We all need a shoulder to cry on, a friendly face or someone to confide in at times. This year, many of those moments have come at a distance. Roosevelt High School students in the Peer Assistance Leadership and Service (PALS) program have found that connecting over the phone or a Zoom call can make all the difference.
Sophia Ramirez has spent the last two years as a mentor in the PALS program. At least once a week, she Zooms with her mentee at Ed White Middle School.
“They might not have someone to talk to, and having us might give them a person to be open up to and feel comfortable with,” said Ramirez. “Some of them are really shy, so any time we get them to laugh it’s a perfect moment.”
Ramirez and her peers put in the time to earn trust, nurture relationships and provide support. Some days that simply means talking. On others, it means helping them with homework or answering questions about high school.
“Our students are developing connections with the PALS and that gives them someone to look up to,” said Kristen Latronico, Ed White STAN Counselor. “One student was hesitant during the first visit and has now broken down some walls and truly enjoys talking to her PAL.”
Roosevelt PALS are in the process of adding Krueger Middle School and Walzem, Montgomery, Windcrest and Camelot elementary schools to their outreach schedule. While the focus of each PALS is on their younger mentee, it’s a mutually beneficial endeavor with long-lasting effects.
“I get to experience meeting someone new, someone different who’s a different age,” said Gabriel Calderon, Roosevelt PAL. “I think it’s important because they haven’t been able to socialize as much lately and you always need someone to talk to.”
