Teens Connect The World: Brain, Children and Love

What happens when you put 400 wide-eyed freshmen and 150 spirited upperclassmen into one day of icebreakers, themed skits, and late-night decorating marathons? You get something more than an orientation; you get a living, breathing story.

I’ve had the privilege of leading Fish Camp, our school’s annual freshmen orientation. My role wasn’t just logistical. It was creative, connective, and deeply personal. I wrote the script for our feature video, stepped in front of the camera as part of the cast, and spent hours editing and piecing the footage into something that would welcome, reassure, and inspire an entire class.

The Premise: A First Impression That Lasts

For many freshmen, Fish Camp is the very first page in their high school story. And like any opening chapter, it sets the tone. Our team knew that the video had to do more than explain schedules or rules. It had to say, You belong here.

We started with a concept that felt both fun and human. We wanted every joke, every scene, and every transition to carry that quiet subtext: We see you. We’re excited for you. And yes, you’re going to be okay.

Writing the script meant walking a delicate line, balancing humor with warmth, and information with energy. The words needed to resonate not only with a nervous 14-year-old, but also with the mentors who would soon be guiding them.

The Crucible: 550 Moving Pieces

Fish Camp is more than a single event; it’s a web of people, roles, and moving parts. I wasn’t just thinking about the video. I was also overseeing the orientation itself.

That meant rallying 150 mentors, coordinating schedules, and making sure every freshman had a friendly face in their corner. I learned quickly that leadership in this space isn’t about controlling the outcome. It’s about setting the stage so others can shine.

Sometimes that looked like running through video lines until the timing was perfect. Other times, it was crouching on a hallway floor on the weekend with paint-covered hands, making sure the welcome signs would greet freshmen like a burst of color.

The Revelation: Leadership is Storytelling

Standing in the auditorium, watching our video play on the big screen, I wasn’t just seeing scenes and edits. I was watching a transfer of energy. Laughter at a perfectly timed joke. A few shoulders visibly relaxing. Mentors nodding along because they’d been in those same nervous shoes just a few years ago.

It struck me that leadership, at its heart, is a kind of storytelling. You’re not just telling your story; you’re helping shape the beginning of someone else’s. In the case of Fish Camp, it was about writing a script that would leave enough space for hundreds of unique freshmen to step in and make it their own.

The Takeaway: Welcome is a Verb

By the end of the day, the freshmen weren’t just “the Class of 2029.” They were friends swapping phone numbers, teammates yelling encouragement, and new students walking the halls with a little more confidence.

Fish Camp taught me that welcome isn’t a banner or a speech. It’s a series of choices. It’s staying up late to get the details right. It’s giving someone the words they didn’t know they needed to hear. And sometimes, it’s knowing when to step into the spotlight and when to step back so someone else can take it.

Welcome to Grapevine High School!