Girls United is a club dedicated to connecting the young women in our community and creating a positive environment in which they can flourish.
Acceptance · Positivity · Kindness · Encouragement
These four words are the heartbeat of Girls United, a club at the high school that strives to promote an environment of support and friendship among the young women in our school community. This year, the members of Girls United have chosen to live out these values by hosting workshops to ease the transition for 8th grade girls coming to the high school in the fall.
In January, members of Girls United visited the middle school to pass out invitations for 8th grade girls to attend four workshops over the course of the semester. The club held its first workshop in February at the high school. The workshop began with a warm welcome and plenty of sweet treats. After everyone had a name tag and some candy to enjoy, the group began a tour of the high school.
During the tour, members of Girls United were able to provide their guests with practical tips, such as how to navigate the building, how to get to class on time, and more. Members also used this as a time to begin shattering any preconceived notions about high school. For example, one member said to the group, “I used to think it was a bad thing to walk to class alone.” She emphasized, “It’s okay to walk to class by yourself.” Jasmine Collins, a senior, said, “We want to break any rumors about high school. We want them to know it’s not like the movie, Mean Girls.” With statements like these, it’s evident that the members of Girls United are passionate about sharing their personal experiences in an effort to add comfort to anyone entering the high school environment.
The tour of the high school allowed the 8th grade girls to explore their upcoming school environment in the presence of their future classmates, who want nothing more than to help during this time of transition. It also provided them with the chance to meet and interact with several of their potential teachers. These teachers took the time to share with the 8th grade girls about unique opportunities that will be available to them in high school. With every bit of excitement that grew from this tour, it is the hope of Girls Untied that the possible nerves about starting high school became fewer and fewer.
After exploring the high school, the tour concluded at Mrs. Gibson’s classroom in the English hallway. Mrs. Gibson, the club sponsor, was eager to usher everyone into her warm and inviting room to enjoy snacks, play games, and continue fostering friendships. Girls United chose to play Cross the Line, a game designed to help a group of people get to know each other both on a surface and deep level. Everyone stood on either side of a piece of tape on the floor, which served as the line. When Mrs. Gibson asked a question, the girls were to walk up to the line if it related to them. The questions began on a lighthearted note but soon became more intimate. For example, what started as, “Do you have siblings?” transitioned into, “Have you ever felt left out by a group of friends?”
For everyone in attendance, Cross the Line served as a visual reminder that they are not alone. It also reiterated the mission of the club due to the transparent nature of the game; being aware that everyone goes through highs and lows allows the girls to feel more comfortable sharing with one another. Jasmine Collins said, “We want to lift each other up and support each other through good and bad times. Being a girl in high school can be really hard. Who else can relate to you better than a group of girls who are also in high school?”
After Cross the Line concluded, the group sat in a circle for a time of question and answer. The questions ranged from “What is the school dress code?” to “Have you been bullied in high school?” The room was filled with nothing but vulnerability and honesty as the members of Girls United shared their stories in an effort to help and encourage those around them. This time of open communication not only comforted the 8th grade girls as they were assured of the love and support that would be shown to them from the members of Girls United, but it also deepened the bonds of members with each other and reiterated the value in the club’s existence.
All in all, Girls United hit the ground running with its first workshop. Reagan Caudill, a senior, is eager for the growth of the 8th grade mission; she loves that these workshops give 8th grade attendees “the chance to get the inside scoop on high school.” The next workshop will take place in March at the high school.
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