This month, Fourth Formers were invited to apply to become members of the Character Mentorship Program (CMP) for the 2024-2025 school year.
The CMP is one of the upper school’s unique student-led support systems. Originally an offshoot of the Honor Council, the now-independent group is composed of five Sixth Formers, five Fifth Formers, and three faculty advisors.
Students found in violation of the Honor Code may be asked to take part in a CMP process, in which they are assigned a student and faculty mentor who work to foster a deeper appreciation for the impacts of certain decisions and strategies to avoid future mistakes.
Similar to the Honor Council, the CMP is representative of the values that many feel make Haverford. While many schools place responsibility for students solely in the hands of administrators and teachers, the Honor Council and CMP give students a direct opportunity to support and guide their peers.
Sixth Form CMP Chairman Pierce Laveran said, “Everybody in the group has the rare chance to make a direct impact on our larger community but also on individuals who might need guidance.”
While engagement in the CMP process does result from an Honor Code violation, Laveran emphasized that CMP is a rehabilitative measure.
“When people are referred to CMP they are not being punished,” Laveran said. “We are all here and more than willing to help.”
Laveran’s comment resonates with the CMP’s mission to connect students with peers as a support system. He noted that the group’s independence and student leadership contributes to its success.
“Most student leadership groups are heavily governed by teachers and don’t have a ton of freedom,” Laveran said. “CMP actually has the power to run ourselves how we want and how we see best fit.”
“Most student leadership groups are heavily governed by teachers and don’t have a ton of freedom. CMP actually has the power to run ourselves how we want and how we see best fit.”
Pierce Laveran ’24
Another of CMP’s unique qualities is its selection process. While other campus leadership positions, like Student Council, Honor Council, and Signet Society, are selected by peers, CMP appointees are chosen by the sitting CMP members and faculty advisors.
Dean of Faculty and CMP Advisor Ms. Sara Adkins described two reasons for CMP’s selection process. First, she explained that the skills required for a CMP member, like interpersonal empathy and awareness, are not necessarily skills that can be assessed by classmates in the same way that Student Council leadership or Honor Council judgment skills can be.
Ms. Adkins also acknowledged that CMP applicants are asked to answer “incredibly personal” questions and that being asked to share their answers in front of a grade-wide audience would be a deterrent.
Laveran added that “every member of CMP knows what they need in a new member,” and that the selection process is “beneficial.”
Laveran also offered words of advice for Fourth Formers as they consider their written application and interviewing processes. “Make your application unique, and do your best to put yourself out there,” he said. “Figure out what qualities you have that will be of value to CMP and make sure you emphasize them.”
