PALS

January 25, 2010  
Filed under News, Organizations, Student Life

Organized by Kathy Goad, Peer Assistance and Leadership (PALs) is a mentor program present on campus that has partnered with Big Brothers and Big Sisters to travel to local grade schools to interact and mentor children. PALs is comprised of seniors who completed a certain amount of community service hours, and followed all the standards to be a part of the program.

The purpose of the program is to inspire children into achieving the highest potential and provide them with the ability to gain confidence and self esteem. “Children encouraged to succeed,” said Ms. Goad, PALs instructor. “When we help them with academics, it usually improves test scores.” Goad believes by having a PAL, young children get a chance to have a friend, if they are in need.

PALs are assigned to students who are believed to work well with. Counselors of the school the students attend, Goad, and other instructors choose the particular pairs of PALs. Students who are involved with PALs have to connect on a deep level in order to fulfill the purpose of being in the program.

“Some students open up more but we just have to keep working with them,” said senior Lee Darius Robertson. “We talk, get to know each other, and express being a role model to the younger students.”

Students active in PALs attend numerous field trips pertaining to the learning atmosphere of PALs. By the end of the year, students have learned how to connect with younger children. Both the students involved in PALs, and the younger children in which PALs assist, make friends that sometimes may last a lifetime.

Written By: Celeste Arrendondo Staff Writer

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