PALS - Nurturing Futures Through Peer Assistance

Speaker 1 Not. Not interesting. Speaker 2 Interesting. I just don't really follow up on it. Speaker 1 Okay. So your dad does make it up and not updated. Or Alabama. Unknown Or Auburn. LSU fans? Speaker 1 Well, that's good. I think we all have that in common. Maybe you're Alabama or you love Alabama. No. Okay. Who are you born for? Speaker 4 Texas. Speaker 1 Yes, I like the game as fan. Speaker 4 Well, Texas used to be my old favorite team. Yeah. Speaker 5 Okay. But what gives. Speaker 1 Now? Speaker 4 I must list to start also. Okay. Speaker 5 Family tie. Family ties. You should go there now. Speaker 4 Almost. Yes. Speaker 1 Yes. Oh, okay. Okay. Well, good. Well, we good to go. Okay. Welcome to season three. Episode seven of Fiesta is the podcast where Kelsey goes. Speaker 5 That's me. Speaker 1 And Dana. Owen, That's me. Have the pleasure of interviewing interesting people and discussing anything and everything. Friendswood ISD. Today we have two FH, US seniors, Remy Landry and Charlie Cravens. Hi. Hi. Speaker 1 They are here today representing Powells, which is a highly sought after and difficult horse class to get into right at the high school. I'm sure you all know that. So let's for those people out there who really don't know a lot about Powells, you two. Tell us a little bit about Powells. How would you summarize what Powells is for those people out there that don't know? Speaker 4 Go first. Speaker 2 Yeah. So basically, it's just like a really great class that you can take in high school, which you do have to be kind of chosen for. You will like submit a little thing to the teacher and she kind of chooses you based on like your involvement and like kind of the character that you put out into the community. Speaker 2 And what basically it is, is you're just connecting with the lower school or like the lower classes in the school. So like elementary schools in a really even junior high will go to and you just really connect that one on one time with a child. And it's a really great opportunity for you to grow as a person and learn new traits about yourself and about other people and a great opportunity for the kids to just to get a role model to look up to. Speaker 4 Yeah, she's someone that I kid. Speaker 1 That's perfect. Actually, it's a perfect summary, really, because I'm going to take you through a lot of different questions that kind of talk about all the different parts that you just actually discussed. So you do have to apply. Yes, correct. And then you fill out because whenever I looked at the academic planning guide, it basically said you're chosen by committee. Speaker 1 Don't your teachers have to write recommendations? Speaker 4 How it goes is so you have to submit a form specific to. Speaker 1 Write. Speaker 4 About. And it's probably you have to get like a no, I wouldn't get a check mark kind of. I had to go to all my teachers. Speaker 1 Like a. Speaker 4 Checklist. Yeah, like a checklist. And she actually emailed all of our teachers and they told her if we like attended school for your respectful, they kind of like that's how she chose us. Speaker 1 So that's one of those interesting things that, you know, as you're growing up as a student. Maturity is a big part of, I guess, life, but you don't even know that you want to be a spouse, possibly until later in your high school year, which could affect you even getting into it. Because if you had known if you had known about what the criteria was or your responsibilities, then maybe you would have acted differently. Speaker 1 Your freshman, sophomore, junior year, if that makes sense. Speaker 2 Yeah, Yeah. Speaker 1 That's actually where a lot of kids do, a lot of maturing by the time they're seniors, But it's almost too late and it's not a knock on powers or anything like that. I'm just kind of discussing through. Okay, listen, I'm talking about my boys, all right? Maybe it's there was one boy in particular that is in my family, and I won't name any names, but by the time he was a senior, he really would have loved to have been in panels. Speaker 1 But I didn't think he had it all together his freshman, sophomore, junior year. But I love I will say Miss Victor loved him, but overall, it's a really big deal to become a pals. Like you really have to have a very clear set of criteria and show a lot of responsibility. Really by your junior year because you're chosen for your senior year. Speaker 5 Now, I have a question. So what do you all do? Like what all does Powells entail? How frequently do you all go? Can you kind of walk us through that? Speaker 2 Yeah, for sure. So my class is the four be so like that's the period I'm in and we go four times a week. So Monday through Thursday and we have a child at campus on each of the campuses. So like we'll, we'll travel through like Bales Westwood Junior High and we'll go to like one of the campuses twice. Speaker 2 And so we have a on each of the day. So I have four Charlie, I think is three because they travel. Speaker 4 I do Monday to Wednesday. Speaker 2 Okay. Yeah. And so you basically just have a different child, which are completely different personalities most of the time. And I mean, every kid is different. They all have