By: Oliver Musters

   MRHS thoroughly values, along with academic integrity, securing all students the right to socially belong. While most make friends with minimal difficulty, some need additional support to feel at home among peers. Providing all students with a safe social space, We Are Ridge, meeting during flex time in room 230, does everything it can to help students find their place.

   During club meetings, advised by paraeducator Ms. Eakle, students work on creative projects, all the while developing not only peer relationships, but also collaborative works which benefit the community. For example, the club encourages students to spread positivity by sending their friends gratitude letters.

   “We [want] students [to] feel like their voices are heard [and] wanted. We coordinate with board members and come up with activities. If holidays are upcoming, we convert that into a hands-on activity where they can talk to each other. [For instance], we make winter-themed cards during Christmas time,” advisor Ms. Eakle stated.

   Many club members appreciate the creative and social aspects of the club, as it provides them with a social space where they can express themselves and communicate with newfound friends.

   “My favorite part of [We Are Ridge] is spending time with my friends and making a lot of crafts, like [for] Halloween and Christmas. Also, we like to practice a ring toss that we learned,” senior Anushree Mahato mentioned.

   Functioning without formal requirements, the club welcomes and accepts every member. New members, free to be their authentic selves without fear of judgment, can join without feeling a sense of pressure. They neither have to go to a fixed number of meetings, nor have to stay for all 30 minutes of flex time.  

   “This is an open-door club, and students, if they have a pass, can come for five minutes or stay the entire time. We want you to expose yourself to the club,” Ms. Eakle explained.

   Broadening their community involvement, any student, regardless of their difficulty level in making friends, can benefit from attending meetings, since We Are Ridge’s activities reinforce self-advocacy and problem-solving skills. These skills will help them excel both in and out of the club room.  

   “[The club gives] you a place you can go and feel better, [where] you can advocate for yourself and tell [us] what’s going on [Problem solving] is one of the biggest skills that a lot of students are working on, like getting along during projects when one person disagrees with another,” co-advisor Ms. Shah conveyed.

   Reducing the likelihood of exclusion, We Are Ridge, joinable by scanning the QR code below, invites Mustangs into an all-inclusive space which encourages personal and social growth. Every member of the student body deserves social acceptance, no matter their individual circumstances.