PORTERVILLE, Calif. (KSEE) – High school is full of students figuring out who they are and who they want to be, and one Porterville student is showing others how she already figured out the answer to that question— by giving up her lunch period.
In high school, when one student does something, chances are some others will follow.
But at Monache High School, sophomore Aylinn Beltran doesn’t wait for instructions; she leads by example. While most students spend lunch with friends, Aylinn spends hers in a special education classroom.
“I do this ‘cause I want to… no one forces me,” said sophomore Aylinn Beltran.
Aylinn discovered the club her freshman year; curious at first, then hooked.
“What I get out is happiness… I love helping the kids,” Aylinn said.
Her English teacher Racheal Chand says what makes Aylinn different is the choices she makes every day.
”Students don’t typically take out their time, their lunch every single day,” said Chand. “She is the epitome of what you want a student to do.”
And everyone can tell when Aylinn walks in the students light up.
“ It’s so special to see her embrace them and love them,” Chand said.
And Aylinn lights up too.
”Their smiles and their hugs. ’cause as soon as I come in here, like they basically come running towards me with their hugs,” she said.