Personal Narrative: A Career As A Link Crew Leader

Throughout my life, I’ve always had an immense interest in helping others. Being involved in the National Charity League for 5 years has given me the opportunity to be involved with charities that I otherwise would’ve never known about. I’ve had the privilege to help with over b charities in and around my community throughout my years as an NCL member. By far my favorite would have to be Grace’s Feed Our Kids that I have volunteered at every summer since my start in NCL. Through this charity, we are able to provide lunches and fun games to underprivileged kids in Grapevine during the unbearably hot Texas summer days. Each day we serve different meals, either donated from local restaurants or homemade by my NCL class, and have a variety of things for the kids to do, like coloring, water guns,

I stand in an ocean of students outside the gym, listening as a Link Crew leader bangs a gong and welcomes us to our Freshmen Orientation. I am not sure what to anticipate, not sure who I will meet, not sure of what the future holds. But I was sure of one thing. I was ready. Flash forward three years, and I am in the same place, feeling the same emotions. Now, however, I am the one banging the gong, welcoming the Freshmen to a new chapter of their life. After working on organizing Orientation since my election as the President of Link Crew in the spring, I was proud to open those doors and start off the Class of 2020’s high school career.

This fall, a freshman approached me after cross country practice. Having never met or spoken to her before, she told me that she recognized me from the freshmen class orientation that I had led a few days earlier as a coordinator for Link Crew. She continued to thank me for organizing it and confessed that going through the program I coordinated made her feel at home at the high school, and even inspired her to go out for cross country. Comments like these are what I love and remember most about leading Link Crew, our school’s freshman mentoring program. I strive to spark a passion in those I lead, from the freshman at orientation to the tutoree struggling through math homework. Seeing a face light up with curiosity and excitement makes my

As Vice President of Link Crew, a program that leads freshman orientation, I provide younger students with a mentor and encourage them to get involved.

Today was my first day at the Port Human Services Facility Base Crisis (FBC) Unit in Greenville N.C. Today I was shadowing Trudy Sheppard, who is a master’s level social worker who is employed by Port Human Services (FBC) Unit. Trudy and I discussed patient rights, patient obligations, and FBC Unit’s policy and procedures. We also met with the unit’s supervisor and discussed what I will be doing while on the FBC Unit. I was informed that I would be involved in the patient admittance process. I was informed that I would also be conducting patient interviews, assessments, assisting with patient treatment plans, aftercare plans, and substance abuse counseling as well. Also, I will be transporting clients with the company vehicle as well as the

When I started high school as a freshmen I was grateful that I had the presence of my brother, who was a senior, but also because I had a Link Crew Leader. Starting high school was intimidating and gave me anxiety. Although I was apprehensive, I knew I had someone who I could talk to who had already survived their first year. I had a momentous amount of respect for my Link Crew Leader, Tori. She gave me advice, tutored me, and encouraged me to come out of my shell. It was with her help that I was able to become less nervous and focus more on school and forming friendships. Tori’s guidance is what gave me the confidence to later become a Link Crew Leader and help others who were just like me.

This past summer, I worked as a Swim Instructor at The Preserve with the company, Fit Fins. The job was probably the best job a teenager could ever ask for. I got to teach kids ages sixteen months to twelve years old how to swim, I got to be in the pool every day for hours, I could go in the hot tub on my breaks, and I got super tan. There was really only one downside to this job; it was a summer job. By summer job, I mean it only lasts from June to late August. This could also be a plus side, since I get fall, winter, and spring off; however, this means I'm out of a job for nine months. So now my current job is at Old Navy. I decided to get another seasonal job because I figured I needed to pay for things like my Ramen Noodle addiction or the Christmas season.

Link Crew is a program in which upperclassmen help freshmen become involved in school activities and help prepare them for their high school experience. 2016-2017 was the first school year to have the Link Crew program at Chaffey High School, so there were many kinks and issues in the system. The instructor appointed me to become commissioner of the program a couple weeks into the first semester in order to help resolve situations within the program and come up with ideas of how to improve the freshmen’s first-year experience.

It's time to go to work. Well, we already have. Tomorrow starts the first day of staff professional development and the first day that we meet the new crop of staff for the 15-16 School-Year. Please make sure you build in time to arrive early. The day begins at 7:45AM for Operations. However, get in earlier. Try to target 7:30AM.

Hello everyone. I was born and raised in Puerto Rico. In 1987, my dad was working for IBM and was given an opportunity to move to United States. After a few months of debating and researching, my parents chose Knoxville as our new home. Four years later, I graduated from high school and enlisted in the Marine Corps. During my four years of service, I traveled from one side of the world to the other and saw and did things many people can’t even imagine. Tough as the work was at times, I wouldn’t trade that time for anything as it shaped my view of the world and, along with my family, became part of the foundation on which I built my life.

“Back off. I’m not gonna participate.” I still clearly remember the moment a sassy freshman girl(who I’ll refer to as Michelle) yelled in my face during my first link leader lesson. As a junior, I was just a beginner at leading a group of freshmen to become successful throughout high school. The whole situation was unexpected and the irate freshmen left me intimidated. As Michelle wished, she did not participate during the first lesson and sat at her desk by herself. I knew that if I didn’t step in to help, she would struggle even more.

TCPS and I have had a some what interesting relationship throughout the years. As I have attended TCPS since the first grade, I have been fortunate enough to see the school grow into what it is today. The greatest compliment I could pass to TCPS would center around its teachers. Whether or not it is a "dumb question" I have never been denied an opportunity to ask a teacher a question or meet with a teacher after school. Unlike many school, I strongly believe teachers should not only invest in the knowledge of kids but the kid as a whole. Some of the personal relationships I have made with several of my teachers will not be forgotten. In addition to loving teachers, the ability to play multiple sports at TCPS is a major strength of the school.

I have a 4 docks at work. One dock always has at least one person gone each work day. To simplify, I will say we work Tues-Fri, which is this week’s current schedule.

I’ve always asked myself,” what does it really take to make it big? To play amongst the greats, how could I do that? Me, Skylar Ross, a young man with this desire, the passion, wanting to play side by side with legends, to become someone people talk about, is what has pushed me all these years. It drove me to become a better player, to become more informed about the sport. This also influenced me to become more intertwined with school, that way I could have a better chance at getting a scholarship at a college.

I have accomplished lots of things in my lifetime. I have accomplished getting a job and getting my license to go to that job. I have accomplished working two jobs one is being a machinist and a referee.