different, you know, like ideas and interests and everything. So it's just really cool to like you kind of have to, like, change the way you talk to different kids because of the way they're going to interpret yourself. Speaker 2 So it's just kind of a great way to like, learn how it with each person you have to like hold yourself back or just like talk in a different way to each kind of person. Sure, it's pretty cool. Speaker 4 And I've definitely improved like my just like my personality and the way I act. It's the talking with those kids definitely, like, makes me improve who I am. Speaker 1 Oh, that's so. And we're going to get into that because I think that's such an important part of I could even see where that would change for you from the beginning to the end even. Oh, yeah. You know, I mean, so do you spend the first part of Powells, first part of your senior year preparing for and getting ready for being a mentor? Speaker 4 Yes. Speaker 1 What kind of training, what does training look like for like. Speaker 4 Oh, so it was definitely nothing that I would ever expect. Really? Definitely awkward at the start time because, no, I wasn't really expecting training. I don't think anybody really thought that we were going to do any training. Speaker 1 Oh, you just thought you would be assigned kids and you would go talk. Speaker 4 To us. Speaker 1 It. Speaker 4 But there was a whole train to have a whole like system. I had no clue, but it was not like one time. I don't offer a lot of talk about this. Speaker 2 I just did like a joke. Speaker 4 We had to, like, basically, like, talk amongst ourselves and kind of get a little circle and just kind of like, tell us like, tell like our group and or like kind of like team building. We had to tell each other our fears and things that bother us. Speaker 1 So talk about they're having you talk about difficult things maybe to share. Speaker 4 Yeah, the difficult times. I think that we've all had it better ourselves. Yeah. Speaker 1 Tell me, what what do you think? Looking back, what was the point of that? Speaker 2 I definitely think one of the like things I learned from that exercise was that you really can't help someone else go through their struggles or their hard times in life unless you reflect on your own. Soul's need, like listening to everyone else's and even like going through my which some people like said stuff that they've never told anyone before. Speaker 2 And it was really nice to just like talk through a situation you have been through and how your decisions and your choices through that decision got you to where you are, which generally you're like at a better time in your life now than you were in that situation. So it's just good just to talk through that and listen to everyone else's perceptions on theirs to really help the other kids that might be going through something similar or the same as you. Speaker 1 Absolutely not. Could even see where it would be starting out your senior year. You could take not that you say this yourself by any now that you say this, but I'm going to go help someone that's less fortunate than me. But you don't realize you also have been through major struggles. So you're really no different than the kids that you're mentoring. Speaker 2 Yeah. Speaker 1 I mean, you're different. Well, you know, different. We're human beings. We deal with things. We've had bad things happen in our lives. So it's kind of a I could even see where you would relate a little bit to the student that you're talking with. Speaker 5 Yeah. And I'm I think I've maybe shared this before on our podcast, but my husband actually had a pal when he was in school, so his dad passed away right before the start of school when he was seven. So I think he was I think he was young for his grades. So is that second or third? Maybe, but. Speaker 1 Sweet. Sean I would love to see that sweet Sean face. Sweet little chunky child. But he said. Speaker 5 I mean, and it's so sweet to hear him talk about it is how special he felt because he had in particular a football player who was a pal and he loved sports and his older brothers played football and he didn't realize he's like looking back now, you know, I could see he was like, Oh, it's because my dad passed away. Speaker 5 But at the time he's like thinking it was cool, strutting his stuff, like walking by all of his classmates. Like, I get to go out of class and go hang out with a football players, you know? But it was so sweet to think about that, like he didn't realize what was happening in that moment, but how beautiful that was that he was given a really great role model at a very difficult time in his life. Speaker 5 And so we all make such a difference. And being able to help kids through adversities even when they don't realize the extent of what they're going through, it's it's truly a gift that you all have been given to do that. Speaker 1 Oh, it is. It's wonderful. It's it's a beautiful thing that I don't even think you realize how beautiful it is until you're able to look back on the experience, you know, And really, when you have kids and just thinking about I mean, it would be beautiful for all kids to have an older mentor to walk and think about your life and how nice it would have been