Here at Alliance High School we started a new group called Dawg Pound. Dawg Pound is a teacher that chooses a student for whom they don’t have a strong relationship with, and they are there to create and build a stronger relationship with the peer so that the student feels that they are safe talking to that teacher. They make sure that the student is doing okay through the school year. Sometimes if you’re having a difficult time with something, they will go ahead and go above and beyond for you. For example, say I was having trouble with a teacher and felt as if they were being unfair towards me, then I’d be able to report back to my Dawg Pound teacher and tell them what is going on, and why I feel that way.

      Communication is key in high school, especially because some people don’t know how to ask for help, and in some situations are very scared what’ll happen to them if they ask. You’ve probably heard your peers say something like “I’ll never be good at Spanish” or “I can’t take that class, it’s for students who are good at math.” It’s easy to get stuck in this mindset, thinking that if you’re not good at something now, you’ll never be good at it. They just need that one Dawg Pound leader to help them out and to grow their mindset. Dawg Pound is a great group of people, and I think we should spread the word so that more schools can participate!