SEATTLE - Some incoming freshmen at Garfield High School are getting ahead of the curve, thanks to a new program called Summer Bridges.
The program is designed to make the transition to high school a little easier.
Thirteen-year-old Adam Jackson is going from a small private school of 163, to a high school of more than 1,600.
"Everyone's a little nervous but it helps to have something beforehand to get you prepped," Adam said.
Jackson's getting that help from his mentor, Trevor Sargent, a University of Washington student earning his Master's degree in education.
"I'm learning a lot from Adam through this process and through his experiences and how he's growing," Sargent said. "And that's going to benefit me in terms of how I interact with students in the future."
This is the first year of the Summer Bridges program at Garfield. It goes beyond the typical orientation by teaching students how to "do" high school. It's the brainchild of Garfield principal Ted Howard, who was looking to even the playing field.
"They all have the will but they're really young," Howard said. "They're not mature enough to really walk into a high school and have juniors, seniors, and sophomores have that edge on them."
Students earn credits in some of the basic courses in the month-long program. They also learn how to learn in a new and often stressful high school environment.
Mr. Amer's class focuses on building confidence and staying ahead of the game. He tells students: "The success part is meeting your goals and the experience part is actually doing it."
Eighty-six students are enrolled in the program and it is free. School officials expect to see participation grow even more next year.
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