Blog/updates

A look into STLF's Middle School Tour Program

Now that spring break is over and our college tour season is complete--Middle School Tours are just gearing up!

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The youngest sibling of the Pay It Forward Tour family--Middle School!

Earlier this month we wrapped up an incredible College Pay It Forward Tour Season. Six weeks of funacity made possible by over 1500 college students revealing leadership through service, relationships, and action across the country is now complete.  As many of our college students shift gears into the final stretch of the semester, many of our middle school students are just gearing up for their own tours!

Though Middle School Tours are shorter in distance, time, and often participant's height--our middle school tours are no less empowering and impactful to the communities we visit. Each time I jump on a bus full of 30-40 energetic, positive, excited middle schoolers, I am reminded of my own middle school experiences...and then be completely amazed at how much smarter, more clever, and driven to make an impact on the world students are today. The students never cease to make me smile.

5 Memorable Middle School Moments:

• Introducing a student to the world of poptarts
• Cheering as a bus as we crossed the state line into South Dakota
• Fargo students showing the Duluth Park and Rec department how to get trash from the riverbank through the trees to the top of the hill-sandbagging line of course!
• A late night nail polish lesson for the 5 guys brave enough to hop on a tour with far more gals
• Hearing commitments from students that are now role models for others in their schools, and requesting to come back as high school leaders on middle school tours in the future.

As someone that deeply values mentorship, community, and positive shared peer experiences, there are few things more awesome than seeing that light bulb go off, or the aha moment when a student realizes that they are not only capable of amazing things, but they also have a story to share and can be an advocate, ambassador, cheerleader, and quality friend to others. The moment they realize that they can do more than walk the hallways and actually impact the culture of what happens in their school community. Imagine if everyone had that experience when they were 11 or 12 years old.

Just as our money is more valuable the earlier it is invested, I think we see multiplied positive impact in young people the earlier we invest in leadership and service experiences for them. Whether it's traveling across a state border for the first time, or learning about a social issue that a student resonates with and becomes passionate about, there are so many great moments to be had.

With six tours heading out in the next month, there are bound to be many memorable moments. Yeah Buddy!

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