just for you. Speaker 1 I mean, you might have to have friends or whatever, but to have an older mentor, to take the time just to sit with you and and visit and talk and make you feel important, every kid needs that. So yeah, that's wonderful. So tell me about the so you said you had a lot of training. Yes. And then it came time that you were given your assignments, giving your mentees names. Speaker 1 Right. What was that first like? You're an older, you're a senior, you're as old as you can get in the school system. Right? Were you a little nervous that we're going to meet your younger mentee? Speaker 4 Very. I was nervous, but mostly excited. Okay. Speaker 1 So what age groups? I know we can't say names, anything like that, but what age groups are you talking? Speaker 4 Well, do I have you have a junior high. Oh, okay. They song and a client. Speaker 1 Okay. So when so many levels. Yeah, all different levels. Okay. Speaker 4 All three different. Speaker 1 Okay. All boys. Speaker 4 All boys. So they try to match boys. Speaker 1 Yeah, that's good. That's good. What about you, Remi? Speaker 2 I have all girls and I have one. I have some at Westwood, Barnes and Junior High. Speaker 1 Okay. Speaker 2 I definitely was really excited to get them. It was kind of like, best way to explain. It was like going on like a scavenger hunt, and you can almost tell what you're about to go. They have, like, a clue on it, but you're like, I don't know what the endpoint is. I don't know what I'm going to end up with. Speaker 2 And so it was just like, Oh my God, I know their name. I know what grade they're in. Like, it was so exciting. And it there's also like a little nervous cause like, I'm What if, like, they don't like me? What if, like, we don't mesh, but everything ends up amazing and they're some of my best friends? Like, I can tell you that right now. Speaker 1 Oh, that's so good. Speaker 5 Now, is it harder, you think, or easier to connect with those junior high age kids because you're closer in age to them? Speaker 2 That's what I was a little nervous about, cause I was like, We are kind of close. But then, like, in my head, I'm also like a freshman because I never got. Speaker 1 Out of. Speaker 2 That mindset because it's like, Wow, we're seniors. That just is a completely thing to grasp. But I was a little nervous. But it's we talk on the level that like, I would talk to them, like with my friends and it's like amazing because we just connect. I don't want to say better, but like because we're on like closer level. Speaker 5 Yeah, yeah. You were just through that same kind of stage of life where you maybe can relate to what they're going through a little more. Sure. Mm hmm. Speaker 4 Yeah, I can agree. Yeah, I go to. That is your high. It's I, it's it's kind of weird because I know I was there, like. Like literally, like, five years ago. Speaker 1 Does it seem like what is five years ago seem like to you in your head as a senior, you could go. Okay. Yeah, definitely. For me, like it wasn't. Speaker 4 Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. And I guess Junior high kids, when they get into high school like this for like, I think they just think that like, oh, junior high sucks. But when I, like, go there now, I love it. I absolutely love going to the junior and being so close to though. It's just kind of it's I think it's, I think it's cool, but I think sometimes it can be kind of weird. Speaker 5 Do you think they look up to y'all more or about the same as the younger ones? Speaker 1 I think. I don't know. Speaker 2 That's what I've been like ever since we started this. I've been trying to grasp that, to like, I honestly cannot tell. Speaker 4 I can't tell you. They're really like, Yeah, it's weird. Speaker 1 Okay, now the younger siblings. Speaker 2 I have an older, still older sister. Speaker 4 Yeah. Speaker 1 Oh, okay. So you don't have younger. So this is kind of I would wonder if you had a younger sibling the same age that you would know what that interaction is going to be like. But that was a brand new experience for both of you. Yes. Yes. They became siblings, you know. Speaker 5 Making conversation like I have a sweetheart niece. She's nine and she calls me every day. But I think it's made me a better conversationalist because, like, I'll ask your question and I have to really learn how to phrase questions so that I don't just get a one word response because it's just like, yes, no, I don't know. Good. Speaker 5 You know? So it's like trying to get them to go a little more. Is that something you all kind of had to get trained on or you're just learning as you're going? Speaker 4 Definitely how you trained? Because I thought that was and I thought like, just like talking my little tiny, like little cousin, they would just give me short answers. Yeah, But now I've definitely been able to word my questions a lot better to where they actually answer me. Speaker 1 Yeah. Speaker 4 Yeah, I know. Speaker 1 It's it's, it's a skill. And you're going to need that being a parent, by the way, you know. School time. Yeah. You have to learn to. Yeah, right, right. Yeah, yeah. So, so looking ahead one first question. What are your plans moving forward like next year? Where do you see yourself