High school seniors leave tips for future freshmen

SYLVIE BELMOND/Acorn Newspapers SHARING EXPERIENCES- From left, Jessie Vargo, Allie Woerner, Justine Levan and Jessica Manis discuss the book they wrote "By Girls, Four Girls" with students at Chaparral and Mesa Verde middle schools recently. The book aims to guide freshmen girls in navigating the transition from middle school to high school. Four Moorpark High seniors talked frankly about boys, school drama and social pressures to groups of middle school girls, encouraging them to make educated choices as they move forward to the next chapter of their lives.

"One of the most important things is to have a lot of selfrespect," Jessie Vargo told a group of eighth-graders at Mesa Verde Middle School on Monday.

The seniors, who met in middle school and graduated from Moorpark High School yesterday, hosted several presentations this month at Chaparral and Mesa Verde middle schools.

The presentations were part of their Girl Scout Gold Award project, which includes a book, "By Girls, Four Girls," which was given to the eighth-graders they spoke to.

The book was co-created by Justine Levan, Jessica Manis, Jessie Vargo and Allie Woerner to help future freshmen transition from middle school to high school.

The seniors took turns talking about the changes they've gone through in the past four years.

"While in middle school, I was obsessed with boys, fashion magazines and hanging out with my friends," Woerner said. However, priorities change when students get older, she said.

Levan, the former captain of the 2008 Academic Decathlon team, said, "The book is a source of advice and answers that we wish we had when we were in eighth-grade."

She said that time management is essential in high school. "It's all about how you choose to spend your time. You don't want to leave important things for the last minute."

Social challenges should not be a deterrent to academic success, Manis said.

"You want to make sure that every choice is good for you because it molds the person you become and so you don't have any regrets," she said.

The high school environment is much bigger than middle school, but there is a place for everyone, said the girls, encouraging the eighth-graders to join clubs and other activities offered at the high school.

After the presentation, groups of eighth-graders, who seemed empowered by the hourlong discussion, gathered around the speakers to get their books autographed.

"I learned to be confident and try my best, not letting my friends' problems get in the way of learning," said Diana Rosales, an eighth-grader. "You must be real with yourself and just follow your dreams," she said.

The "By Girls, Four Girls," book and outreach project was created with the help of MHS assistance counselor Karla Rodriguez and the principals and counselors at the two local middle schools. In addition to distributing books during the presentation, the girls plan to donate additional copies to local public and school libraries.

Contributions from Brian Angel, owner of Vision Wireless in Moorpark, and the Rotary Club of Moorpark helped to defer printing costs and aid distribution efforts.

Colleen Graven, a local businessperson, donated her time to help lay out the book, and Mike Grewal of PostNet in Moorpark provided assistance with the project as well.

"This is a great example of the positive things young people can do, especially when they're motivated and have the support and encouragement of business people in the community," said Debbie Woerner, Allie's mom.

For more information about the book and its creators, visit bygirlsfourgirls.clubspaces.com.