It’s 7:30 a.m. on a Friday. Most students are shuffling out of bed or getting ready to go to school. The 200+ students at the Bigs and Littles program in the media center, however? They’re here at Plant bright and early, chatting with their fellow students.
As Bigs/Littles chair Madden Moore (11) calls out the pairings, students gather and meet their partners. Awkward small talk turns into the beginnings of a new friendship as the time nears 8:30.
On Friday, Oct. 3, the Big/Little Panther program, organized by the PTSA (Parent Teacher Student Association) Student Board, smashed a school record by drawing over 200 panthers to its early-morning breakfast meeting. Behind this success were months of preparation, late nights and last-minute messages.
The program is new this year, co-chaired by Moore and Georgi McGonagall (12), supported by a board chosen from the PTSA Student Board. It was started with the intention of giving every panther a home. As we all know, the transition between high school and middle school is difficult. Between the thousands of extra students, more difficult classes, different people and new rules, it can be easy to feel overwhelmed if a freshman doesn’t have a support system.
Moore wanted to change this. As a freshman, she had the support of Pink Panthers, the all-girls student-led a capella group at Plant.
“Joining the group gave me an immediate friend group and older role models that were eager to guide me into Plant,” said Moore. “I thought about all of the freshmen who don’t have siblings [or don’t] know a lot of older students. Creating the Big/Little program would give younger students an opportunity to learn and grow from leading Plant students involved in various activities and excited to share advice.”
From this, she proposed the idea at a PTSA Student Board meeting. The idea caught on, and she and co-chair McGonagall began a months-long process of fleshing out the program. Next followed a flurry of applications, last-minute direct messages asking to join and late nights spent matching students up, all by hand.
The explosive popularity of the Bigs/Littles program reflects the student body’s feelings at Plant.
“I wanted to be more involved, and I knew I was good at helping younger students. I also know if I was a freshman this would have been very helpful,” said Megan Hageman (12). “I think it is [beneficial] because it gives upperclassmen a chance to connect with people that aren’t in their grade, and it helps lowerclassmen feel like part of the plant community and shows them how to be involved.”
“The meeting was super fun and I met my little. We talked about our shared experiences, because we both swim, and I told her about teachers at the school,” Reese McCambridge (12) said. “It leads to a more connected Plant community. It also allows freshmen and seniors to be more involved.”
The Bigs/Littles program addresses the age-old transition between schools and the new issues students face today. The uncertainty and increasing isolation that freshmen go through as they enter a new phase of their lives are met with the surety of seniors who have lived through what freshmen are struggling with right now. With this program comes progress and a physical representation of “Strength Through Unity,” Plant’s school motto.
Anyone interested in joining the Bigs/Littles program is encouraged to join their Remind with code @plantptsabiglittle and reach out to Madden Moore with any questions.
