Have you ever felt like you were drowning in your sea of thoughts, emotions, and stress? Did it ever occur to you that you could be surfing on them instead?
High school can feel overwhelming at times: between grades, tests, sports, jobs, social pressure, and thinking about the future, it is easy to fall into a negative mindset without even realizing it. Many students are expected to push through stress and anxiety while still performing at a high level every day. Fortunately, McMahon is the only high school in the district that has this elective.
Elective classes are meant to help students grow beyond traditional subjects, and BrightCore does exactly that. It creates a space where students can build confidence, resilience, and emotional strength without the pressure of constant competition within the classroom. When students feel mentally supported, they are more likely to stay engaged in school and believe in their own potential. This benefits not only individual students but the school community as a whole.
BrightCore provides students with something that is often overlooked in school: the chance to focus on their mindset and emotions.
BrightCore is an elective created by Ms. Ripegno, a teacher who recognized the importance of mental health and self-regulation of emotions for student success. She designed the class to help students cultivate their potential by learning how to develop a positive and healthy mindset. She stated, “I wish I knew what I know now at their age. However, this gave me the drive to provide this opportunity for students, which would bridge them to becoming their best version of themselves every day.”
Instead of just memorizing information or completing assignments, students are encouraged to reflect on themselves, their thoughts, and how they respond to challenges. The class focuses on self-awareness, self-growth, and accountability, which are skills just as important as anything learned in core academic classes.
According to Senior Zoe Cruz, “This class helped me become at peace with what I can and cannot control and accept what I can and cannot change.”
In BrightCore, you will recognize your negative thinking patterns and guide them towards healthier and more productive habits. These lessons can make life’s challenges more manageable and less overwhelming.
Ms. Ripegno emphasizes to students that growth takes time and that mistakes are part of the learning process, which all contribute to core values, like practicing patience and perseverance. These lessons are useful in college, careers, and everyday life, giving students skills they will carry long after graduation.
Overall, BrightCore is more than just another elective option. It is a class created with purpose and care. High school is challenging, but BrightCore provides the tools that help students stay positive, focused, and prepared for the future. It is an elective that every student should know about and that every school should offer.
