Link Crew program builds relationships between students, develops leaders at Lind-Ritzville High School

Many a sage has acknowledged that there are three types of people in the world: those who watch things happen, those who make things happen, and those who wonder, “What just happened?”

In efforts to develop the culture of LRHS into one of people who make things happen, the 2017-2018 school year marks the inaugural year for Link Crew at LRHS.

Created by the Boomerang Project under the belief that “students can help other students succeed.” Link Crew is a national program that trains upperclassmen to lead students as they transition to a new school.

The trained upperclassmen, known as Link Leaders, engage in orientation day, academic follow-ups, social follow-ups, and leader initiated contacts throughout the year to help younger or transfer students assimilate into their new environment.

The freshmen class, as well as transfer students, were divided into groups of approximately eight students. Each group, or Crew, was assigned two Link Leaders.

The program is proven successful due to its reliance on peer leadership. The organization’s website explains, “Link Crew is a student centered leadership and mentor program founded on the guiding principle that students are an invaluable and untapped resource at… school.”

Twelve LRHS students were selected by co-coordinators Ronanda Liberty and Kathy McAnally for the upcoming school year: Emma Aldrich, Megan Buriak, Lily Curtis, David Dahill, Harley Doney, Bryce Kelly, Andy Ortiz, Alarah Pierce-Pulliam, Devin Schafer, Rachel Schell, Crystal Silva and Shontz Yaeger.

All of the 12 will be instrumental in the success of LRHS’s inaugural year of Link Crew.

Each Link Leader had a worthwhile reason for applying for their position in Link Crew.

Ortiz explained of his motivation, “I wanted to join Link Crew because I wanted to give freshmen a chance to look up to a senior and be confident.”

He added, “I want to give them confidence that I never had to take interest in a lot of the school’s programs and explore new opportunities.”

Dahill said, “I feel a sense of duty to help anyone at the school.”

“I remember how scary it was as a freshman and also how it was hard to fit in,” he continued. “I believe that we, as a school community, are here to help with the transition of freshmen into high school.”

Unsurprisingly, Link Crew has a national reputation for changing the culture of participating schools. Link Crew’s website notes increased safety, reduced bullying, increased attendance, decreased discipline referrals, and improved academic performance as direct results of the student-to-student leader collaboration.

“Link Crew will totally change the culture of our school,” predicted Schell. “Rather than the freshman being scared of all the seniors and being scared for the start of school, we as Link Crew are going to create comfort for this new class.”

Schafer said, “I think it might change the culture of the school by making incoming kids feel more welcomed and involved.”

“It will change the culture by bringing the classes and students closer together,” Kelly believed, noting, “All of us will know and respect each other more.”

Link Crew doesn’t just benefit the freshmen being welcomed, but also the leaders being developed. After only two days of leadership training and one day of freshmen orientation, Link Leaders were able to observe a difference within themselves.

Kelly reflected, “Link Crew, so far, has shown me how to stand up and take charge and not wait to be put in that position by a teacher, coach or parent. I hope that Link Crew will continue to better me and my leadership skills.”

“It is an amazing program and I believe that all schools should be doing this for new, incoming students,” he added.

Ortiz also has experienced personal growth: “This program helped me grow up and realize that being a leader isn’t just about demanding a group of people to do something. It’s about taking them under your wing and showing them the right path.”

He, too, reflected, “It’s helped me realize that I can be someone who can be trusted and talked to when needed.”

Dahill proves that Link Crew has the power to stimulate significant change in a short amount of time.

He said, “Being a Link Crew leader has invoked a sense of great responsibility because I’m no longer looking out for just myself, but for my whole Link Crew…”

“That has lit a fire in my heart to be a leader that my Link Crew can be proud of,” he concluded.