By Stacey Stahl, 9th grade counselor at Heritage High School
In the fall of 2025, I received an email regarding a three-day leadership event for tenth graders scheduled for May 2026. As I work solely with freshmen, I brainstormed ideas to get ten kids involved, the maximum allowed per school, and what criteria would be used to nominate students. I collaborated with our 9th grade Enrichment teachers, Craig Carpenter and Alexis Beardsley; our 9th grade Resource teacher, Theresa Hausbeck; and our 9th grade dean of students, Chris Morse. I asked them to nominate students from the year before who overcame obstacles to be promoted to tenth grade.
As I began to prepare for the parent meeting to discuss logistics, I received an email that the event was cancelled for the first time in its 20-year history. I spent a few moments slack-jawed at my computer and then immediately began collaborating with one of our social workers, Destiny Reikowsky, to create an alternate event for Friday only. She mentioned a cooking class, and I immediately thought of making homemade pretzels at Weiss Centennial Farm in Frankenmuth. Mrs. Reikowski also suggested the Frankenmuth Aerial Park or bowling. I suggested the Frankenmuth Boat Rides as it offered a Juice and Chocolate bar. We decided on having the event at Bavarian Inn Lodge as it a food court and arcade we could visit, plus a rope walk, laser tag, rock wall, and bowling. Mrs. Reikowski thought of doing a fashion show, and I thought the students should give an acceptance speech in their fancy clothes. Now we had options and time to formulate a plan.
One of the key activities at the leadership event that was cancelled was the opportunity for students to get out of their comfort zone by giving a speech. I was determined to provide this opportunity at our event. After our fun day at the Lodge connecting as a team and being brave, we came back to Heritage to prepare for the award ceremony in the company of family, friends, and nominating staff.
Four students, Elizabeth Pappas, Axia Rodarte, Maleek Smith, and Delaney Taylor, attended the field trip on a brisk spring day, and making (and eating) homemade pretzels was the highlight. The award winners were “terrified” of the Rope Walk, but all of them made it to the 45-foot top and zip lined their way down! They spent the rest of the day having fun in the arcade, bowling, playing laser tag, and eating before returning to Heritage to don dress clothes for the pinnacle of the day, the award acceptance speeches when the students stood in front of family and friends to share their struggles during their freshman year and how they overcame them. With authenticity, they admitted they still wrestle with adversities but now have experience in problem solving, discovering resources, and being resilient. I’m deeply proud of them for being brave to join the field trip and share their story of overcoming obstacles and personifying our motto: Struggle. Ascent. Lead. Repeat.
