Being a new or transfer student is hard and can lead to problems such as absences, grade fluctuations and struggles with making friends. 

Student engagement and attendance coach Edwina Koch has created a program to combat issues she has heard about from new and transfer students. 

“When I stepped into this role as attendance coach, one of the things that was repeated to me from different people in the building was that we have nothing to support students who are new to Lincoln as they transition into this new community,” said Koch. “When students come from somewhere else, whether that be a different state or country or a different school in Portland, it can be really daunting to step in.”

The program is simple; Lincoln student mentors get matched up with new or struggling students based on their similar interests. 

“I think with this generation, [students] face a lot of anxiety, especially post-COVID,” said Koch. “Being new just adds to all of that, and it results in students totally avoiding school and missing school. Then it kind of spirals, and then they have chronic absenteeism. So this program is to help combat that.”

Sophomore Roseline Sandell is a peer mentor. She is a member of the district Student Union, is in a the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Representative for the sophomore class, supports the Arab Student Union and is in the Black Student Union (BSU) and Sisters of Color. 

Because of Sandell’s enthusiasm for leadership opportunities at Lincoln, she was immediately interested in the mentorship program. Sandell says she understands the firsthand experience of feeling alone at a school. 

“I transferred into Lincoln … I feel like it was super tough in the first months,” said Sandell. 

Senior Delaney Qualls is involved in the Intro to Education program, volunteers in the Intensive Skills Classroom (ISC) and is also a peer mentor. 

Qualls says that she learned about the mentorship program through Ms. Hennessy, who teaches Intro to Education. Qualls was drawn to the program because of her love of making new friends.

“I think that coming from a different school, it’s hard to find your group, and so if you don’t have people, it’s really hard to stay motivated academically and go to classes,” said Qualls. “I do see it being hard for new kids to integrate at Lincoln.”

Koch hopes to expand the mentorship program in the future. Both Qualls and Sandell see the program as an incredible opportunity to improve Lincoln’s social scene. 

“I feel like it would be great to expand the program in the future because everybody needs help at some point,” said Sandell. “Even if you are a straight-A student, having somebody to check in with you is great. I think it is especially important because it is a kid checking in on you. [A student] is way more approachable than an adult.”

Are you interested in participating in the peer mentor program? Reach out to Edwina Koch at [email protected] for more information.