Story by Brendon Wen, Class of ’25

Photography by Charlie Walters, Class of ’26

As you enter the makeshift kitchen, the aroma of coffee grinds immediately overwhelms you while students are barista-ing away at the beverage orders of the day.

“Hug in a Mug” isn’t just a traditional Starbucks job situated in Sharon High School (SHS), though. The initiative started as part of the Providing Opportunities for Student Transition II program (POST II), a course designed to equip a small cohort of recent SHS graduates with life skills necessary for independent adulthood and employment, which are otherwise absent from standard academic offerings like Precalculus and World History. Established in 2022, POST II follows a unique, holistic schedule that develops students’ “vocational skills, daily living skills, and social skills and then appl[ies] them in different settings,” according to a description of the program provided by Sharon Public Schools. 

Teacher Ms. Fiona Griffin and Instructional Assistants Ms. Ellen O’Keefe and Jyotsna Goel have spearheaded the program by effectively facilitating student partnerships and internships with various local organizations. Students volunteer at the Sharon Council on Aging and partner with Tempus Unlimited Pre-ETS, a vocational skill-building program.

“We’re focused a little bit more on work preparedness and planning for transitioning to adulthood,” said Ms. Griffin. “Going to college can be a totally overwhelming and terrifying experience, so here the students… [learn] in a place that they feel more comfortable with.”

While not an employment, Hug in a Mug simulates similar experiences that may come from working in a cafe—from compiling orders to filling them out to delivering them to processing funds, all from the comfort of a classroom in SHS. 

Alex, a current POST II student of three years, says that he enjoys working with money as part of Hug in a Mug. When accompanying him on his rounds, it’s easy to see that he also likes it because he can talk with his friends. Outside of the POST II program, he enjoys playing video games—his favorite being Sonic—and discussing magical lore in his Harry Potter club.

Originally, Hug in a Mug presented as only a temporary solution to restrictions that still lasted after the main pandemic hit. “It was harder to find places that would let students volunteer, so I looked for anything that we could do in the classroom that would kind of simulate a working environment a little bit more. I got a grant from the Sharon Education Foundation to buy some coffee machines and an ice machine… and then we really got going from there,” said Ms. Griffin. “It’s a good chance to practice math skills, handing out real money [instead of practicing with] the fake money in [the classroom].”

Since then, Hug in a Mug has remained an integral part of the POST II program. Faculty around the SHS building order coffee and tea regularly. 

“I think it’s important for [the POST II students] to feel a part of the school community. It helps them to practice some skills they may need in the future,” said Ms. Sara Siniscalchi, a math teacher.

“It’s a good opportunity for everyone to support a good cause and to make new connections. I like the personal touch—getting to meet students on their coffee delivery rounds,” said Ms. Lori Ayotte, the journalism teacher.

“I’ve been supporting [Hug in a Mug] since inception: I love getting my hot chocolate every day. The students are wonderful at what they do. It’s extremely valuable to the school, and I think more people should participate,” said Ms. Rachelle Levitts, an administrative assistant.

The program hasn’t gone without development either: POST II students frequent trips to the likes of Shaw’s for groceries and IKEA for hardware upgrades with the money they earn from completing customers’ orders. Ms. Griffin and Ms. O’Keefe welcome their students to fully explore their niches and unique hobbies. Sometimes, the hobbies even help improve the operations of Hug in a Mug. One of the students has an innate talent at putting stuff together, so he assembled a cart to help transport the drinks and the cash box, according to Ms. Griffin.

“Previously, I would buy a lot of the materials online whenever needed. This year I am having the students compare online and in-store prices to find the best deals,” commented Ms. Griffin, looking to the future of Hug in a Mug. “The more time we spend getting real-world experience, the better!”

Ms. Griffin added that her experience as an educator is more adaptive than orthodox. “As the young adults are experiencing the world more, they’re coming here with questions,” she said. “[My job has] been a lot more responsive to what they’re going through in their lives rather than me just trying to impose a curriculum on them. It’s a lot more individualized over time.”

To many, a cup of joe is just flavored bean water that somehow miraculously cures the vertigo of sleepiness chaining us to the comfy mattresses of our beds, bedazzled with disheveled sheets and squashed pillows. But to the POST II students participating in Hug in a Mug, coffee brews priceless personal and professional development that prepares them for various adulthood experiences to come.

Staff members who are interested in ordering coffee or tea from Hug in a Mug can contact Ms. Griffin at [email protected].