This year, many students took part in the 9th Grade Buddies program. Throughout the year, students met with their buddies and participated in different activities together. Some activities were more successful than others, but overall, students had many different experiences and memories. To learn more about how students felt about the program, I asked several students a few questions.
One question was about which day stood out the most in their memory. Interestingly, several students mentioned art-related activities. Ruby Nordstrom said that the drawing day was the most memorable for her. She explained that it was actually fun and different from some of the other days, which sometimes felt a little chaotic. Even though she enjoyed other activities too, the drawing day was the one she remembered the most. Yelenni Guzman chose the chalk activity. Since it was one of the last activities of the year, it stayed fresh in her memory. She said she enjoyed drawing with her 9th grade buddy, talking together, and spending time outside. She also mentioned that the Popsicles made the day even better. For Yelenni, it was not only about the activity itself but also about having a good time with her buddy.
When students were asked what they liked most about the 9th Grade Buddies program, many of the answers focused on the friendships they made. Oskar Sathre said that he liked being able to talk with his buddy and felt included during the activities. Even though the activities were important, it seems that spending time with another student and building a connection was what mattered most to him. Some students also shared extra thoughts about their experiences. Evasol Fernandez said that the program made her really happy. Even though she does not know what happened to her buddy now, she still remembers the experience positively. Her answer shows how much a simple friendship can mean to someone, even after the program is over.
Of course, not every activity was a favorite. Students were also asked which activity they liked the least and why. Edward Rios said that he did not enjoy the snowball activity very much. He felt that competing against older students made the game less enjoyable and a little frustrating. For him, the competitive aspect took away some of the fun. Taryn Tran also had a different opinion about the activities. She said that the St. Patrick’s Day activity was a little boring. She explained that the activities she enjoyed most were the drawing activity at the beginning of the year and the chalk activity later on. Her answer shows that students have different interests, and not every activity appeals to everyone in the same way.
Another question asked whether students were looking forward to becoming 9th grade buddies themselves in the future. Quincy Martinez had mixed feelings about it. He said that he would like to experience the program from the older student’s perspective, but at the same time he feels a little nervous about meeting a new buddy. His answer is probably something many students can relate to because meeting someone new can be both exciting and stressful. Jazzlyn Lopez was more certain about her answer. She said that she is excited to become a 9th grade buddy because she wants to spend time with a younger student and hopefully become friends with them. She believes it would be a great opportunity to get to know someone new and help them feel welcome.
Students also gave some suggestions for the future of the program. Nardos Fekade mentioned that buddy pairs should not be completely random. She believes more thought should go into matching students who have similar personalities or interests. According to her, this could help students connect more easily and enjoy the experience more. Nardos also said that when she becomes a 9th grade buddy, she wants to make sure her buddy has fun and feels happy.
Looking at all of the responses, it is clear that the most important part of the 9th Grade Buddies program was not necessarily the activities themselves. What students remembered most were the conversations, friendships, and moments they shared with their buddies. While there were some activities that students enjoyed more than others, the program gave many students the chance to meet new people, feel included, and create memories that they will remember long after the school year ends.
