Across the street, ahead of the curve

At Parkwood Middle School, high school is literally across the street.

For Charles Martin III, that short distance represents a much bigger transition, one he remembers well and now wants to help younger students approach with confidence.

Now a senior at Parkwood High School, Charles created the High School Readiness Program after spending two years tutoring students at Parkwood Middle. The students often asked him what high school was really like and what they needed to know before they got there.

He understood the questions because he had faced many of them himself.

“I think my biggest issue was understanding the different class levels and figuring out what classes I actually wanted to take,” he said.

That experience gave Charles an idea: Instead of simply answering questions one student at a time, he could create something that would prepare an entire group of students for the transition.

Turning an idea into action

Charles implemented the High School Readiness Program at the start of his junior year. He talked with former middle school teachers, high school teachers, college professors and district leaders about the challenges students commonly face when entering high school.

He also explored child development and psychology, looking for ways to turn that information into lessons that would resonate with eighth graders.

The result is a yearlong program with 12 modules covering academics, time management, athletics, peer pressure, social media, bullying, vaping and more.

For Parkwood Middle Principal Jamal McGee, Charles’ initiative stood out.

“I was pleasantly surprised by his initiative,” McGee said. “It’s rare that you see a 17-year-old who wants to take on that type of responsibility on their own.”

Charles also understood that some conversations could be easier for students to have with someone who had recently been in their position.

“It’s like, you’re only two or three years older than me, so I know you know what you’re talking about,” he said.

That connection grew over time. Students who were initially hesitant began asking Charles questions and sharing concerns, sometimes about themselves and sometimes about friends.

A student might ask about classes or athletics. Another might mention a friend struggling with vaping. Charles shared what he had learned, offered perspective and helped point students toward resources when additional support was needed.

McGee sees something in Charles that helps explain why he has taken on this role.

“Charles has what I would call an ‘old soul,’” McGee said. “He has a maturity and sense of responsibility that are quite extraordinary for someone his age.”

More than a class schedule

Charles wanted students to understand that preparing for high school means more than choosing classes.

His lessons address the freedom that comes with high school, managing time, navigating new social situations and making choices when there may not always be someone standing over your shoulder.

Social media has its own module.

Rather than simply telling students what not to post, Charles encourages them to think about how they can use social media to build a positive presence. He talks about using platforms such as Instagram to showcase accomplishments to colleges and athletic programs.

The idea caught the students off guard.

“They thought I had just told them pigs are flying or something,” Charles said, laughing.

For Charles, it is about helping students see possibilities while also understanding that their choices can have lasting consequences.

A connection that carries forward

The impact of Charles’ program does not end when the lesson does.

One of the students he previously tutored returned to Parkwood Middle to share his own high school experience with the eighth graders, including how Charles’ advice had helped him.

Charles was also there for another milestone, attending the students’ eighth-grade promotion ceremony.

“They all wanted to come take pictures with me,” Charles said. “I met a couple of their parents. It was just an exciting time.”

Now, those students are freshmen at Parkwood High School, sharing the halls with the senior who spent a year preparing them for the transition.

Charles has already made it clear that he is still looking out for them.

“If I see you next year doing A, B and C, I’m going to call you out,” he said, smiling.

It is a relationship that has continued from the classroom into high school. Charles may only be a few years older, but for these students, he is someone who has already been where they are going.

A lesson that lasts

The High School Readiness Program continues at Parkwood Middle this school year, but Charles hopes the idea will eventually reach students throughout UCPS.

The program has already drawn interest from other schools. Teachers and students have visited Parkwood Middle to observe lessons and learn more about how they could develop a similar program.

McGee believes the value of Charles’ lessons may become even clearer once students encounter the situations he has prepared them to navigate.

“You can never give people enough information,” McGee said. “Charles’ lessons are a ‘cheat code’ for rising high school students.”

Charles hopes the students remember more than the information in his 12 modules.

“I hope that they remember that you can definitely trust a peer,” Charles said. “If you’re struggling with something, find a friend who maybe is a year or two older than you and lean on them for that support. They’ve just lived it, just like you.”

For Charles, looking out for younger students doesn’t stop when the school day ends.

Charles runs indoor and outdoor track and has earned most valuable player honors and several conference championships. He participates in clubs, serves on the superintendent’s advisory council and spends his summers volunteering to read to students.

He is considering studying psychology or education after high school and hopes to attend a university in North Carolina’s Triangle.

Before Charles takes his own next step, he has one more year to help a new group of eighth graders prepare for theirs.

“I hope they remember that one of their own thought enough about them to share valuable information about the journey that they are about to embark upon,” McGee said. “I’m hoping that one of them will gain inspiration from Charles so that when they see a need, they take action to come up with some solutions to help.”

Charles has already made that journey himself.

Now, he’s making sure the students coming behind him are ready to cross the street.