Upperclassmen link with freshman through new program

How do you make it through four years of high school? Freshmen at Carson High School got some tips Thursday from those who have been there.

"Do what you can for the school, but do it for yourself too," said 18-year-old Zack Tersteege, who is a member of a program new to Carson High called the Link Crew, which connects upperclassmen with freshmen.

"We want you to have the most fun and get the most out of school," said Haley Simpson, also 18. "Get involved. Your high school life will be so much fun. Take pride in your school."

Tersteege and Simpson are among some 60 upperclassman who form the Link Crew. Members went to three classes Thursday and will head to three more today to demonstrate that working together can be more productive than working apart. It was the first in-school activity by the Link Crew since the late August freshman orientation they ran with games and activities.

The first project by the Link Crew on Thursday was to distribute a page of 20 brain-teasers. Students quickly realized they could do the puzzles quicker in teams than alone, the objective of the project.

For the second task, Tersteege and Simpson split the class of 22 students into two groups. Working together, the students had to figure out how to change where they were standing by moving one student at a time.

"You had to really think together," said 14-year-old Christy Works, a freshman. "You had to work together. You had to come up with a plan and keep on doing it."

"It was kind of hard to understand, but when you got going, you get it," said 14-year-old Alex Knight, a freshman.

Both said they enjoyed having the Link students in their class.

"It's valuable to understand and learn how to work with people in groups," Alex said.

Link students were identified last year by teachers who thought they would make good leaders. They participated in summer training where they learned the games and activities they share.

"I think (Link) is really important because a lot of people think seniors hate freshmen and that they don't care," Simpson said. "But that's not true. It's important to be involved with the freshmen and I think this is a great program."

Link students will visit other classrooms about once a month.

Contact reporter Maggie O'Neill at mo'neill@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1219.