By Samson Le
With the COVID-19 pandemic making it harder for students to connect with each other during the new school year, Associated Student Body’s (ASB) Dance Commission offers an activity that aims to close that gap: Baron Pen Pals.
Baron Pen Pals was created to address the high number of students who felt a lack of inclusiveness, an issue brought up during a House of Representatives meeting earlier this year. Students found that it was hard for them to feel that they were actually in school with the physical presence of students in the current online schooling environment.
“[Students] missed the feeling of being with other students and the feeling of a close-knit community,” Dance Commission cabinet senior Diana Truong said.
ASB encourages students to sign up for Baron Pen Pals, especially if they want to meet new people despite the pandemic.
“Baron Pen Pals is a great way for students of all grade levels to meet new Barons and interact with other students,” Truong said. “We brainstormed ideas and thought that having pen pals would be a good idea for students to get to know new people and expand their horizons.”
Many students are enthusiastic in anticipation of finding new friends through Baron Pen Pals.
“I just hope to be able to have a connection with someone new. With everything being virtual and online, it’s hard to make friends,” said senior Korinne Amimoto, who signed up for Baron Pen Pals.
Others want to make lasting friendships through this event as well.
“I hope to connect with someone in a way that feels personal and exclusive through letters,” junior Faith Cruz said.
To sign up for the Baron Pen Pals event, students fill out a Google form that asks about their interests. ASB will then pair students together based on their interests so that they can be more connected and make more friends. Sign-ups for Baron Pen Pals close on Feb. 12 at 11:59 p.m.
Dance Commissions does not encourage the pairs of students to physically be together during the ongoing pandemic, but they can communicate with each other through email or hand-written letters. ASB to encourage communication throughout the event as well.
“There will be a prompt sent out every week for the pairs to respond to if they need help breaking the ice,” Truong said.
