Milton Hershey School Seniors Share Their Experience as Roommates in Transitional Living Program
At the start of their senior year, Milton Hershey School seniors move from the student home setting into apartment-style buildings, like dorms or residence halls as part of the MHS Transitional Living (TL) program. This program prepares senior students for life after graduation by creating experiential learning opportunities —with adult oversight—in the areas of financial literacy, healthy living habits, community living, as well as social and emotional skill-building.
Two MHS seniors, Zaiah Peterman and Natalia Miller, share what it’s like to live together and navigate the TL program.
What is the biggest difference you see between living in TL and living in a student home?
Natalia: I find that I have more freedom and flexibility in my TL without so much supervision, but that also comes with responsibility to hold ourselves accountable and use proper time management skills. The downside is that you don’t get to be as close with your TL mates outside of your apartment. It’s like we live together but we don’t really get to know each other. Then again, you do get to know your apartment mates on a closer level.
What is the social atmosphere like in TL versus a student home?
Zaiah: In TL, more communication between apartment mates is required. We are in closer proximity with each other, so it is much simpler to put our differences aside—for the most part—and just get along.
Natalia: I feel as if I’m treated more like a young adult, while still having a structure for me and everyone else. I also feel as though I can talk to my TL staff about anything.
How did you adjust to the increase in freedom and responsibility when moving to TL?
Zaiah: I like being able to go out and hang out with my friends. However, if I want to keep those privileges, I need to make sure that my time management is in check. If I am late to anything, I will lose them.
How does your apartment work together to split responsibilities like cleaning, cooking, budgeting, and grocery shopping?
Natalia: We all work together to clean up, and when someone cooks, we clean up whatever is left for them because they were kind enough to cook for us. Two people make sure the kitchen is in ship shape, one person per room is designated to the bathroom, and the last person cleans up the living room. Everyone makes sure their own beds and rooms are nice and neat. We all gather to create a meal plan and we agree to buy mostly healthy foods. Whoever is available does grocery shopping.
How has TL changed the way you manage your time and responsibilities?
Zaiah: TL has changed the way I manage my time and responsibilities by giving more meaning to what I do. For example, I feel more motivated to be on time so that I can hang out with my friends and do the things I want to do.
Natalia: I try to focus more on timing my laundry and make sure to plan out my day and the mandatory activities so I can plan out any other activities or work time around what I already have set. I think I get my work done better because I have the flexibility in my schedule.
What are some of the skills/lessons TL has taught you?
Natalia: TL has really taught me time management skills, I have also learned some cooking skills from my apartment mates and how to work with other people in one small space. Especially when we have a problem with something or someone, we have learned to talk about it instead of bottle it up, plus we have created a whiteboard to add any notes, such as “please put your dirty dishes in the dishwasher,” and we have a sign that says “dishwasher is (clean/dirty).”
How has TL helped you prepare for post-MHS plans and living on your own?
Zaiah: The staff always talk to us and make sure that we know what we are doing right after we graduate.
Natalia: I think I definitely am more ready to be on my own and I am especially prepared for working things out with a roommate in college and dorm stuff. I learned what helps me focus and study better and what doesn’t, and I will know how to make an effective meal plan/shopping list ahead of time.