Although the “Get Real” program has only visited Susquehannock once during the 2014-2015 school year, students and faculty have acknowledged its importance.

The York Jewish Community center will organize  and plan

 activities for three single-day events on March 9, 17, and 24, focusing on creating a more empathetic school environment with the sophomore class. 

A select few junior and senior peer leaders will take a break from their classes to facilitate a productive environment for the sophomore students participating in the day’s activities.

Overall, the main goal of “Get Real” day is to bring together the sophomore class in small groups of four to five students. In each group, a peer leader will lead the day’s discussion which helps students understand and accept one another’s differences

Sophomore Matthew Schiffbauer will be taking part in the event for the first time.

“I think the day allows people to openly say their problems. They’re around their friends and everything, and for some people, it can be quite awkward, but to me it’s worth it,” said Schiffbauer.“If someone maybe has problems, others, maybe even strangers, can offer help.”

At the end of the day’s activities, peer leaders hope that sophomores will have learned something about themselves and about one another.

Likewise, the York Jewish Community Center hopes that mutual understanding will carry over to a typical day of school and ultimately create a more accepting, positive school environment.

The class of 2017 was the first to participate in “Get Real” day.

This year, however, they have the opportunity to join once again as a peer leader.

Prospective peer leader Daylon Gohn hopes to reach out to other students on “Get Real” day.

“Connecting with your peers and expressing yourself is hard for some students,” said Gohn.“Get Real day might give people who need help the chance to bring it out into the open.”