Previously, Hershey High School was a part of the Big Brother Big Sister (BBBS) program. Instead, HHS has adopted “Breakfast Buddies.”
This awesome alternative should be implemented into every child’s life.
Announced by Hershey High School’s Instructional Coach Jaime Bean at the beginning of the school year, Breakfast Buddies is a new alternative mentorship that will provide comfort, support, and friendly faces to many children.
Even though the Buddies only meet twice a month, there are still many benefits that Breakfast Buddies provides. Breakfast Buddies should be something that elementary students worldwide participate in, each enjoying time with a Buddy one-on-one or in a group setting.
“Many children get swept up into what their peers are doing, but research shows that having another caring adult or high school peer on their side helps Littles make good decisions and avoid risky behavior,” writes BBBS of America on their website. Breakfast Buddies serves the same purpose as BBBS by forming stable relationships between a Buddy and their Littles.
The NC Department of Health and Human Services states, “Early childhood experiences from birth to age 8 affect the development of the brain’s architecture, which provokes the foundation for all future learning, behavior, and health.” A Buddy who can guide you in the right direction is imperative to positive development. Negative influences at home or school can quickly derail a student off of their career path and, more importantly, derail the rest of their lives in their formative years, so schools with programs such as Breakfast Buddies are extremely valuable for students and teachers.
Studies show that students in programs like BBBS and Breakfast Buddies are about 46% less likely to begin using illegal drugs and 27% less likely to start using alcohol. With all of the research and data showing how impactful a caring mentor can be in developing a child’s mind, there is no doubt that Breakfast Buddies would have the same effect.
Kids worldwide should be able to experience a stable relationship with a caring mentor like a Breakfast Buddy.
If you are a student of Hershey High School and would like to be a part of the change in a child’s life, contact HHS SEL guru Jaime Bean to join or use this Google Form to apply.
If you are not a member of HHS you should contact your local school board and/or education department to pitch the idea of breakfast buddies; maybe you could be the change a child needs.