a year from now and then? Do you see how do you see mentorship. Speaker 5 In the future. Speaker 1 In your life? Yeah. How do you see what you've learned by being a mentor, playing a role moving forward? Speaker 4 I will. College? Speaker 1 Yeah. Where do you think you're going to be. Speaker 4 On this For sure. Okay. Yes. Well, I guess me as a mentor or as like, people mentoring me. Speaker 1 Well, like, just so next year, picture yourself at Ole Miss. How do you see what you've learned from being a mentor helping you? Next year? Speaker 4 Probably, I guess, interact with people in general. I just like, you know, I want to go into a fraternity so I have to be able to conversate with other older people. Speaker 1 Absolutely. Speaker 4 That are going to probably look down on me because I'm a freshman, which I know they're. Speaker 1 Going to act like that. Yeah, yeah, Yes, yes. Speaker 4 Yes. Yeah, I'm getting that. Yes. I just I think just my personality and how I talk to everybody. Speaker 1 Absolutely. What about you, Remy? Speaker 2 I definitely think you'll be like, the same as Charlie. Help me Just talk to people. I want to be able to sit down at, like, a lab or a table, because I know, especially through my sister, like, college is very interactive with all different kinds of people around you to different classes, especially in authority, which is what I want to hopefully do in college. Speaker 2 So just be able to talk to different kinds of people around me because I know when I was little I was extremely shy. I cannot talk to people, cannot converse at all, and especially through this program, it's just helped me like be able to just talk about anything and keep a conversation going, which is ultimately my goal in college. Speaker 1 Well, that's great. And I'll tell you, I don't know if I'm going to phrase this correctly, but overcoming awkward moments is a huge part of college, like some people. And I want you to try to comprehend this, but I do think you'll maybe understand what I'm saying. People come home because of it. Speaker 5 Yeah. Speaker 1 People can't get past it. There's there are people that it's so awkward for them and it's so it's debilitating where they need to feel more comfortable. So they come back home. So learning to work through those awkward and uncomfortable moments is a huge skill for your freshman year, especially if your first semester. It can be terrible for some people, but getting out and just putting yourself in situations where you talk to people, four out of five people freshman next year will be going through the exact same thing that you're going through. Speaker 1 Yeah, exactly. So just keep that in mind, you know. Kelsey, did you have anything that you wanted to say about that? Speaker 5 Yeah, I mean, that's exactly right. Like, I think going to college is a lot of new. Like it's a major like just change in life. I think I went through that too when I graduated college, whenever that date was approaching, like. Speaker 1 Oh my gosh, there's so many question marks. I've never had this many question marks like before. Speaker 5 But being able to almost like embrace that and I think one of the things I've learned, I'm assuming through this is just extended grace towards people too, and that everybody has a story and that those little kids who went through adversities grow up to be adults with adversities. And so just to be able to extend that grace and provide that understanding of what makes someone who they are is is huge, especially in an environment like college, where everyone's going through this change at the same time. Speaker 5 Mm hmm. Speaker 1 Yeah. Now, Remy, where do you think you're going to be this time next year? Speaker 2 Hopefully LSU. And so I'll try to decide between that and, you know, which is on a smaller campus in Louisiana. Speaker 1 Louisiana's a great, just great town. I mean, I love food, so we're not thinking of like, my goodness. Speaker 5 My twin sister lives in Louisiana, actually. Yeah. So she went to school at southeastern Louisiana in Hammond, so like halfway between Baton Rouge and New Orleans. Speaker 1 And she ended up marrying a guy. So she stayed there. So I lost my train to Louisiana. Speaker 5 So I'm a little bitter about that. But, you know, the food is phenomenal and it really is such a unique culture. Speaker 1 Yes. Speaker 5 Oh, yeah. It's a wonderful place to be one of the time. Whenever you get like. Speaker 1 So it's about, yeah. Speaker 5 I also am cyber, but it's too cute. Not to mention when I went to New Orleans this summer to visit my sister, I found the Cajun night before Christmas, full version of the night before Christmas. And instead of reindeer, it's alligators and it's written in a Cajun accent. Speaker 1 Is the spirit that is. So it's a book. It's a book. Speaker 5 I have been practicing to read to 19 nieces and nephews when they come over for Christmas Eve. So I will be putting on a full blown performance with the accent. Speaker 1 Now, I know their passwords in that book because I could see that there would be. Speaker 5 Yeah. See, that's how, you know, it's not fully genuine. It's just there are no customer. I'm not going to say. Speaker 1 Cajuns have to work. So there is our nation of