Newton’s Notes

Gone are the days of shoving freshman into lockers, I guess. This week, the DISD is implementing a program to help freshman kids transition into high school.

I remember (way back when) my first day of high school. My sister was a senior, so I thought the upperclassmen would be on my side. I was wrong! I went to Permian High School in Odessa, Texas. (GO MOJO!) While Odessa isn’t necessarily a big city, Permian was actually a BIG school! I asked my sister’s friend for directions to “H hall”… and while I don’t claim to be great at directions… I KNEW ”H hall” WASN’T “on the other side of the campus, out the double doors, past the portable buildings, and inside the boy’s locker room”. (Thank you ”senior friend” for getting me lost and humiliated)

But Senior and Junior students at WT White High School in Dallas are taking a different approach to the incoming Freshman class. They are actually mentoring them… teaching them the ropes, helping them out, giving them REAL directions, and simply being a friend.

That got me thinking — how cool would it be if we applied this program to the workplace, and all other aspects of our lives?

It’s actually fairly common in the media to have a mentor… someone you learn from, look up to, respect, and seek out for career advice. I’m not as familiar with other professions, so I’m curious… Do you have a mentor? Whether you are a teacher, construction worker, salesman, or lawyer…. whatever your profession might be, is there another person in your field of work who teaches you to succeed?

By the way you can catch the story on NBC5 First at Four!