Between the Bells
Welcome to Between the Bells—a space where high school students dive into the unfiltered realities of teenage life, hosted by Seneca Valley students, Alexa, Annelise, Cami, Maddie, Lucy, and Ruby. From mental health and friendships to academic pressure, identity, social media, and everything in between, we’re here to explore the issues that matter most to today’s teenagers.
Episode are packed with honest conversations, relatable stories, sometimes special guests, and always the kind of insights you don’t always get in the classroom. Whether it’s tackling tough topics, celebrating small victories, or navigating the ups and downs of growing up, Between the Bells gives students a space to be heard and to hear from others who are navigating the same messy moments —and finding strength, humor, and growth along the way.
Here the bell doesn't end the lesson - it starts the conversation.
For behind the scenes and more, follow us on Instagram @Between_the_bells.
Between the Bells
Back to School (FIRST EPISODE!!)
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We are here for 2025–2026 school year! In this first episode, we dive into our district's new cell phone policy, "Bell to bell, no cell!" We cover what we like, what we don’t, and some unexpected benefits we didn't see coming.
Hi everyone, welcome to the Between the Bells podcast. You're here with Cami, Alexa, Lucy, Maddie, Ruby, Annelise, and Mrs. Graham. Okay everybody, first podcast, back to school. How are we feeling?
00:22
Good. So excited. I can really feel the enthusiasm. I know. This, like, I feel like I'm so excited because this has been in the works, I feel like, for so long. Like, I had just the anticipation of waiting for this. It went from a thought to just reality now, and it's so exciting. Yeah, we said one time, let's start a podcast, and now we're starting a podcast. Did it even start with a podcast? No, it was just talking. Like, us talking, we're like, you know, maybe people would actually want to hear it. Yeah. Right.
00:49
We'll see. I think it was Lucy who was like, guys, we should start a podcast. And then Miss Graham was like, you know what? Yeah, let's start a podcast. Listen, I would love to make it big. Or not make it big, but have this be something big. Something that people can relate to and have a sense of... What's the word?
01:12
Like... Comfort? Like... Connection. Yes. Like, they can relate. They have a connection. They know. My one teacher says it all the time. We're, like, such a big school, so it's, like, anything you can do to make everything just feel a little smaller. Like, I feel like that's important. Yeah. I feel like I hear about students talking about things...
01:33
alone, right? Because maybe students individually and then it's like I just talked to somebody three periods ago thinking that same thing. So I think there's a lot of things that students like think and experience and go through but maybe not everybody's always talking about. Yeah. We're all more alike than we realize. Yeah. I think some people are scared of what would happen if they were to speak up and be like
01:54
This bothers me. Because if the person doesn't relate, then maybe what's going through your head is like, oh, they don't like me. They don't think the same as me. We're completely different. It can be awkward. Yeah. You're like, oh, well, I really like that teacher. I don't really like that teacher. Oh, okay. It's like a clash. I think that's one of the big challenges when starting school was that even though
we've all grown up, as they say in quotes, with each other,
02:23
I feel like people still... A new school year creates a lot of anxiety and stress because it's new beginnings, and I think a lot of people struggle with change and new beginnings, and they need to find some sort of comfort and reliability, relatability in that. It's kind of like we've all been in this school for, like...
02:45
our entire life well I think most of us we've been in the district our entire lives and you still get people
they're like hey do you know this person do you know this person and it's like I have zero idea I hear new names every day we've grown up with these people and it's like I have no idea who you're talking about that's how that's how big this school is it's I feel like it's really hard to
03:09
Like, for me especially, like, this is kind of random, I guess, but walking, when I'm walking in the hallway and it's just this sea of people coming at me. It's a little intimidating. It's a little intimidating, especially if you're shy. But, you know, change is good. Different is good. This school year is going to be great. And speaking of change...
03:29
Guys, how do we feel about the phone policy? Listen, I feel like that relates to a lot of these common challenges that people face. So what is the phone policy? The phone policy is now that it's our school's motto is bell to bell, no cell. That means you can't have your phone out from the first bell to the last. So lunch, study hall. You can't even have it in a lunch and study hall, and I think that's what really irked kids.
03:57
Because I think kids wouldn't, the kids wouldn't mind having it, like, during a class. Obviously, you don't need your phone during class. Like, obviously, like, geometry, history, like, AP classes, honors, like, stuff like that, I understand. Yeah.
04:13
But to ban it in lunch in a study hall? I think it's a little crazy. That's a little, that's pushing the envelope a bit. So why'd they do it? Okay, wait, can I say something? Yeah. Positive, I think, has come out of this cell phone policy. So, like, the other day in chemistry, I had a double period, and my assignment probably only took, like,
04:31
half of that double period so we had like 40 minutes to do something else we all played cards together like it like actually forced us all to like bond like these people that I've never spoken to in my life like I'm actually bonding with and making connections with because I don't have my phone and you can't see me right now but I have like hands happy hands yeah we played cards at lunch I saw that it was so much fun
04:56
And we got it from another table's idea. And, like, I think it's spreading because in history class, people brought out cards. Yeah, in all my study halls, the teachers bought games for us. Oh, yeah. And, like, everybody just plays together. And I feel like it actually, like, I don't know, like, forces you not to be, like, a phone zombie. Yeah. So can we talk about mental health then for a second, right? Yeah.
