MARYSVILLE – Chante Lee, Chloe Starkenburg and Keegan Samaniego were taught the MG way.

And the three seniors at Marysville Getchell High School want their legacy to be that they fought for others to be taught that same way.

That’s why they care. And that’s why the trio was at a recent meeting of MG students, parents, faculty and district administrators.

“My mom asked me, ‘Why does it matter to you?’” Chloe said. “Because I was impacted.”

Chante said she liked the four academies at MG. The district is collecting data this year for possible changes to reduce costs.

“I set a goal and made it stick,” Chante said, adding she is focusing on business. “I love the school and the teachers and am treated with respect.”

Chloe said she likes her academy because it forced her out of her comfort zone, “which I struggled with.”

Chante said MG was built for four separate academies.

“The future needs to feel that culture – that vibe,” she said.

In that smaller school setting, she said she was able to find out what she liked.

“The school bonds better,” she said, adding, “I know everybody at a personal level.”

Chloe said a small school is “not for everyone.” But those who want a bigger campus can choose Marysville-Pilchuck High School.

“I would not have the same experience at M-P,” Chloe said, adding the smaller communities, “help the support.”

Keegan said as part of the LGBT community she doesn’t fit in at a traditional campus.

“But at a small school we all know each other,” she said.

The trio said one of the biggest things hurting the school right now is lack of mentorship for the freshmen class. In the past, mentors worked with freshmen from the first day, showing them the ropes. That has helped develop a fellowship that is the reason why they care so much about others now, they said.

Chloe said when they were freshmen the seniors would “know the underclassmen and help them.”

Keegan added: “The mentors would say, ‘Let me show you’” how to do something the right way. They would correct the freshmen and say, “This is not our culture.”

Since that isn’t happening, Chante said some freshmen are disrespectful and disruptive.

When they were younger, seniors would have “called them out, and taught them the right thing to do. We’re doing this for the future.”