by MacKenzie Sackett |

Transitioning to a new school can be hard, especially transitioning to a huge high school like LHS. Luckily, there is an organization at LHS that’s mission is to help new students transition and help other students get through their high school years a little bit easier.
“We help transition new students and help them because being new to a high school can be very uncomfortable. We also help sophomores transition from the junior high to the high school since it’s so extremely different,” Prevention Coordinator Amy Tuso said.
Peer Helpers is made up of a group of students who are positive role models who try to help create a healthy and unified school. They do this by getting the new students involved in fun activities like passing out free candy randomly or inviting new students to the school to a breakfast to help them get to know each other.
“We have a new student breakfast coming up for all the new students this year. So if they’re a new student we invite them to breakfast and just get them to know each other and to know that there are other new students besides them,” junior Nathan Volkmann said.
Trying to influence students in a positive way and encouraging them to stay away from drugs and alcohol is another one of Peer Helpers main goals.
“We want to help people and prevent usage of drugs, drinking and distracted driving. Just preventing overall unhealthy decisions,” senior Anna Lacy said.
An upcoming project that Peer Helpers will be participating in this year is called Kudos To Kindness, where students will get recognition for doing great things for other students at LHS.
“Kudos To Kindness is a thing we’re going to do in advisory where if you saw someone do something nice for someone else you write it down on a piece of paper and turn it in. Then on KLHS they will read off the names and you will get some candy or some sort of prize,” senior Anna Lacy said.
Another upcoming Peer Helpers project that is sure to be loved by LHS students is Comfy Sweats Tuesday. They encourage students to come dressed in their sweats and be comfortable with who they are.
“We just want to make people feel comfortable. That’s why we have Comfy Tuesday. We want people to be comfortable with who they are. That’s our goal,” senior Sydney Schulz said.
Students who have an interest in being part of a great organization like Peer Helpers will get the opportunity to apply to be a Peer Helper this coming February.
“Towards the end of February and the beginning of March we put out announcements that people can apply. Then they fill out the application and we will let them know towards the end of the school year. They have to be a junior or a senior the following year to be on Peer Helpers,” Tuso said.
Students who get involved with Peer Helpers will get the opportunity to influence students at LHS in a positive way while also having fun and meeting new people.
“It’s really relaxed. It’s not so uptight and the counselors are pretty flexible. It’s just an easy group to get along with and be apart of,” Volkmann said.