Do you remember when you were in the lower school, and the big girls would come visit? Do you remember those feelings of excitement, nervousness, maybe even awe? Now it’s the eighth graders’ turn to be the “big girls” that the Second Graders over at McKelvey admire.
Hewitt has a new initiative called Lunch Buddies. During each eighth grade lunch, three of us go over to McKelvey, and sit at our own table to interact with our buddies.
I remember my first time very well. At first, I was afraid and not even all that excited to go. I didn’t know whether or not they would find me interesting, or if they would be more afraid of me than I was of them. On the one-and-a-half-block walk over to McKelvey (that seemed much longer than it really was), apprehension took over. What if they’re rambunctious little kids who just don’t listen? What if they start screaming and hitting me with apples and oranges! I know, it sounds crazy, but I had no idea what to expect. And boy, was I surprised when I walked into that lunchroom!
It was a serene atmosphere. Everyone was smiling at each other, especially at us, “the big girls.” It was quite an amazing and calming sight to see. A little girl grabbed me by my hand and said, “Will you come sit at my table?” How could I ever refuse? As I made my way over to the table, a whole flock of eager second graders started throwing questions at me. “What’s your name?”, “Where do you live?”, “Who did you want to win the Wizard of Waverley Place competition?” And, oh! Their responses of joy when I mentioned that I was on the blue team!
As fellow eighth grader Mina Khan recalls, “They were charming and cute and gave me nostalgia about my days in the lower school.”
In those 27 minutes that I spent with them, I learned so much from the second graders at my table. For instance, they all love orange juice and bagels. They are a mix of Greek, French, British, Hispanic, and Finnish. They hate telling secrets. And they all can’t wait to become “big girls” in the Hewitt Middle School. Last but not least, they held their heads and Lands End Hunter Classic Navy Plaid headbands up high, expressing great pride in being Hewitt girls. I enjoyed them all, and their incredible energy. I was even invited to one of their birthday parties! I will definitely go back again to meet more girls. This is an experience that I recommend for the rest of the middle school. There is no greater satisfaction than knowing you’ve inspired someone else and can be seen as a role model.
I remember my days as an eighth grade buddy too! It’s so much fun to talk to the lower school girls, especially because they have such a great love for Hewitt and I can’t help but feel excited for them as they continue their journey through the Hewitt community. I think the buddy system is such an amazing idea and I hope it continues for a long time!