alcohol in it, though, the sherry in the wine. So I mean, not to fit in. Right. But yes, that's hilarious. So now with a semester under your belt, with your new friend or your mentees, talk to me about the character changes that you're starting to see or what kind of character development do you think is occurring because of the relationship between you and your mentee? Speaker 4 Definitely. When you first when you first meet them, they're going to be a little like like, is this guy can I trust him? Or like it's going to be a little battle of trust for sure. I think it's a little awkward at first. Speaker 1 Oh, I would think so. Speaker 4 But with the training and everything, like, it was real easy. I love it. Like I. I love. I get so much outgoing. Yeah, I love it. Speaker 1 Yeah, That's sweet. That is sweet. Do you see, like, did they talk to you about do they struggle in school? So does it. Is it helping them, you think, with like responsibility or accountability or that maybe they I don't know what kind they'll talk about their struggles in school Or do they not really have struggles in school? Speaker 2 You don't really know sometimes it honestly just depends on the kid. A lot of times me and my kids will just talk about like their favorite kind of traditions for Christmas or what they eat for dinner the night before. Just kind of lighthearted conversations that you would have with like any younger kid. Speaker 1 Yeah. How long do you how long do you get to sit with them? Speaker 2 30 minutes. Speaker 1 30 minutes. Oh, okay. So that's quick. You're I've we've seen you in the hallways. You always play games, do you. Speaker 4 It's either games or if they need help with homework help them with homework or school. Mhm. But they continue the character thing. I just thought of a song like a shelf, like they're trying to break out of a shell. Okay. Yeah. And you want, you want to get out of the shell so you kind of break in and it breaking and it breaking and keep asking questions conversations and then one one they'll just, they'll come out. Speaker 1 And it's amazing to share. Speaker 5 With them the more they share. Speaker 1 Yeah, sure. Speaker 4 Yeah. That's the best feeling. Speaker 1 Mm hmm. Speaker 5 So you have to get personal. Like you have to open up a little bit with them. I think that's so sweet for them to be able to see someone they look up to has also had maybe some adversities in that place. I work through it. Speaker 1 Mm hmm. Well, and that's kind of what y'all were referring to earlier that I wanted to wait and talk about a little bit. But it's so important that, you know, so many times you get into this and you think, what a beautiful thing that you're able to help someone else. It's maybe struggling, but you find that you're the one getting health benefits from not community service, but, you know, I find if you go on a trip or something where you're doing community service, you're like, I want to help other people, but you're the one that definitely, you know, benefits. Speaker 1 So. Tom, tell us how you've benefited from from this experience so far because you have you get the same kids all next semester. Do you keep them for a full year? Yes. Yes. Oh, okay. That's awesome. So you have a whole other semester with them. So tell me the benefits that you've noticed so far. Speaker 2 I've noticed within myself, like me just becoming more open. Like I will be at the grocery store now and just will end up talking to the person next to me just because it feel just feel so natural as to open up a conversation with whoever it is, no matter the age or any kind of thing. But definitely saw a big growth in myself and my own personality and even like my like extrovert is like, I just can talk to anyone about anything. Speaker 2 But yeah, it's been really great to see like a growth even throughout the semester in my kids and as well as myself. Like now our conversations are flowing quickly, like we're talking for like more even like deeper stuff in our sessions and not just like superficial for both sides. Speaker 4 MM Yeah, but and definitely like whenever I'm just like talking to somebody and it kind of gets a little dull, I know exactly how to like, just put that conversation going again. Definitely something I've learned and I definitely what Remi said, just talking to my friends and go and like going to the grocery stores, going to a restaurant, just talking to the people next to like at Sombrero. Speaker 4 Yeah, yeah. Just talking to the people. Nice to me with the most random conversations. Speaker 1 But you can start to see how it's a skill. Speaker 4 Oh, yeah, definitely. Right. Speaker 1 Yeah. I mean, without the training that you had in the beginning of the year or without the kind of forced experience that you had with these kids, you can see where you learn it really by doing and having to do it again and again and again and in those awkward, weird situations. But that I guess that's how you learn a skill. Speaker 1 You just do it again and again. Yeah. Speaker 5 And I think even just like especially all come from a generation where you've been brought up with so much technology. And so I do think sometimes I can be the stereotype, right? Is like it's harder to have in-person