MHS Senior Reflects on the Hershey Community Youth Alliance Student Exchange Program

By Gracious Praise Gould, Class of 2026

Spending eight years at Milton Hershey School, I always wondered what it was really like on the other side: Hershey High.

Even though the schools are so close, it felt like two completely different worlds, and nobody had a clear answer to the question we all kept asking: What is it like over there?

I made a few friends from Hershey High through sports, but that only gave me a small glimpse into their world.

All my references connected back to the Cocoa Bean Game, our personal Super Bowl, where the MHS Spartan and the Hershey Trojan football teams meet, driven by pride and determination to defeat each other, for the storied Bean trophy. The atmosphere is divided, so it is difficult to truly understand our peers across town.

When the opportunity to join the Hershey Community Youth Alliance (HCYA) Student Exchange Program was presented, I didn’t hesitate. As a senior, I knew this was my once-in-a-lifetime chance to finally experience Hershey High for myself. The Cocoa Bean Game divides us for a day, but proceeds from the event fund HCYA, which brings us together several times throughout the school year for unifying activities such as the exchange.

When the day came, I was nervous. Being at a residential school for so long made me forget what a public school atmosphere was like.

From the moment I met my exchange partner, Mylaysh Neal–who is an incredibly amazing person–I realized we weren’t that different at all, just students in different environments. It was almost like stepping into an alternate reality. All the things I took for granted rushed to the top of my mind. Mylaysh and I both present morning announcements at our schools, which felt like such a crazy coincidence. On that day, they selected me and a few others from MHS to participate in their morning announcements. I started my introduction as “Hello, it’s the queen,” and people were quoting it back to me throughout the day, which felt like I truly left a mark.

Throughout the day, I made new friends and built great connections, but I also noticed moments when I got blank stares. MHS has instilled in me confidence, so I am not bothered when others do not react well to new faces or are not fond of big personalities.

But what really stood out was the next day when Mylaysh came to MHS. She lit up instantly. She felt comfortable, as people would come up to her, introduce themselves, and make her feel welcome without her having to try. She kept saying how she felt like she could be herself and not be judged. I think that’s because every MHS student knows what it feels like to be new at some point, and that shared experience creates a different kind of openness and community.

I am grateful for everyone I have met, as well as the opportunity HCYA gave me to expand my horizons.