We’re all in this together.
That’s how the fundamental idea of human compassion is expressed in the beautiful medium of a big final number in “High School Musical.” That song teaches us all the lesson of compassion.
Cayce Perkins, a first-year EDGE student, knows this as well as anyone, not just because of how much she loves all of the “High School Musical” movies, but because Union’s EDGE program puts Perkins and her mentors in this together by cultivating meaningful friendships.
Perkins’ Union story shows that success. Ever since her high school teacher announced her acceptance on the school intercom where she experienced the applause and cheering, she was excited to attend Union. She can do so thanks to the EDGE program and the friendships mentors offer. Perkins’ friendship journey with one of her mentors, Katherine Dowling, began on a storming orientation day when they first met. It was a difficult day, but a meaningful friendship was able to grow out of it.
“At first, you were a little bit quiet because it was overwhelming to have all the people around. I think, too, it was stormy on the day we were doing orientation,” Dowling said. “That was not fun. We were inside, but you could hear all the rain and thunder.”
“You know me. I get scared of storms. My house was struck by lightning when I was a kid,” Perkins said.
Since that orientation day, Perkins and Dowling have grown as friends. One of their first bonding experiences was watching High School Musical together; it would be the first of many movie nights. Perkins loves watching movies with her friends, and that bonding has been an important part of her integration into the Union community. Whether they’re watching movies, getting caramel frappuccinos from Starbucks, going to campus events like the improv night, or getting meals in Cobo, the mentor relationship helps students to successfully integrate into a meaningful college experience.
“Movies are a good way to sit down and spend time with each other and do something we both enjoy,” Dowling said. “It helps us have time to spend together and talk throughout the movie. We’re not very quiet movie watchers. It’s still relationship building.”
I shared a joyful moment of this relationship with Perkins. As we sat across a wasp-infested picnic table talking about High School Musical, I was able to enjoy her rendition of “Just Wanna Be With You.” In my right eye, I could only see the blinding light of the 4 p.m. sun radiating upon me. While in my left eye, I saw Perkins’ joyful living radiate through her bright smile as she vocalized one of her favorite songs:
“Through every up
Through every down
You know I’ll always be around
Through anything, you can count on me”
The EDGE program provides learning opportunities for students to foster independence through both the mentor relationship and the class topics such as dealing with money and technology.
“Those things are all really important to Cayce being able to have a life after college,” Dowling said. “That’s the end goal: to make it so that she has the most opportunities possible and so that she can have a fun college experience.”
Perkins’ favorite experience is participating in her cooking class.
“It’s really fun. I know how to make a boiled egg and scrambled eggs too. I’ve got the recipes in a cooking binder,” Perkins said.
“I think it is a very rewarding program, not just for Cayce and the other edge students but for me. There have been genuinely joyful moments I’ve had with her, also getting to be her friend and just hanging out.”
Those genuinely joyful moments are the most important aspect of the student and mentor relationship. It provides comfortability and assurance, which allows students like Perkins to get the help they need in a college experience.
“That’s one of the things we like to work on: getting Cayce to a place where she can be more independent,” said Dowling. “Now, she knows where all the classes are. She had a class start this week, and I didn’t have to worry about walking her to it. The biggest thing that mentors help with is just fostering independence and being there to answer questions when they pop up.”
“Having a mentor and having someone assigned as your mentor is a great way to guarantee there’s someone there in case you need help,” Dowling said. “You have someone to rely on. You know I can call this person if something is going wrong, or even if I’m feeling lonely.”
That basic relationship is a huge help. Perkins had a lot of questions at the beginning of the year that would have gone unanswered without Dowling. But through their friendship, Perkins can learn and grow. Not just because she has mentors, not just because her family at Union helps her and not just because she’s learned to cook eggs, but because the Union community sees precious students like Perkins, and says, “We’re all in this together.”
Photo by Maddie Steele