social interactions because a lot is done through a screen. But I think I mean, again, those are those are the skills that are being built to where it's like maybe fighting through because probably more and more people have that awkwardness face to face. Speaker 1 I mean. Speaker 5 Everyone has to be able to learn like how to carry a conversation sometimes because not everybody can. Or like my sister was super, super shy to she's still pretty quiet. But like for her, I have such compassion for that too, because how she was and I'm like, it's really hard for some people. Like, it's really hard for them to to talk and not just want to retract and everything. Speaker 5 But anyway, I think that's a great that's a great thing. Speaker 2 Yeah. And I know. So I threw this program like before this, I would always pick up my phone in an awkward situation. Like, yes, things got quiet. I was like, Yeah, I only scrolled through Instagram, Go look at all this stuff. But now it's like, especially when I'm in the sessions, like we can't have our phones. Like, we're not really supposed to be on them just because it's like disrespectful and everything. Speaker 2 So yeah, it's like that forcing that conversation, like trying to find something to talk about, which is also helped in every other situation I've been in, like with family or with anything. Like it's always like, okay, so like, what did you do yesterday? Like it's just starting a new conversation rather than picking up the phone, which I think is great because now I'm in class and I'm not just going to sit on my phone when my work is done. Speaker 2 I'm going to talk to my teacher, talk to the people behind me. And it's just a really great thing. I've also seen with them myself. Speaker 1 Oh, I love that. Yeah, that's so important. And a couple of things that you made me think about is, you know, we're so nervous with in silence and there's really nothing wrong with silence and to become okay with just sitting there in silence. It's also a skill like you practice. It's okay that you don't have anything to say with the person and you don't have to. Speaker 1 I mean, I have a bad habit of bringing up whether I say the weather is so pleasant and I'm standing there going, You just brought up weather. Speaker 5 And like someone said, it's because it's one thing we're all experiencing at the same time. Very true. I thought that was an interesting thing because we always like, that's the driver. How's the weather. Speaker 1 There? Oh, easy that other. But it it's. Speaker 5 True. Like I think it was Alison who said that to me is like it's because we're it's something we're all experiencing at the same time. Speaker 1 Mm hmm. Yes. And it also made me think about something that I heard recently, probably within this past year. It's different, but a strategy is and I heard it with an introvert, how would an extrovert act walking into this room and to pretend to be an extrovert, walking into a room? And I'm telling you, I've tried it and I've done I don't even consider myself an introvert, but I do get nervous walking into a room full of strangers. Speaker 1 Am I going to know what to say? Am I going to have someone to talk to if I don't know anyone they are? How am I going to bring up conversation to pretend to actually be an extrovert? It works. It works for. Speaker 5 Me. I'm like, You would thrive in a room full of meteorologists. Speaker 1 I already even heard you were talking about it, and then they just came to me. I so slow going to the Astros, which I can't do when the Astros are not in season. But anyway, so I would share that. Think about how if someone did this well, not even extrovert, but if someone did this well, what would it look like and pretend to walk in and do it like then? Speaker 2 It looks really great. It's great. And it helped. Speaker 1 Me as a strategy. So yeah. Anyway, Charlie, do you anything else you want to say about that? Speaker 4 Because I have to say I'm not gonna lie. I used to be an extrovert, but I kind of calmed down a little bit. But definitely, like I if I walk through a room like, to a classroom, I'm like, what? A teacher? And I just sit down and then like, if somebody isn't in there, then come sit down and all talk. Speaker 4 And the teachers got to tell us to be quiet. And it's I definitely agree. Speaker 1 I think like Charlie, there's not any strategies. Do you think some of that's being a senior? You know how it works. You know how it looks. You know, if you knew what you know now, going back and could be a freshman all over again, what would your freshman year look different for you? Speaker 2 Oh, 100%. Speaker 1 In that crazy. Yeah, you can do that crazy life, by the way. So going into your freshman year of college, don't revert back to being a freshman. Yeah. Yeah. Because you'll have so many skills that freshman in college won't have. Don't even see yourself as a freshman. Be confident going into your freshman year. People are people. Human beings are human beings. Speaker 1 Just be you. Yeah. Be your authentic. You would be mine. My hope for both of you all next year. So have there been any moments, any funny, cute, great stories about pals that you can think of that you want to share? I mean, I could see where