Because I think part of it was how this is going to help students' mental health, right? And we know that connection and connection
05:25
Being able to like relate to other people have friends supports mental health. So I guess without having our phones in front of us then do you think that people will make more friends?
05:36
Yes. I already have. I think it gives you more of an opportunity to make friends. It's good to have a friend. You, of course, you don't have to be the person who has the huge friend group and all of these friends and does all of these big group activities with your friends all the time. You don't have to be the person that has a million friends and you don't have to be the person that everyone likes. But it's
good to have...
06:05
a friend, like, one really good friend that will stick with you, because, like, we all need someone, we all need someone to lean on, so, yeah, I mean, you know, that's kind of, like, that's kind of, like, obvious, but, yeah, um, talking about that phone policy, um, I feel like, honestly, um,
06:26
Like, I feel like anxiety is a big part of why people want their phones. But I have been, without my phone, I feel like I've been communicating more. Like, I've actually built more skills in not letting myself shut down.
06:41
and going straight to my phone like okay I'm just fine just like suck it up you're gonna be fine so like you can't fill that like awkward silence with your phone anymore you're like you have to be social, yeah and it helped me so much I've already made so much personal growth from like having to like…okay I have to talk to this person I need to say what I need to say and I've already felt so much better
with my friendships Annelise I'm so glad you're
07:08
I'm glad you're willing to share that with me. - Being honest with that, so when I go to sleepaway camp, we're not allowed to have our phones, and I will say the friends I've made at sleepaway camp, these are people that I've bonded with on another level because we actually are forced to interact. These people know everything about me because we have to do everything together. If you want
downtime, you can't just go on your phone. It's usually surrounded by other people.
07:36
That and like that's the best part of my summer. So like seeing that kind of be implemented in school, like honestly, like I know some people aren't super supportive of it. Like it kind of makes me happy, honestly. Yeah. But I do just want to acknowledge the cons of it. Even these this phone policy has brought, obviously, we can say it's brought a lot of
07:59
great things so far but with that also there does come bad days where you need your mom you need your dad you need grandma grandpa whoever you have whoever you have at home in your life and you want to you need to text them yeah you need to stay that you might want to go through the school first yeah because it's more personal you have no privacy uh-huh and I feel like
08:22
that's just a con of it because everyone has bad days. It's inevitable. We all know what's going to happen. So I feel like taking, even with the shyest people, taking away some of their only sources of information
08:37
comfort and anxiety reducing. She's like, I'm here. I have a thought or a question really. So you’re talking about family and as resources and that's absolutely awesome. Right. So, but we're talking about coping skills too. Yes. Right. So like reaching out and talking to somebody and asking for help is, is a coping skill, right? I'm having a bad day. How do I cope?
09:03
Is this not having, like, not having access to that as quickly? Will it help you develop other coping strategies? Yes. Yes. That's, like, a positive. Yeah. I think it is. It's a positive comment. I think it helped, like, because it's kind of, it's, like, taking away that, like, the
09:26
It's taking away the comfort that you have, like, knowing, you know, my parents or my grandma, grandma, whoever is, like, a text away. Like, they can blah, blah, blah. I feel like it is...
09:39
Like, I feel like it's a good thing. It is, I feel like kind of setting you up for success in a way because when you know when you're an adult and you're at your job and you're doing other things or you know you’re away at college, you can't just text your parents or whoever and be like, hey, I'm having a bad day or hey, I don't feel well like can you come get me you have to like you have to advocate for
yourself.
09:58
Right. Like, I think the reality is there are times that you can do that, right? And times that you can't. And sometimes those parents or whomever aren't always... Sometimes they can only... Easily accessible. Yeah. Right. Like, they might be doing other things. Yeah. So, like...
10:11
with that it's like when you're a baby when you need like a when you're a baby you have like a little binky and your parents you have to start taking it away so you don't like it I don't know that's a great analogy yeah like you have to start like it's comfort for you when you're a little kid and you have to take it away right it's hard
10:29
I feel like it's a lot of things we all had to go through. Yeah. Well, and naturally, over time, as we grow up, we spend less and less time with our parents, right? Exactly. Like, think about that. You're with them all the time as a newborn baby, and then you go to school, and that separates it further, and then you're going to go to college, which might separate it further, until eventually you're adults
living on your own. So...
