THEPAPERPAGE.

COM

THE WEEK OF

10

COVER STORY

YEAR OLD

IMPACTING LIVES
Meet Aaron Oro, a sixteen year old student
from down the street, set
out to change the world
upon which he walked,
and in doing so, inspired
a group of his peers to do
the same.

Katharine Gardner
The Paper Writer

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 18.2011

THEPAPERPAGE.COM

THE WEEK OF

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 18.2011

A small group of thoughtful people could

change the world. Indeed, its the only thing
that ever has.
Margaret Meade
American cultural anthropologist

AARONS STORY

ow many juniors
in high school
do you know
that spend their
afternoons volunteering? Similar
to many other 16-year olds,
Aaron Oro has a busy scheduled juggling academics, soccer
practice, family, social life, and
studying for the SATs. Unlike
many 16-year olds, however,
he dedicates much of his time
to volunteering and focusing
on the needs of others. Every
Tuesday and Thursday, from
2:45 to 4:15, Aaron mentors
younger students at Willow Oaks Elementary school.
(Should I say Willow Oaks is
in Menlo Park? Should I say
West Menlo Park or that a
majority of their students are
from EPA?)
Such selflessness and
integrity are admirable qualities at any age, but Aaron also
possesses the vision to see
problems, and the leadership
abilities to solve them. Aaron
became aware of a need for
after-school assistance at
Willow, a school that serves a
primarily Latino community.
Approximately 80% of the
students speak Spanish as their

first language, and only about

16% of their parents have high
school diplomas. Many of the
elementary students have little
or no help with their homework
due to their parents not speaking English. Aaron found out
about the situation last January and asked Mauricio Rodriguez, the after-school program
coordinator at Willow, if the
students would benefit from
Menlo-Atherton (M-A) High
School students coming over
after school to help.
The answer was undoubtedly yes.
Subsequently, Aaron set out
to address this need and call
others to action with him. He
put together all of the necessary
paperwork to start a volunteer
program. Once the program
was approved and through
various channels, he motivated
45 others to volunteer for the
newly formed Ravenswood
Mentor Program.
According to Andy Stuart, a
teacher at M-A and sponsor of
the volunteer program, Aaron
is a leader and a motivator. He
knows how to organize and
communicate. He presented
a need to a student body that
was willing to follow him.

This act of
kindness is
something
these kids will
remember
when they get
anopportunity
to give back.
Helping others
creates people
who will also
help others.
- Andy Stuart
M-A Teacher

Mauricio believes Aaron

was able to motivate so many
other students to join him, and
continue their commitment
for over a year because of his
positive energy, dedication, and
philosophy.
For over a year now, Aaron
and his fellow students have
been helping Willow students
with their academic success,
serving as older role models,
and developing fund-raising
events to afford school supplies
to better equip the after-school
center.
After starting the program,
Aaron learned that many
students at Willow were faced
with more than just a need for
an older student role model and
help with their homework. He
was shocked and saddened to
find out that many of the children came to school hungry.
One of the students I work
with often, Aaron said, had
been hungry for three days. He
hadnt eaten anything other
than the snacks at the afterschool program. You would
have never known. If it wasnt
for the after-school program he
wouldnt have anything to eat.
The realization that many of
his neighbors at Willow do not

CONTINUED ON PAGE 17

THEPAPERPAGE.COM

THE WEEK OF

FRIDAY FEBRUARY 18.2011

17

WOODSIDE HIGH SCHOOL BAND

SERIOUS ABOUT MUSIC
Foreign Soil provides hope for all-ages music
on the Peninsula
BY SAM CROCKER, WOODSIDE HIGH SCHOOL

Woodside High School band Foreign Soil is a

cymbals chimed, the audience let out a collective

portray.

group of dedicated musicians with a shared goal:

cry of excitement. The lights went up to a enthu-

have fun creating serious music. Foreign Soil

siastic cheer as Moores bass meshed perfectly

during his time in the Woodside Jazz Band. He

began with a post on Facebook. John McLucas,

with the building drums. Cagles guitar, soaked

speaks highly of the schools music department,

a drummer in the class of 2012, was looking for

in reverb, was answered by Ferraris harmonics.

stating, theres a lot of talent in the Woodside

other musicians interested in playing progressive

McLucass drum solo elevated the sound, and

music department, the jazz band, marching band.

metal - an experimental and complex form of

as the band rejoined the song, Ferrari played an

Being in the jazz band has really helped my play-

rock music, often defined by heavy guitar, bass,

impressive solo. Foreign Soil left the audience

ing and knowledge about music.