you might need to think about that question, but anything comes to mind. Speaker 4 Probably. I would probably say the kids I know in my grade that used to be quiet that are in pals, I talk like we talk to them now, like they'll talk back, you know, I mean. Speaker 1 Like you were talking to. Speaker 4 Minors and mostly out of my senior class in my in my class, like, like the kids, I just never talked. They're talking and I and now I finally know how these kids act and their personalities are, and they're great. Like, yeah, it's I think it's so cool. Speaker 1 So that's another whole conversation. Yes. That it's about growing up with the same kids and how we all peg each other differently. And so that's interesting that you say now that you're in a class together and you've all done training together, by the way, you're starting to see these kids that you've known for a long time kind of differently. Speaker 4 Definitely. Speaker 2 Yeah. Speaker 1 That's interesting. I think I think it's also interesting, which you'll see as you grow up and get older, give people that you thought were so different than you a chance as you become adults to allow them the grace to allow them to change just like you would want the grace of. You're not the same person that you were in seventh grade. Speaker 1 Yeah, you know, which I don't think we always do that with each other. Like when we were in school with each other. You peg someone a certain way and you leave them that way. But then you realize, Oh, my gosh, we were just human beings. We kind of to say. Speaker 2 Yeah, and going off of that we get like car group. So like we kind of like. Speaker 1 Travel. Speaker 2 With the same, like for three or four people to all the different campuses. And like they're my family now and I've known these other three people in my entire life, all throughout like grade school, even through like elementary, but like I never really, like, knew them. I just knew of them. They were like, sit in my class on opposite side, knew their names. Speaker 2 But now I'm like, I see these as like my brother and sister. Like they are like so close to me now that I see them as my family and I love their personalities. And it kind of like hurts me because I'm like, I wish I was this close to them in third grade. In fourth grade. All right. But like now that we went through the training, like Charlie said, like I'm seeing a whole different side of them that I never saw previously. Speaker 2 And it's just it's really great to see, like, the kind of person they grew into because we all started basically at the same moment in kindergarten class, whatever, like start at the same spot. Well, we all went through different experiences in life, so everyone's so different, but it's seeing their personalities now that's just so eye opening and awesome. Speaker 1 It's a shame that we have to wait until your senior year to experience that, you know. I know. I know why it happens. Your senior year, you've grown up, you're responsible. They let you go off the campus. You have responsibilities, but you could even be in school in class with these same kids your whole life that you've never been given the time, I guess, to ride in cars together to really get to know. Speaker 1 I don't know. It's just fascinating to me that that's just happening. Your senior year. Speaker 2 Yeah, that would be like my biggest piece of advice if I could give to literally anybody would be just talk to people that you wouldn't normally talk to. Like, I know that one of the girls, my car was not my best friend in second grade, but I wish I would have taken the time just to get to know her because like, I would just I imagine what my life would have been like if all four of us would have known each other as close as we are now throughout our entire lives. Speaker 1 Mm hmm. You now have that moving forward, which is a beautiful thing going into your freshman year of college. I mean, listen, you have your whole rest of your senior year left, but I'm telling you, that's huge. Going into into college. You know, that's. That's awesome. Sidebar Are there going to be any senior pranks that we need to discuss? Speaker 4 I don't think we've talked about it. Speaker 5 They're getting it from us. They're hiding it. Speaker 1 We planted the seed and you said it. I brought it up multiple times now and wicked when I was. I was in AP at the high school for nine years. Oh, wow. Yeah. Long time. Really long time. And we you said senior pranks and it's gone away. Speaker 4 Definitely because the apps are starting to. Oh, they're getting really uncool now. I love this here, but it's getting really strict. Speaker 1 So listen, they would love to be cool, say what they were looking for. But the problem is their part of their job is to try to keep you online. So you're you're successful. Yeah. They don't want to be uncle. They would be really cool if everybody was cool. That makes sense. But and I'm only advocating for senior pranks like we talked about the one that you heard about my. Speaker 5 Yeah. So I think I shared this to the senior class. I think either the year above me or two above me, they hired I graduated from Alvin High School, they hired a mariachi band to follow our principal around the