Girls Group Launches with Focus on Selah and Training on Being Mentored
Girls gathered around a bonfire for the first session of a focused girls group of the year, and it was far more than just a fun event. Led by Dawn Synstelien, the Director of Student Connections at Hillcrest, the kick-off swim party provided a foundation for what promises to be a year full of spiritual growth, intentional reflection, and deep relationships.
Dawn’s vision for this group is that engagement with students doesn't stop with academics. Our holistic approach to student discipleship recognizes that meaningful friendships, mentorship, and community living are critical for a student’s development. The girls not only talked about being intentional with their lives at this kick-off event, but they also explored the concept of “Selah”—a biblical term from the Psalms that means to pause and reflect. This spiritual rhythm is something to weave into the lives of these students, helping them look ahead with purpose while also appreciating and living fully in the present moment.
Research into faith formation in teen girls highlights the unique challenges many face. For many, their sense of self-worth can be deeply tied to how they relate to their peers, but this also opens them up to emotional vulnerability. That's why mentorship and intentional Christian community are crucial. Friendships need to be anchored in mutual encouragement and the shared pursuit of spiritual growth. This gathering was the beginning of fostering that intentionality among our students.
The girls gathering opened a special component of spiritual and personal development that happens intentionally at Hillcrest, namely mentorship. Mentor relationships shape how students understand their role within the larger community. Adults have a significant role to play in modeling healthy relationships and teaching teens how to receive and give guidance.
The ability to receive mentorship is an essential life skill, one that Hillcrest aims to cultivate in its students. Mentorship provides students with the opportunity to learn from those who have gone before them, offering wisdom and encouragement rooted in both faith and life experience. But teens also need to be equipped to become mentors themselves—to see how they can offer support and encouragement to their peers. Programs like Hillcrest’s girls’ gatherings are intentional in developing these relationships, recognizing the profound impact they can have on a young person’s life.
Beyond individual mentorship, there is the broader concept of living in community. Teen girls, in particular, benefit from environments where they can see how their faith plays out in relationships. Learning to live in community—whether in the dorms, on campus, or during events like the bonfire—is part of growing in faith and emotional maturity. Research indicates that teens who are part of a supportive community are more likely to thrive emotionally and spiritually.
At Hillcrest, we recognize that living in community means teaching students how to navigate conflict, how to encourage one another, and how to be selfless in their relationships. These are not easy lessons, but they are essential for life after high school. Our kick-off event allowed the girls to start thinking about these dynamics as they set personal goals and sealed them in letters that will be returned to them in the spring. This practice encourages reflection on their personal growth, while also building a sense of accountability within the community.
The word "Selah" serves as a fitting focus for our girls this year. It calls for a pause, a time to reflect on what God is doing in their lives and to seek His guidance. By integrating this theme into these girls gatherings, we are equipping students with the ability to take a breath, reflect on their choices, and consider how they are growing in their faith and relationships.