Through sports, extracurricular activities, summer camps and more, students influence the children they are around. Many young children hope to look up to students far older than themselves, and that is where many caring and influential students come into play.
Through basketball, Justin Shegog (9), influenced a younger player on the middle school basketball team. Through watching how Shegog played and practiced, the younger player was inspired.
“Being able to have an influence on younger players is an honor. I love the game and it makes me happy when kids look up to me,” Shegog said.
Students are also asked to help coach younger athletes through sports, teaching them how to correctly play, as well as teaching them what it is like to dedicate time and work hard for the sport that they have chosen.
“The younger girls were able to look up to us [high school soccer girls] and learn critical skills that we have obtained over the years,” Riley Tokar (12) said.
As well as sports, many younger students are around high school students during the months that the musical takes place. During the musical months, students are required to work together as a team, and older students are again asked to show younger students how important it is to contribute and participate in the show. This also influences their teamwork. Students are also influential, as it is required to memorize dances, lines and songs. Younger students see how high school students put forth much time and dedication into the show.
“I try to help the younger kids with choreography and songs, and honestly just be someone they can look up to or come to if they have any problems,” Phoebe Smith (11) said.
During the summer months, the Skybacher ‘More Than Sports’ camps take place. Many students from the high school participate in volunteering at the camp. During the camp, students are placed with a group of children from Kindergarten to sixth grade, where they may also have another student helping with them.
“During the camps I always try my best to have a positive effect and portray a leadership role in order to influence [younger children],” Farisa Roberts (11) said. “As well as the fact that this may just be the most fun that the kids have all summer, and if they do end up loving the sport that we are doing I am able to help put them on the path towards continuing that said sport.”
Students also participate in an activity called Big Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS), during PLT every Wednesday. During BBBS, students help elementary school students with things such as homework and doing fun activities. Each student is paired with a mentor from the high school at the beginning of that school year.
“It makes me overjoyed to know that I can be there for kids who may not have a great home life, or just need someone to hang out with to make their day even just a little better,” Dominic Severin (11) said.
As older students are very influential when it comes to younger students, it is important that they continue to set the best examples for them. Whether those examples are through sports or extracurricular activities, younger students look up to high school students heavily.