drums, and sometimes keyboard. Woodside

impressed with their fresh new sound, unlike the

Senior Rocky Cagle, a guitarist, noticed the post

acts that had gone before them.

and was immediately interested. McLucas had

Now the band plans to record the songs they

Moore says his own playing has improved

After the success of their live debut, the

band hopes to play at open mic nights in the area

already been jamming with Woodside senior Max

have been writing, instrumental epics inspired

like The Grind coffee bar in downtown Redwood

Moore, a bassist, for nearly a year. After one jam

by bands such as Dream Theater, Led Zeppelin,

City on the second Thursday of every month. It

session with Cagle and his friend, fellow guitarist

Metallica, and Rush. The band experiments with

was started by local musician Zen Zenith, whose

and Woodside Priory senior Arturo Ferrari, For-

unusual tempos and timings, much like jazz. It

band, Please Do Not Fight, emcees the event. The

eign Soil was born.

pushes the limits of music, Cagle explains. He

Riekes Center For Human Enhancement, a com-

describes the songs as organized improvisation.

munity center in Menlo Park, provides the equip-

this years talent show, on October 14 in Wood-

When asked whether he is interested in adding

ment, and the Grind provides the space. Zenith

sides Performing Arts Center. As the first notes

a singer, he emphatically responds, no...I think

felt a strong need in the community for a music-

floated from Cagles guitar, and McLucass

words limit the message that were trying to

and youth-oriented event.

The band made their debut performance at

FIGHTING HUNGER - CONTINUED...PAGE 8

calories, and balanced nutrition can manifest it
self in problems of learning, productivity, cogni
tive and physical development, and overall quality
of life.

scenes. SHFB is the organization that supports &'!2'-('DE!')!2'$%"2E,(-F+?')!2'5)G'>"%H')%5#-!#

(4+'.5)11+%'!"!$%"&'(.'6789'("':+'+;),(<'(4)('(4+!' arm with some really great high school students,
collaborate with over 700 distribution sites.
employees from small businesses or people from
="'("'(4+-%'>+:.-(+?'>>>@/ABC@"%*'("'&'!2')11' some of the large sponsors of SHFB like Oracle
Second Harvest Food Bank is the primary of the information you need on how to donate your and Cisco. And remember, food, and your help, is
source of donated, surplus, and purchased food for time or money as well as how to receive food and needed yearround, not just at the holidays. SHFB
!"!#$%"&'(')*+!,-+.'-!'/)!()'01)%)')!2'/)!'3)(+"' services. Volunteers are always needed to sort "D&',+.')%+'1",)(+2')('IJKI'C-!*'/(%++('-!'/)!'0)%#
Counties. Basically, they are big and behind the food during the day, night, or weekend. You will los and 750 Curtner Avenue in San Jose.

AARONS STORY - CONTINUED...PAGE 11

have enough food to eat has been the most challenging part of the program for Aaron. Being the motivated, caring person that he is, however, this only
fueled Aaron to do more. He and his family are now
involved in the annual M-A food drive.
Every November and December, M-A teams up
with Second Harvest Food Bank and local businesses to collect over 60,000 pounds of food the Ecumenical Hunger Program in East Palo Alto, which
serves roughly 1,500, under resourced families.
Just as Aaron and the other volunteers learn
many lessons and gain wisdom from the volunteer
experience, the students at Willow benefit from the
interaction in many different ways as well. According to Andy, the mentors give them hope for their
future and the kids can see young peoplegiving

themselves and their time to lend a hand.This act

of kindness is something these kids will remember
when they get anopportunity to give back. Helping others creates people who will also help others.
They also get a boost on their academics, which
doesnt hurt either.
Mauricio agrees. The Mentor Program has
provided us with an invaluable resource of support,
both academically and socially for our students, he
said. With the mentors, the students seem more
encouraged to do their schoolwork. This has to do
with the one-on-one support the students receive,
as well as the energy that these mentor bring to the
classroom.
As Margaret Mead famously said, Never doubt
that a small group of thoughtful, committed citizens

can change the world. Indeed, it is the only thing

that ever has.
Aaron Oros ability to start a critical volunteer
movement that engaged and served the citizens of
our community is exactly what Mead meant.
If you are an M-A student and want to be a mentor, send an email to ravenswoodmentorprogram@
gmail.com. If you go to another school and are
interested in creating a similar program, the best
place to start would be to work with your schools
community service group. For guidance or advice,
please email us at editor@thepaperpage.com and we
will put you in touch with Aaron who has generouslybut not surprisinglyoffered his time to provide
support to emerging programs.