10:48
Is it a step? Yeah, so phones, phone things. The phone has its pros and cons, but I think if you have a good mindset, you can see the pros outweigh the cons. So the other thing about the phones, I think it was meant to help with bullying. Do we think it will? I have a thought. So I have a thought. So I think that, like, I feel like a lot of people,
11:17
Like, a lot of bullying now happens on the internet because, like, it's a lot easier when you don't have to face someone and say it to their face. And so a lot of it happens on the internet because you don't have to face someone and you can say really whatever you want. And, you know, you can stay anonymous because, you know, the internet's very broad. Yeah.
11:41
I want to bring up that one trend that we've all been seeing, like the bullying back. Oh, on TikTok? Yeah, bring back bullying. Yes, bring back. That really – Can you explain it, Lucy? How do we feel about this? I'll explain – okay, so – Wait, can I – I have a thought really fast. Yes. I think the context of that trend, I think, like when it first started, it was supposed to be like – because it's hashtag bring back bullying. I feel like it was meant in a way where, like, bring back bullying.
12:07
obviously bullying, we shouldn't bring it back at all because you shouldn’t. But also it never went away either. Yeah, but bullying, I feel like it meant like sort of calling out people who were doing the wrong thing already. And so I think it meant like bring back, bring back calling out people when they do something wrong and bring back like, you know, bring back,
12:34
Yes. Like, obviously, when... Like, nobody... There's no one who's perfect, and there is nobody who's going to do the right thing all the time. Yes. But people who make bad choices that affect other people, and they do it constantly, and they do it on purpose, I feel... I feel like that was... I feel like that was the context of it when it first started, but I feel like it has, like... Escalated into something very much different. It's just become a way of bringing other people down. So, bring back bullying. It's a
trend on TikTok. It's a hashtag. It's a... I think...
13:04
Oh, I just thought of it. It's like, I believe it's a way for people to bully people in a way that is normalized. Since people are normalizing it on TikTok, it's now, oh, if this person's weird, yeah, bully them. Or, like, you can be mean. Very much so become. Like, a normalized trend and something that's actually humorous and people find funny. And people on, like, TikTok especially are very comfortable now just, like, going, like,
13:31
like leaving comments on like other people's posts sort of being like hey delete this because you know they found it cringe or unfunny or like being just people are way too comfortable now I feel like being rude to random people who have no effect on their life
13:51
Because again, they're behind the screen. So like people they don't even know are commenting on videos and being cruel. Yes. Because they're different than you. Because they're like not into the same... Like it's like... Also, do you guys know that trend on TikTok that’s like you need to nerd out? Yeah. Oh, nerd out.
Yes. So like...
14:11
people talk about it like being like a nerd in something is like like something you're very into and like you're like passionate about and it's like I feel like this is just shaming that sort of thing you don’t because it started out so wholesome genuinely that trend I enjoyed watching it yeah and it's like you show like a picture of someone and then you swipe and it show another picture of like with all their interests around all their interests whether pictures were
14:36
Yeah, like, underground artists, games. I feel like it became sort of, like, a, like, I feel like it kind of became a competition of, like, who has the most niche interest. Like, just, like, you don't have to, like, your interests don't have to be super underground that nobody knows about to, like, nerd out. Like, you can be so passionate about, like, you can be passionate about something that everybody knows about and everything. Like, you don't,
15:03
Like, you don't have to be... Have the most, like, specific interests in the world to sound interesting. So you feel like it became a competition. Yes. It became a competition to see... It became, like, a competition of seeing who's weirder. Like, in quotation marks. And then so people started then bullying these people. Yes, and it's, like, people just... I feel like a lot of the time bullying is, like,
people putting other people down so they can feel up. Right. And it's, like, power. Yes. They're, like, people who bully...
15:33
People who bully other people are in desire of, like, a power trip. And... Now let me ask you this. Do you think that gets them respected? No. Actually, I would differ on that. I would beg to differ. You know, in school, you know, everyone has these, the cliques, like, popular kids, jocks, whether it's by sports or activities, stuff like that. I feel like a lot of the popular kids get away with
16:00
Bullying but then having that being respected upon them because oh, they're cool. Everyone likes that. Okay, well, they're doing it, but it's okay when they do it. Okay, when no one else does it. I feel like I've especially like I I shouldn't say even been in the group but like have really like seen it first hand and it's when you step back and you're out of the group and
16:24
If you look around, no one likes you because of the fact. And I feel like I see it as that. Is that, like, you are known as that. Why do you want to be known as that? Because it's not a good thing to be known as. And because you think it's a good thing, like, that you...
16:38
Yeah. I think sometimes, like, I feel like to some people it doesn't matter whether if they're known. Like, if they have a reputation for a good thing or a bad thing, I think to them what matters most is as long as people know who I am, people know my name, that's what matters to me. You know, if people know me for, you know, this great reason or this really bad reason, it doesn't matter as long as they know who I am. As long as people know who you are. And you have. Yes.
17:06
And I think there's some power with that. So we're about out of time. So we are going to pick up on this next time. Until next time. First podcast. Bye-bye. Bye.
