No matter who you are - student, parent, alum, or friend – you feel welcome. It is for this reason they started volunteering at HRS, but also why they have stayed.

Claude and Torger are HRS alums from the Class of 2019 and Ellie, while not an official alumna, has a younger brother who attends the school. HRS has a way of connecting people and creating community – just as Ellie, Claude, and Torger experienced. Until meeting up this winter, they knew each other as classmates at Mercer Island High School, but didn’t realize they independently reached out to volunteer at HRS.

Qualities like confidence, self-advocacy, patience, and a strong work ethic are evident throughout the HRS community, and they are qualities seen repeatedly in these three volunteers.

For Claude, who is driven by creativity, volunteering is about giving back to a school that supported him. With the skills he gained at HRS, he was more confident in his ability to take on new subjects in high school, remembering clearly the first time a math unit really clicked for him. He also began to understand how everyone sees things differently, whether in the classroom or out in the world. As an amateur photographer, being creative and thinking outside the box is a priceless asset.

The same tools helped Torger, now a dedicated math and science student, pursue his interests. Armed with self-advocacy skills and an understanding of how to approach learning challenges, he excels in academics and is looking forward to learning more about how his favorite subjects are applied to engineering, economics, and business as potential future careers.

When thinking about her future, Ellie sees writing and capturing stories as her goal. Journalism is not only her favorite class, but it is also an outlet for her personal expression. If journalism doesn’t turn into a career, she is also drawn to education. Outside of school, Ellie loves to explore Seattle, spend time with her family, and get together with friends.

Ellie, Claude, and Torger have all witnessed changes at HRS – from new teachers and staff to the new middle school building currently under construction. But they’ve also noticed some things remain the same, like the dedication of the teachers and the importance of a school with the mission of serving students who learn differently.

Giving back to the school as volunteers is just one way Ellie, Claude, and Torger can show their appreciation for the impact HRS has had in their lives.

Volunteering also allows them to stay connected, to help with special projects, and gain experience for their resumes. As they wrap up their high school year and we wrap up ours, they have our gratitude for months of hard work and dedication, and for helping us succeed.

To Ellie, Claude, and Torger, we cannot wait to see where next year takes you and all you accomplish in the future – but one thing is for sure, you are always welcome in the halls of HRS.

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