Giving back and making UC High a better community is the motto of UC Pals, a new club at UC High for students who seek help academically and emotionally.
UC Pals holds monthly meetings for its student counselors and tutors before school in room B7. Additionally, daily tutoring and counseling sessions are available during different class periods. B7 is a classroom specifically designated for UC Pals, according to the club’s president and founder, Senior Layla Elmi. The club provides three main services: counseling, tutoring and student connection programs. The club’s goal is to create a welcoming, friendly, and informative campus. “Pals act as liaisons and connect students to resources that they need,” Elmi said.
In UC Pals, there are counselors, academic coaches, and connectors. Counselors meet with students who are going through tough times emotionally and are trying to cope with personal issues, according to Elmi. Academic coaches tutor students in class, during lunch, and after school and give SAT and AP workshops. Connectors, on the other hand, participate in the club’s buddy program and are paired up with an underclassman or a transfer student. “Connectors are also in charge of developing school-wide events that aim to create unity among all students from different cliques,” said Elmi.
There are thirty active members in UC Pals, according to Elmi. Several members are actually enrolled in UC Pals as a class and dedicate a period of their day to helping other students. One of them is Senior Amanda Wojciechowski. Wojciechowski was recommended by a teacher to join the club. She works in the counseling section of UC Pals and really enjoys it. “So far, we haven’t had too many people come in, but I’m extremely happy to say that the few who have come in really benefited,” said Wojciechowski.
Psychology Teacher Lauriann Stanley is the advisor of UC Pals. “I chose Ms. Stanley to be the club’s advisor because she is very passionate about the well-being of UC students,” Elmi said.
“I’m looking forward to more students finding out about the program,” said Senior Nikolina Zenovic, a member of UC Pals.