The Leaders of HIP
by Khailah White, Junior, iPreparatory Academy
by Khailah White, Junior, iPreparatory Academy
I wrote an article in the November Phoenix Flyer about one of our amazing clubs, Health Information Project (HIP). During my research, I interviewed the faculty sponsor, Ms. Gelber; the President, Natalia Lima; and the Vice President, Melany Rodriguez. The information from these interviews are very informational and may persuade you to join this important club.
The interview of each of the leaders gives more insight into how Community service, teamwork, and students helping students are HIPs objectives.
The interview of each of the leaders gives more insight into how Community service, teamwork, and students helping students are HIPs objectives.
Faculty Advisor Ms. Gelber:
Khailah White: When did you become the advisor for HIP?
Ms. Gelber: I took over HIP after Ms.Pedroso [iPrep’s former Guidance Counselor] left the school. It was challenging because everything was on Zoom, and it was difficult for the presenters to create rapport with the freshman.
Khailah White: What is one of the highlights of being in the faculty advisor position?
Ms. Gelber: There is a lot of enthusiasm with the juniors this year.
Khailah White: What is the H.I.P mission statement?
Ms. Gelber: HIP is a way for upperclassmen to provide information as well as integrate freshman into the student body by thoroughly educating them and teaching them about personal and taboo topics that aren’t always easy to talk about. Like mental health, sexual identity, eating disorders. [It’s about] making the school a safe place and helping the freshman.
Khailah White: Please tell me more about H.I.P. - Activities? What do you do at your club meetings? When and where do you meet?
Ms. Gelber: We meet with a two week cycle going through March. Every two weeks on a Friday the [Peer Health Educators] PHEs do script rehearsal. They go over the script for the next module. We assign nine presenters to Ms. Ahmed leadership class to present. I will sometimes provide bowls of candy.
Khailah White: What would you say is the greatest thing about H.I.P ?
Ms. Gelber: HIP really tries to enhance the school as a community. It is a community where people really connect to each other.
Khailah White: What would you say is the worst thing about H.I.P?
Ms. Gelber: Sometimes some of the presenters feel constrained by the material in the script. They feel that they want to say other things that aren’t included in the script, but the presenters are not allowed to go off script. It is necessary but also frustrating.
Ms. Gelber: I took over HIP after Ms.Pedroso [iPrep’s former Guidance Counselor] left the school. It was challenging because everything was on Zoom, and it was difficult for the presenters to create rapport with the freshman.
Khailah White: What is one of the highlights of being in the faculty advisor position?
Ms. Gelber: There is a lot of enthusiasm with the juniors this year.
Khailah White: What is the H.I.P mission statement?
Ms. Gelber: HIP is a way for upperclassmen to provide information as well as integrate freshman into the student body by thoroughly educating them and teaching them about personal and taboo topics that aren’t always easy to talk about. Like mental health, sexual identity, eating disorders. [It’s about] making the school a safe place and helping the freshman.
Khailah White: Please tell me more about H.I.P. - Activities? What do you do at your club meetings? When and where do you meet?
Ms. Gelber: We meet with a two week cycle going through March. Every two weeks on a Friday the [Peer Health Educators] PHEs do script rehearsal. They go over the script for the next module. We assign nine presenters to Ms. Ahmed leadership class to present. I will sometimes provide bowls of candy.
Khailah White: What would you say is the greatest thing about H.I.P ?
Ms. Gelber: HIP really tries to enhance the school as a community. It is a community where people really connect to each other.
Khailah White: What would you say is the worst thing about H.I.P?
Ms. Gelber: Sometimes some of the presenters feel constrained by the material in the script. They feel that they want to say other things that aren’t included in the script, but the presenters are not allowed to go off script. It is necessary but also frustrating.
President Natalia Lima:
Khailah White: When did you join HIP?
Natalia Lima: I started in junior year. [Author’s note: the members put in an application at the end sophomore year and can become a PHE in junior year.]
Khailah White: Why did you first apply for this position?
Natalia Lima: They did not hold elections; I was appointed.
Khailah White: Why do you currently want this position?
Natalia Lima: I saw the difference HIP made and joined. I also get community service hours as a result of the 2-year membership requirement.
Khailah White: What is one of the highlights of being in the President position?
Natalia Lima: Being able to oversee the PHEs and seeing the impact it has on the freshmen.
Khailah White: What is the H.I.P mission statement?
Natalia Lima: HIP was made to bring Health information and “taboo talk” to the ninth graders. Students helping students allows the students to trust and open up more. It is true information that has been researched and updated, and it is reliable information that they are passing on.
Khailah White: Please tell me more about H.I.P. - Activities? What do you do at your club meetings? When and where do you meet?
