Since the second semester of last year, student mentors have taken part in UC High’s version of the OASIS program, in order to help other students pass their courses at UC High.

OASIS, which stands for Organized Academic Support In School, is a relatively new program that pairs mentoring students with younger students who need to improve their GPA’s or do better in their other classes, according to Math Teacher Bernard Steinberger, who teaches the class.

“It’s a support class for students who struggle academically, so I help students do their homework, study for tests, make up missed work, study for the CAHSEE, and do whatever they need to do to pass in school,” said Senior Sarah McConnell, a mentor. She joined because she needed a class to switch into in the second semester of last year due to an injury. “An old math teacher of mine told me that Mr. Steinberger was looking for people who could tutor in math. I was definitely a little bit nervous about it, but I joined the class and I really like it,” she said.

“We started the program second semester of last year after visiting a school in L.A. that has multiple different mentoring programs […] the mentoring model is becoming popular thanks to proven success seen in schools like La Serna High School, the school we visited last year for ideas. So, I think you will see more schools in our district adopting a program like this in the future,” said Steinberger.

Steinberger explained that the program benefits the mentors, as well as the students receiving help. “The mentors get the experience of helping the community, our school, and positively affecting another student’s life,” he said, “I appreciate their daily commitment to helping kids succeed.”

Junior Janet Saucedo, a mentor who was formerly a student being mentored, explained how helping others has benefited her. “If I help, I can learn even more. Last year I wasn’t so good at geometry, but now that I’m helping others with geometry, I can help myself at the same time,” she said.

“The increases in GPA overall are absolutely incredible. It’s not just us, it’s also that the students put in a lot of hard work, but I think that the OASIS program has definitely been very successful in helping students pass,” said McConnell.