Cinco Ranch, following in the footsteps of several other high schools, has been slowly growing its Peer Assisted Leadership program, more commonly known as PALS. The students in the program have to go through a rigorous selection process, having to be nominated by a teacher and then interviewed in order to see how well they would work in the program.
The teachers in charge? Mr. Foster, Coach Thapar and Mrs. McConnell. These teachers help organize the busy schedule of the program and pair high schoolers with their younger counterparts. “Both of my teachers prepared me really well so that when I met my pals, I felt fully capable of bonding with them,” senior Madison Wood commented.
The role of a pal has always been quite simple: be a good role model and friend to those in need. While the pals spend time with their mentees, they also bond with each other. “I love being able to connect with my students and the other pals,” Jayden Moon-Schneckanaicher said. “It’s such a positive and uplifting environment always filled with innocent laughter and giggles.” Using their third period, PALS travel to four schools throughout the week; including all the schools that feed into Cinco Ranch High School, like Rylander Elementary and Beck Junior High. All pals are required to demonstrate certain characteristics, including kindness, leadership and respect. “It’s amazing how small acts of kindness can create such big changes, ” senior Addison Goertz commented. ” Seeing the smiles on kids’ faces is a huge testament to the work we put in.”
Most students receive different pals each year, but second-year member Lynley Hansen has been able to work with and grow alongside the same student for two years. “Over the course of my time in the program, my pal has become incredibly polite, respectful and sweet,” Hansen said. “Getting to see her grow up has been one of my highlights at Cinco Ranch.”
The Cinco Ranch High School students involved in PALS are able to turn on their inner child, reconnecting with their childhood. “(My pals) are the ones who bring out my inner child ‘goofy’ side,” Sophia Saldierna said. “They’re the ones who made me feel like I can be myself, and I’m forever grateful for them.”
Moon-Schneckanaicher says it best, “(PALS) is a place to be a child again and to live out innocent joy which is lost when being caught up in highschool.”
