often leads to lifelong friendships. 

 

That is the case with senior Chloe Hughes. She is still in touch with her freshman year mentor, the impact so incredible that she is serving as a mentor for her second year. 

 

“I enjoyed it so much last year. It helped so many kids adjust to the new environment. It really helps to have someone you know helping you,” Chloe shared. 

 

Mentors spend many hours decorating the school with the year’s motivational theme and attend mentor training sessions. They join their buddies for freshman orientation but the interaction doesn’t end there. Academic and social follow-ups continue throughout the year. 

 

This year’s theme is Disney-based: PHS-Where Memories Begin! 

 

Sketching the outline of the 2024-2025 school theme on a bright red poster with Chloe were junior Mason Doughty and senior Adriana Fuentes. 

 

Mason was all about helping with a side of fun. “It helps the freshman adjust and it’s fun,” he explained when I asked why he decided to participate. He remembered getting help from his mentor finding his way around campus when he first started high school. 

 

These students are learning at an early age how to pay it forward in life. The program has been a lifesaver for many students and I couldn’t help but feel wistful that I’d not had such a mentor in high school. The benefits of peer pairing can be far-reaching and prevent pitfalls often encountered during the teen years. 

 

Preparing to paint the If you can dream it, you can achieve it! poster, one of many throughout Pineville’s campus, Adriana noted how much she enjoyed being a part of welcoming the freshmen onto the campus. 

 

It IS a welcoming campus. I’ve spent several hours in the auditorium covering productions, one of which was attended by students. The genuine support and enthusiasm shown to their peers onstage was unlike anything I’d ever seen. It is obvious that Pineville High School fosters a healthy sense of acceptance and belonging. 

 

There is no doubt that the Link Crew plays an instrumental part in that.