NC’s Magnet program held its annual potluck Thursday, August 25. Students brought food that represented their heritage, while teachers shared their expertise on surviving the rigors of the program.

“I brought a Mexican dish called chilaquiles,” Magnet freshman Chandler Quaile said. “My family is Hispanic: my mother is 50 percent, my grandmother is 100 percent, and I myself am 25 percent.”

Program coordinator David Stephenson and Magnet Adviser James Auld introduced the night’s speakers. Current seniors Erin Belmar and Josh Joines enlightened students and parents about life as a Magnet junior, while juniors Claudia Checo and Turner Markwalter told attendees how to triumph over their sophomore year. The final two speakers, sophomores Abir Ghallab and Reed Walker, gave advice to freshmen on their first year in the Magnet program.

“It’s really cool because I got to speak today,” Walker said. “Last year I was listening to the sophomores and now I’m that sophomore that I saw speaking as a freshman.”

With fellow Magnet students present, pupils made new friends and reconnected with old ones while their parents met with Magnet leaders to discuss their child’s future in the program.

“I came to the potluck to meet new Magnet students who live close to me,” Quaile said. “I’ve noticed that all of them live either in East Cobb or in South Cobb, which is far away.”

By the end of the potluck, students came home with new, useful information and full bellies.

“I like just getting a new idea for the next year or the year you’re about to take,” Walker said.