At David Douglas High School in Oregon, students and staff are reimagining what high school success looks like. Through a combination of Wayfinder’s social-emotional learning (SEL) curriculum and the school’s Link Crew peer mentorship program, incoming ninth graders are finding the support they need to thrive in a challenging and often overwhelming new environment. By connecting freshmen with upperclassmen mentors, David Douglas fosters positive peer relationships, helping students build healthy habits, develop leadership skills, and experience belonging within their school community from the moment they arrive.
The Power of Peer Mentorship
Transitioning from middle school to high school can be a daunting experience for many students. New academic expectations, social pressures, and a larger school environment can lead to feelings of isolation or anxiety. Research shows that adolescence is a critical time for social and emotional development, with peer relationships playing a vital role in shaping a student’s identity and sense of belonging. Recognizing this, David Douglas High School has integrated Link Crew, a peer mentorship program, to bridge the gap between freshmen and upperclassmen.
Senior Link Crew leader Savannah explains, “Link Crew is a peer mentorship program where we work one-on-one with freshmen and really build their skills into becoming a high schooler.” Through Link Crew, upperclassmen like Savannah act as role models, helping freshmen navigate the complex social and academic landscape of high school. As part of their mentorship, juniors and seniors provide academic assistance, personal support, and mental health check-ins to ensure that freshmen feel seen, valued, and understood.
"We kind of take them under our wing," says Anthony, an 11th grade Link Crew leader. "We help them academically, personally, mentally. We have check-ups with them." This personalized approach fosters a sense of connection between students, creating a supportive environment where freshmen feel more comfortable opening up and asking for help when needed.
SEL Designed for High Schoolers
David Douglas’ Assistant Principal Valoree Hill reflects on Wayfinder’s curriculum, which undergirds the school's mentorship program: “Wayfinder just feels so much more genuine and so much more appropriate to where they're at, the kinds of skills that we're trying to help them learn. It just feels like it’s meant to be high school, that it was designed for high school.”
Designed specifically for high school students and prototyped in hundreds of classrooms nationwide, Wayfinder provides lessons that help students develop essential future-ready skills like self-awareness, adaptability, empathy, and collaboration. These skills are crucial for success in high school and beyond, helping students navigate the emotional and social complexities of adolescence while preparing them for future academic and career pursuits.
At David Douglas, Wayfinder is woven into advisory, where Link Crew leaders facilitate lessons alongside freshmen. This allows for deeper, peer-led discussions on topics that might otherwise feel abstract or disconnected. Senior Link Crew leader Anh explains, “What we're trying to do is really set an example. So us kind of modeling it and like saying these things and them hearing it from us really makes it a lot more believable than it would be coming from a teacher.” Advisors and teachers at David Douglas echo Anh’s comments, noting peer mentorship offers a different and often deeper form of support for new students than they could provide as adults on campus.
Building Self-Awareness + Belonging
One of the core focuses of Wayfinder’s lessons at David Douglas is self-awareness—helping students reflect on their emotions, strengths, and areas for growth. Teacher Brooke Hunter says, “As an Advisory 9 teacher myself, we focus a lot on just self-awareness: How do you become aware of your feelings, of your perspective? What areas of strength do you already possess?” This introspective approach encourages students to better understand themselves, which is a key component of developing resilience and adaptability during high school.
The presence of Link Crew leaders in advisory helps freshmen connect more easily with the material. “Having three Link Crew kids within my class, they act as mentors who sit next to them, who go through the guided lessons together, who can offer their own experience,” says Hunter. The peer-to-peer dynamic allows for open and honest conversations, helping freshmen feel supported and understood in a way that teacher-led discussions sometimes can’t achieve.
For ninth graders, the Wayfinder lessons make a meaningful impact. Freshman Yahir says, “The Wayfinder lessons here at David Douglas are going to help me throughout my career in high school because they help you find who you really are. It helps you see the different types of people, the different types of environments that you can be in this school, either bad or good."
Building Future Readiness + Leadership Skills
Link Crew not only supports the freshmen but also fosters leadership and personal growth among the upperclassmen who lead the program. Through their involvement in Link Crew and Wayfinder, mentors are building skills that will serve them well beyond high school. “Joining Link Crew, as a whole, just kind of helped me be more open, just talk to people more, and be more communicative," says Anthony, one of the Link Crew leaders. “I’m hoping that I could keep those traits going into college and into the future.”
By empowering students to take on leadership roles and guide their peers, David Douglas High School is creating a ripple effect that extends far beyond the classroom. As the upperclassmen mentor their younger counterparts, they’re developing critical skills in communication, empathy, and collaboration. While they help build a welcoming and supportive school community for themselves and their peers, David Douglas's upperclassmen are also building skills that will help them thrive in their paths toward college, careers, and life after high school.
