A group of 30 hand-selected seniors sat silently in the boardroom of the Children’s Advocacy Center (CAC) listening to Executive Director Darcy Komejan reveal the unfortunate truth about sexual abuse ranging from infancy to young adults.

By the time Komejan was finished with her stories, almost every senior set their half eaten cupcake aside and started to process the tragic reality of those who are affected by abuse in none other than their home and neighboring community.

This semester, the school is offering a class called Pay it Forward. The group will be expanding their horizons by giving back to their community and experiencing real world opportunities they normally wouldn’t while living in the small beach town.

Social studies teacher Brian Williams is the advisor behind this opportunity.

“I’ve been actively thinking about it and really starting to think about curriculum and speakers the last two years,” Williams said.
Senior Samuel Moblo believes that Williams is the appropriate leader for this class.

“This is a class led by a teacher with a vision,” Moblo said. “A vision for change and a better tomorrow. (To) be apart of that vision and leave a long lasting mark on the history of our high school. Be the change. Be the difference maker. Pay It Forward in our school and our community with the amazing goal of One Team, One Family, One GH.”

The class was only offered to seniors to ensure as much emotional maturity as possible.

“All seniors after this semester are going to be adults either transitioning into college, community college, military, or wherever else they go,” Williams said. “This is a real world, eye opening experience that is a good transitional experience from high school into adult life.”

Senior Josh Hankins understands Williams’ thought process.

“We’re the more mature group, we’ve kind of grown up more than other people have,” Hankins said. “We can handle some of these things better. I’m sure there’s going to be some hard situations for us, but I think it was really smart by Mr. Williams to have it all seniors.”

The students were also required to go through an application process in order to be considered for the class. Williams had specific reasoning behind the applications.

“Especially because I knew this was going to be a pilot, I don’t want people in the class just to fill a spot in their schedule,” Williams said. “I needed to make sure that the people that are in there are willing to walk through the fire with me a little bit and experience the struggles but not get down hearted by those.”

Senior Amy Kober sees the value in the decision to create the application process.

“Because of the application process, I think he chose people who can be affected and can carry on the good,” Kober said.

Kober admits the class isn’t always fun and games.

“Wrapping your head around the issues that you see when we go on these field trips are things that actual people are dealing with,” Kober said. “You forget that they’re in your own town; so that can get a little overwhelming.”

While it may be hard at times, senior Samuel Moblo believes this class is filled with students who will go out and continue the work they’ve started.

“I have no doubt in my mind that my friends will go out and spread the passion, desire and drive to everyone else,” Moblo said. “Whether it’s within the school or where our next adventure takes us, the extravagant feeling of accomplishment is so fulfilling. To know you made somebody else’s day or even the rest of their life is a feeling above all else.”

Though the class is 10 weeks in, Moblo admits that their journey has only just begun and he can’t wait to see what the future holds.

“So far our class has been given some amazing opportunities to visit local organizations most of us never knew existed,” Moblo said. “Organizations such as the Children’s Advocacy Center, Kandu, Love Inc., Four Pointes, Migrant camps and hanging out with our fantastic special education kids.”

The class is currently engaging in a project to raise awareness for a specific issue ranging from elementary/middle school students, to the CAC, homelessness and cystic fibrosis.

“Certain projects will raise money to donate or be used for acts of kindness,” Moblo said. “The goal for each group is to simply make the world around us better. We want to inspire others to make a difference. We want to let the people of our community know that there are those out there that can and will do anything to make a difference.”

According to Williams, the purpose of the class is to gain a more permanent sense of community and realize that Grand Haven is a community that, for the most part, always has our backs.

“I think that it’s important as you all get older to realize that, ‘Okay I’ve had a lot of people do good things for me, but it’s important that I also learn what it means to give back,’” Williams said.

The class has helped Hankins come to the realization that Williams aimed for.

“The whole class for us is to open our eyes,” Hankins said. “It helps us to take notice of what’s going on and to be the change. Not only does it open our eyes, it shows us how to deal with the problems.”

The class goes against the norm of high school pen and paper classes.

“It’s more about making a difference in other peoples lives whereas our classes in school are more about us,” Kober said. “Our job is not to make sure we succeed, but to make sure other people succeed.”

Each student had an individual motive for taking the class that they’re now using to join together in making a difference.

“I want to be a police officer,” Hankins said. “I thought it would be cool to get into helping the community.”

On the other hand, Kober took the class to develop her sense of diversity.

“I hope personally to get a wider world view,” Kober said. “(I want to) not have such a closed mind about life and also to make a difference. Even if its just one person, at least that person will be affected.”

Moblo finds it within himself to try and create a better community and make a difference.

“For me personally, I just have a burning passion within my heart and a heavy drive to make this world a better place,” Moblo said. “Whether it’s picking up a piece of trash on the sidewalk to providing the homeless with a home. From small to big, anything and everything I do (will be) to ensure change is being made.”

Williams hopes that the seniors learn the value of getting involved and that giving back even in small ways, may encourage others to do the same creating the big picture of paying it forward.

“Getting themselves involved in the community and understanding that ‘we are the ripples that become waves’ is important,” Williams said. “Sometimes you don’t understand what you create. Our goal is to create the ripples and if waves develop out of that, that’s sweet, ripples don’t just start, something has to start them.”