By Felix Swarthout, Class of 2028
This article is a part of a series of student stories of growth curated for the 2025 One Event. If you enjoy this story, please donate and tell us which student’s story inspired you to give.
When I first started at One Stone, I was quiet and shy. I rarely spoke and only joined conversations when someone addressed me directly. Staying in my comfort zone felt safe, and I wasn’t eager to step out of it. However, I eventually realized that clinging to my comfort zone meant missing out on making friends, connecting with people, and growing through activities like public speaking.
Determined to grow, I began pushing myself to be more social and engage with others. Over time, I gradually became more outgoing. Even now, in unfamiliar situations, I tend to be quiet at first, but once I get a feel for the environment or the people around me, I open up and participate more. During Week of Welcome (the first week of school), I met some amazing new people and connected with them quickly. For instance, a peer, Carson, and I went to the same school, but we weren’t friends back then. Meeting at One Stone felt like magic; it just clicked. We became friends and started talking to other people. We then formed our friend group and met everyone we now know!
The friends I’ve made here have played a big role in helping me become more sociable and open-minded. Instead of feeling quiet and awkward, I now feel more at ease, which has made it easier for me to complete tasks more efficiently. Since then, I’ve made an effort to be more approachable and welcoming, whether someone needs help with their work or just wants to chat. I’m proud of how far I’ve come, and I hope to continue improving. One day, I’d love to fully overcome my social anxiety, especially in new or crowded settings.
Joining One Stone has been awesome, especially because of my mentor, Jordi. He quickly turned into a great mentor for me. His sense of humor always keeps things light and fun, which makes our time together really enjoyable. Whenever I'm stuck with my assignments, he’s always ready to help out and steer me in the right direction. Our mentor meetings are not only super helpful but also a lot of fun. I know I can count on him, and it’s clear he cares about my success. Having Jordi in my corner is just fantastic. He takes the time to walk me through the process, offering not just guidance but also encouragement and practical tips that help me understand the material better. Our mentor meetings are super fun; we often end up sharing a lot of laughs while talking about my goals and strategies for improvement. It’s clear that he genuinely cares about my success - not just in completing assignments but in helping me grow as a person and a learner. Overall, I feel incredibly fortunate to have someone like Jordi by my side, supporting me through this journey and making it all the more enjoyable.
