From planning service projects to mentoring younger students, the Glenn PALS are always looking for creative ways to give back to their community.
The PALS (Peer Assistance and Leadership) program is a group of student leaders that spend time building lasting relationships with younger peers, providing friendship, guidance and support to those who need it most.
“I mean, no one really realizes how much effort we put into things,” senior Alanah Martinez said. “Like every class period we’re always doing something. And it’s for the community, for the kids.”
This program reaches out to many schools within the community including Jim Plain, Hisel, North and Larkspur elementary schools, as well as Leander and Danielson middle schools.
“People get it confused,” senior Savanna Tarin said. “They think we’re babysitters. We’re not babysitters. We’re there to help and be the students’ friend and help them throughout the year with things. Throughout the year you’re building a really strong bond with them and it’s really sweet. I definitely feel that when you have a PAL you can see the way demeanor changes from the beginning of the year to the end of the year.”
At the beginning of the year each PAL is paired up with an elementary or middle school student that the school counselors have determined would benefit from this program. The PALS then meet with their students each week.
“Anything helps them,” Martinez said. “And it is hard sometimes because you can’t really tell throughout the year. There are times where they don’t seem excited to see us. But then you look at the progress. Like, my pal last year went from failing every six weeks, being in drama, having no friends, to being a straight A student and having no problems in class. It’s the smallest things.”
While this program is made to outreach to the community, benefits go both ways as many PALS members pull important life skills out of their experiences.
“Even though it’s kids, it’s teaching me social skills,” Martinez said. “Especially when you first meet them, they’re kind of awkward and you don’t really know exactly what to say or do. It’s, like, on the spot, you have to think on your feet. Like okay, what do I ask next? How do I keep this conversation going? How do I make it to where I’m not talking?”
While students join PALS for various reasons, one of the key appeals is the ability that this organization gives them to support their community in a unique way.
“I realized that you’re literally working with kids and you’re making a difference in their life,” Martinez said. “I wish I would have had a PAL, like, a mentor, someone to be there for me and just be a good friend. So since I didn’t have that, and since I know a lot of people who didn’t have that, it’s like, I’m gonna be that for someone else.”
Not only do the PALS have fun with the kids they mentor, they also make sure to set aside time to have fun with each other. They do this through fun social events planned by the officers.
“I want to say our most recent one was pumpkin and tote bag painting,” senior Peyton Garrison said. “I feel like a lot of people showed up for that and were actually, like, excited to do it. The sun went down, and we thought that people were going to leave, but people stayed, like, an extra hour after. So it was really fun.”
While the activities and events are a highlight for many, the true impact of this organization comes from relationships it builds.
“I think it makes a huge impact, especially for the kids we are PALS to,” Garrison said. “It may not seem like it at first, but we are someone that they depend on, so it changes people’s lives one person at a time.”