Abstract
Going from middle to high school is a difficult transition, but for too many students, it goes beyond the initial transition period and ends up impacting a broader scope of their lives. Thanks to my own experiences in this transition, I wanted to work at my old middle school and try to improve current students’ chances for success, which motivated me to begin my mentorship with Ms. Vera. Speaking to these students, I heard a lot of confusion and anxiety whenever high school was mentioned. I knew I wanted to do something to ease this stress, yet still prepare the students for the reality of what lies ahead. The answer to my research question, “How can I facilitate the transition from middle school to high school in order for high-achieving students to be more successful?” is something that I can directly implement into my mentorship. Through my online research, interview, and surveys, I have found many ways to help current students right now, especially a mentor program that would prepare 8th graders to be freshmen. With the help of other rising seniors, I believe that this program will show a decreased transition time and an increased rate of success with the participating 8th graders as they enter high school.