Natalia Lima: We meet every other Friday for two hours. The PHE must do a full [practice] reading of the script, so they are ready to present. Ms.Gelber helps and reaches out as well.
What would you say is the greatest thing about H.I.P ?
Natalia Lima: Seeing the impact it has on the freshman. [It is] especially good being back after Covid.
What would you say is the worst thing about H.I.P?
Natalia Lima: Frequent meetings and [the time requirements are] very strict.
Natalia Lima: I started in junior year. [Author’s note: the members put in an application at the end sophomore year and can become a PHE in junior year.]
Khailah White: Why did you first apply for this position?
Natalia Lima: They did not hold elections; I was appointed.
Khailah White: Why do you currently want this position?
Natalia Lima: I saw the difference HIP made and joined. I also get community service hours as a result of the 2-year membership requirement.
Khailah White: What is one of the highlights of being in the President position?
Natalia Lima: Being able to oversee the PHEs and seeing the impact it has on the freshmen.
Khailah White: What is the H.I.P mission statement?
Natalia Lima: HIP was made to bring Health information and “taboo talk” to the ninth graders. Students helping students allows the students to trust and open up more. It is true information that has been researched and updated, and it is reliable information that they are passing on.
Khailah White: Please tell me more about H.I.P. - Activities? What do you do at your club meetings? When and where do you meet?
Natalia Lima: We meet every other Friday for two hours. The PHE must do a full [practice] reading of the script, so they are ready to present. Ms.Gelber helps and reaches out as well.
What would you say is the greatest thing about H.I.P ?
Natalia Lima: Seeing the impact it has on the freshman. [It is] especially good being back after Covid.
What would you say is the worst thing about H.I.P?
Natalia Lima: Frequent meetings and [the time requirements are] very strict.
Vice President Melany Rodriguez:
Khailah White: When did you join HIP?
Melany Rodriguez: I joined during my junior year.
Khailah White: Why did you first apply for this position?
Melany Rodriguez: I was appointed because they didn’t hold elections.
Khailah White: Why do you currently want this position?
Melany Rodriguez: Aside from the community service hours, the HIP topics affected and resonated with me personally, so I wanted to be Vice President.
Khailah White: What is one of the highlights of being in the Vice President position? (“President” or “Secretary”)
Melany Rodriguez: The team work is one of the highlights because it is a club where the students help students, and it is easier to communicate and talk with peers rather than an adult.
Khailah White: What is the H.I.P mission statement?
Melany Rodriguez: HIP to me is a club designed to be a safe space where peers can talk to each other about potentially uncomfortable topics, and they can be comfortable when talking to peers.
Khailah White: Please tell me more about H.I.P. - Activities? What do you do at your club meetings? When and where do you meet? etc.
Melany Rodriguez: We have a board meeting every Wednesday to go over the script [for the next week’s presentation/topic] and go over previous presentations [for constructive criticism]. We also put them into contact with people at the school who they help and talk to.
Khailah White: What would you say is the greatest thing about H.I.P ?
Melany Rodriguez: Communication.
Khailah White: What would you say is the worst thing about H.I.P?
Melany Rodriguez: Strict attendance policy. We are only allowed one excused absence for the whole year which is understandable because there are only 8 lessons from October to March.
Melany Rodriguez: I joined during my junior year.
Khailah White: Why did you first apply for this position?
Melany Rodriguez: I was appointed because they didn’t hold elections.
Khailah White: Why do you currently want this position?
Melany Rodriguez: Aside from the community service hours, the HIP topics affected and resonated with me personally, so I wanted to be Vice President.
Khailah White: What is one of the highlights of being in the Vice President position? (“President” or “Secretary”)
Melany Rodriguez: The team work is one of the highlights because it is a club where the students help students, and it is easier to communicate and talk with peers rather than an adult.
Khailah White: What is the H.I.P mission statement?
Melany Rodriguez: HIP to me is a club designed to be a safe space where peers can talk to each other about potentially uncomfortable topics, and they can be comfortable when talking to peers.
Khailah White: Please tell me more about H.I.P. - Activities? What do you do at your club meetings? When and where do you meet? etc.
Melany Rodriguez: We have a board meeting every Wednesday to go over the script [for the next week’s presentation/topic] and go over previous presentations [for constructive criticism]. We also put them into contact with people at the school who they help and talk to.
Khailah White: What would you say is the greatest thing about H.I.P ?
Melany Rodriguez: Communication.
Khailah White: What would you say is the worst thing about H.I.P?
Melany Rodriguez: Strict attendance policy. We are only allowed one excused absence for the whole year which is understandable because there are only 8 lessons from October to March.