Last year, Southside High School started a tradition that could very well be one of the best tools in preparing underclassmen for the road ahead.

Tina Petty, an honors math teacher at SHS, invited a group of former students to come speak to current students about the things they’ve learned since graduation, ranging from what they would’ve done differently in high school to prepare to tips for success in college. That event led to this year’s Alumni Day, which brought 22 SHS alumni out to speak to underclassmen about college life and what they should be thinking about now as freshmen, sophomores, juniors and even seniors.

While there are some exceptions to the rule, teenagers are known for not listening to advice handed down by older generations, whether they be teachers, parents or others. However, get some former peers or those teenagers can relate to on some level dishing out the advice and one might see the results of that guidance. This is surely the case at Southside High School.

Principal Dale Cole, since taking the reigns at the only high school south of the Pamlico River, has implemented some effective policies and activities at the school and continues to be open to hearing new and innovative ideas that could better the school’s students.

Meredith Southworth’s English II class at SHS participated in a global hunger project with a school from India, communicating via Skype and other media. The three-week project was a success and several students presented the results of their project, including what they had learned, to the North Carolina State Board of Education — a first for Beaufort County students. The presentation was well received by board members. This, along with the Alumni Day and several other ongoing projects and teachings, is not only preparing the students for tests and college, but also for life.

Life can be hard and receiving guidance from others who have been there — and been there recently or currently, at that — is invaluable. The mentality at SHS, innovative and resourceful, is preparing the next generation for life and giving the students the tools and knowledge for them to make their own decisions about what they want to do with their lives and what they want to pursue.