whole day. And those guys are great. Speaker 1 Yeah. Yeah. Speaker 5 He would go to speak. They would start playing the whole day. They hired him, so it was pretty cool. Speaker 2 That's a good one. Speaker 4 That's a good one. Speaker 5 It was fantastic. Speaker 4 So ready. Speaker 1 Have you seen those high school? It's on Tik Tok, but the guys, as they run through the park, there's like a little set of high school band guys that run behind him playing the Rocky song. No, but then don't think anything. It would be hilarious. Speaker 4 Just to go out and perform better. Get ready. Yeah. Speaker 1 It's fun. Little love. Speaker 5 He would love it. Speaker 1 I mean, I love you. Love those guys. Love that. I know. Speaker 5 Because he wouldn't get to speak. I think that might be hard for Mr. Griff. Speaker 1 I don't want to see a good senior prank is some. How could you get Griffin on the announcements on a regular basis? You know, like every hour on the hour and are y'all watching those those videos that Max is putting out, by the way of them following kids and asking? Yes, yes. Oh, yes. They're doing a really good job with those. Speaker 1 I know. And then the short little videos that they've made with Griffin I think are absolutely hilarious, like being filled out. Speaker 5 Until it being filled. He's our communications and he does an awesome job with creative. Speaker 1 Oh, they show all that funny. Unknown Larry Carson made the words upside down and. Speaker 1 Oh, hey, guys. Well, Luke, you got all. Speaker 5 Of this on. Speaker 1 Just you're probably not even listening. You should be better listen to this podcast. So I can not in this podcast without talking about one of my favorite people, my friends with high school, Melissa, Victor, Rick, Can we just give her a shout out for a second? Speaker 4 Of course. Speaker 1 That woman is incredible. Speaker 5 Single sound for. Speaker 1 This. Yes. Yeah, I saw her was like a little she's, you know, she's like a third mother. There is something about Ms.. Victory that I absolutely love. And I think she's just such a gift to so many kids. Speaker 2 Definitely. Speaker 1 You'll have an idea how many years Pals. Speaker 4 Oh, my. Oh, she told us she did. She told us a very long time. My 20 years I don't really know about was a very long time. Speaker 1 Three years. Speaker 4 I don't know. But to be really sad when she leaves. Yeah. Speaker 1 It's going to be heartbreak. Incredible. And she has such a heart for kids, you know, young adults. I'm sorry. I'm calling your kids. Are you are 18. Speaker 4 About to be. Speaker 2 Just turned 18. Speaker 1 She's just. So you're an adult now. I know. Wow. So anything you want to say specifically about Ms.. Victory and what you've learned from her or a positive as she turns four because she's trying to keep you online? Speaker 4 Oh, she's finally the perfect life. She's perfect between hard on you and the best teacher I've ever had. Speaker 1 Yeah. Mm. That's a good description of her. Oh, yeah. And she's only hard on you because she loves. Speaker 4 You and her job. And her job and our class. Like, what we're doing is very like. Yeah. Speaker 1 Oh. Speaker 4 Responsible and everything. Speaker 1 So teachers have it hard though, you know, You can't be their best friends because that doesn't work. Well, you can't be this angry, upset person all the time because that doesn't translate well. It's hard to be I think it's hard to show kids that you love them, but be tough. Yeah. You know, it's kind of like, coach, I was good teacher coaches, You know, they love you and they're doing it because they love you sort of thing. Speaker 1 I mean, what else? Anything else. Speaker 2 I can. The best way to describe it is you can just tell that she loves what she does, and that shows through the way she, like, treats us and treats the like organization of pals itself. And just like the like the school itself. Like you can just tell she has a passion for what she does and she loves it and she wants to portray that on as many people as she can put it on, which is amazing. Speaker 1 That's to be the best compliment you could give a teacher right there. That was well said. I love it. That would make her very happy. It might even make her cry, probably. Yeah, I probably would. That's how much teachers hearts are into. You know what they do? They and very rarely I didn't do it. But very rarely do kids really share how much they appreciate the person that's been in front of them for a year, you know, So go back and tell them this victory, how much I love her and how much you love her at the end of the year. Speaker 4 Definitely. Speaker 1 Well, and if you're listening to this podcast, reach out and tell the teacher how much you love them. Yeah. And if I happened to be your teacher, just just get you. Speaker 5 Not breaking eye contact with me. Know? Speaker 1 I'm just kidding. Okay, Well, listen, Charlie. Remy, thank you for coming today. I love talking about Powers. I love everything you do. You really play an important role in the lives of your mentees and just kids in general. So just want to thank you all for being responsible young adults. Speaker 2 Thank you for having me, honey. Speaker 1 You'll have a good day. You too. And.