Be NICE by Teresa

Be NICE by Teresa - November 2019 Scholarship Essay

One way that I have positively impacted my high school was joining a club that focuses on improving student climate. This club was called CAL LIFE. My high school, Caledonia High School, is nicknamed Cal for short. LIFE is a matrix that we follow to make sure that everyone in school can get closer to one another so that we can excel in our academics while making new friends and prevent as much bullying as we can. Each month, several of my peers and I would meet with the principal and discuss ways we could make the social environment feel a lot more positive. Because Caledonia High School consists of over one thousand students, it can be quite difficult to have this public school feel like we are one big family where everyone knows who everyone is. In an effort to making CAL LIFE feel like anyone can be friends with one another, the school sets aside some of their time for every student to go to their designated class and to spend some time to strengthen our bonding and leadership skills.

Although it is critical for a school to take athletics and academics seriously, Caledonia High School also believe that it is just as important for students to feel like school is their second home. The staff has set aside 40 minutes for a session which occurs twice a month. This session would be student led, and the class would discuss on a popular topic that is allows anyone and everyone to respectfully voice their opinions. One of the sessions that resonated with me the most was a topic on spreading rumors. This was a heavy topic that motivated many of the students in my class to talk to each other. This is also a topic that was intriguing to many students because it raised much concern and awareness about how we should be careful with what we say. In having a class discussion that way, many students are able to see their peers’ insights and bond with one another. CAL LIFE bases some of our ideas off of the program BE NICE. This way, students can learn how to be more inclusive and respectful to their peers. By being a part of this club, we are in charge of running how the students will gather and what they should do during each session. Each session is a different activity or a different topic of discussion. I am proud to be a representative of this club because with the help of staff, and many meetings with different leaders, we were able to start the club and make a positive impact on our school.