The Link Crew program will accept applications from incoming juniors and seniors who want to make a tangible difference on campus until Friday, April 2, according to Link Crew adviser Paige Johnson.
The program is looking for enough students to represent an accurate cross-section of Paly’s diverse student body, Johnson said.
“We don’t have a set profile of a Link Crew leader that we’re looking for; we’re really interested in all different kinds of students taking part in this,” Johnson said. “Generally, students should be responsible, caring, and committed to making a difference in the lives of incoming freshmen and new students.”
Although this is the first year that Paly has implemented Link Crew, it is a nationwide program designed to help students ease the transition to a new school, Link Leader junior Sabrina Lee said.
“Link Crew is in place at many other schools, such as Gunn and Notre Dame High School,” Lee said. “Before this school year started, we had a workshop where we talked to Link Leaders from other schools and got a good idea of what we should do in the program.”
Link Leaders welcome and give campus tours to incoming freshmen on their orientation day, plan three to four events exclusively for ninth graders, and maintain contact with them throughout the year as an approachable source of support, Johnson said.
“Link Leaders were really helpful during Freshman Orientation,” freshman Juliana Liu said. “They showed us everything at school and answered questions about how things worked, while giving us good advice about teachers and classes.”
These initiatives eased students’ first day of school and their overall transition to Paly.
“Link Crew’s group activities [on Freshman Orientation] helped me get to know other freshmen better,” freshman Abbey Kinnaman said. “It also definitely helped make the first day [of school] easier because I knew what to expect from the advice they gave us at orientation.”
Some freshmen would like Link Crew to maintain better connections with them throughout the year, including ways to ask Link Leaders questions throughout the year when they need help, freshman Soo Song said.
“I think that Link Crew could be improved with more contact between leaders and students and more activities during the year that are better promoted so more people come,” Kinnaman said.
Both freshmen and upperclassman volunteers enjoyed the Link Crew events held this year, including the freshman tailgate in the fall and the Cocoa & Cram session before finals, according to Song.
“I went to the Cocoa & Cram event which was really nice because I was stressing about my finals,” Song said. “Link Crew could have more events surrounding studying because I know a lot of people are worried about grades.”
Link Leader junior Haley Conner added, “I think the most fun event was our freshman tailgate; we had a super fun jumpy house and tons of different games and activities.”
Within this fun atmosphere, virtually all participants have noticed significant developments in their leadership and event planning skills since joining Link Crew, according to Lee.
“I have learned how to have a positive attitude towards freshmen and how to deal with the difficulties that arise from planning events,” Conner said. “I love Link Crew because of all of the wonderful people in class. Working together to plan creative events has made this year that much more interesting.”
“I can take charge of situations with confidence and I’m more outgoing towards people I don’t know,” Link Leader junior Grace Stafford added. “I feel good about making underclassmen feel a little more comfortable at Paly.”
Moreover, student leaders say they have become more empathetic as a result of their experience.
“I have gained a new perspective for what new students go through in their first day at Paly,” Link Leader junior Brandon Nguyen said. “It’s tough to feel accepted in an unfamiliar place, and we [Link Leaders] are trying to make their transition as painless as possible.”
“It’s the best feeling when you know you have made a difference in someone’s day,” Nguyen said.
In addition, Link Leaders have felt more connected to the rest of the student population at Paly and more able to branch out from their usual group of friends, Link Leader junior Neda Ronaghi said.
“My favorite experience this year was getting to know my group of freshmen at orientation,” Link Leader senior Andrew Liang said. “It’s great being part of a group that’s really committed to building a stronger community here at Paly. You work with individuals who have this sincere goal to help new students feel like they belong, and it’s very uplifting.”
“Being a part of that change and becoming friends with these new students is also a great experience and one that I’m very grateful to have,” Liang continued.
As next year will be Link Crew’s second year at Paly, Johnson hopes that the program will have its kinks worked out and will be able to take on even bigger projects.
“We’re really excited about the recruitment process and building our team for next year,” she said. “It’s truly a rewarding experience.”
Interested students can pick up applications in the guidance office, main office, library and Academic Resource Center, according to Johnson. Applications can be submitted to either Johnson in the Guidance Office or Michael Najar, who also advises the program, in room 110.