Story by Kevin Zhang

The Discovery High School shadowing program recently gave 8th graders the chance to experience a full day of high school life by following DHS freshmen around campus. The event was widely seen as a positive and welcoming experience for both the visiting students and their hosts.

Freshman Lyla Hedrick volunteered to host a middle school student earlier this year, stepping in before lunch to help when the original host was unavailable. During the shadow day, she showed the student many areas around DHS, including classrooms, the cafeteria, the gym, and the library.

“The best part was getting to show them how awesome Discovery really is,” Hedrick said. The 8th grader also attended several of her classes, including Science, Health/P.E., History, and ELA/Spanish. Hedrick added that the schedule felt pretty normal and said she would be happy to host another shadow student in the future.

Another freshman, Ryan Scarborough, also shared his experience hosting shadow students. Ryan hosted one middle school student and three freshmen this year, giving tours during fun school events like the Thanksgiving Feast of Community. He showed the shadows around the entire school and introduced them to people he thought they would connect with.

“The most enjoyable part was seeing them become part of the Discovery community,” Scarborough said. He recommended activities such as band, yearbook, and playing volleyball in the gym during lunch, which was a favorite among the visiting students.

Overall, the shadowing program was a success and gave 8th graders a comfortable and exciting introduction to life at Discovery High School. Students can look forward to welcoming more shadow visitors in the future.