Chattering blended with the sound of laughter, as the smell of warm pizza filled the Media Center, and students gathered around tables. As people slowly trickled into the room and took their seats, the inaugural Dreyfoos Compass began. Hosted by the school counseling team Tuesday, Aug. 19, the program offered support for new students who had not previously attended an all-arts school.

After introductions from the guidance counselors, the event turned to a panel of upperclassmen who had the shared experience of coming from a non-arts school. Panel members and counselors offered advice and shared personal anecdotes about their freshman year experiences.

“What I’m going to try to talk about today is making friends isn’t scary,” band senior and student panel member Anderson Spellman said before the event. “It’s not difficult. You’ve just got to approach the right people.”

The student volunteers started with a “lightning round” of rapid-fire questions, including favorite spots on campus and Dreyfoos memories. The floor then opened to the new students, giving them the opportunity to ask questions and learn from students who had been in their position.

“I think just how involved the teachers and the students are is very surprising because it’s still a school, but it doesn’t feel like a school,” visual freshman Zoe Dumbaugh said.

The panel then posed questions to the new students, asking what they were most nervous about and what they were most excited for, before bringing the event to a close while passing out stress balls to those who volunteered to answer. A survey was provided at the end of the event to gauge interest for future Dreyfoos Compass events and ask what new students needed support with.

“I feel like it went really well,” new digital arts and photography and visual arts guidance counselor Shae Hammack, who helped organize the event, said. “There was a lot more participation than I would have thought, but you guys (students) are always surprising me with how engaged you are.”