![Hosting the SCLA Casptone Mentor Dinner outside allowed for more attendees on September 27, 2021 at Silver Creek. This event would’ve usually been held inside. According to Lauren Kohn, a SCLA 12 teacher, “If we have a higher number of people, as long as we can host the event outside, then that seems to be keeping every[one] safe”.](https://schsnews.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/11/sxMAIGbSYGodZkqmrvTi5YWcJ1ssWA08ApkeMLpp-900x675.jpeg)
Silver Creek Leadership Academy (SCLA) is an incredible opportunity for students at Silver Creek High School. Over the course of four years, students learn what being a leader means through elective classes hosted by various teachers. Seniors in SCLA are starting to wrap up their path through this academic program by carrying out their capstone projects. They are working hard on their capstones, which are a significant milestone in academic progress. Three seniors are focusing their capstones on thanking nurses throughout Longmont.
Two seniors in SCLA are Lucia de La Lama and Diamari Flores, who formed the project Nurture and Nourish. Their goal is to show gratitude to nurses by providing gift baskets filled with self-care items. They will also organize wellness events to help the nurses relax, socialize, and recharge.
“We will have, over the course of the year, three deliveries of actual gift baskets. And then one big event,” said de La Lama.
They are working with Longmont United Hospital to make these deliveries and host the events. It is a great fit for them because they are both very passionate about this subject.
Flores Wants to be a nurse in either pediatrics or obstetrics, and she thinks it’s a great opportunity to form connections with different hospitals. She became interested in this field through medical classes and her grandpa’s end-of-life care nurse.
”[The nurse] was really great, and she was super nice,” Flores said.
de La Lama also has a personal connection to nursing, as she is interested in the way the brain works.
“Science has always been really interesting for me, but I [know] that I love working with people,” de La Lama said. “I’ve always loved working with little kids, and I think that’s really what interests me about pediatrics.”
She also talks about how she is trying to find a way to help people in a way that is meaningful.
“Knowing that I’ve made a change in someone’s life is really important to me,” de La Lama said.
de La Lama and Flores have an SCLA Capstone mentor who helps them make that difference in the world. Rachel Turner is a chemistry teacher at Silver Creek, and as their mentor, she meets with them twice a week. Already she has seen them grow through working on Nurture and Nourish.
“It seems like [de La Lama and Flores have] gotten really good at writing professional emails, doing their work, [and] getting better at advocating for their needs,” Turner said. “Their organization is [also] getting better.”
Though independence and developing skills are important, Turner says that the most important skill with the SCLA Capstone project is to wisely choose what you want to do.
“I think the most important thing is just finding something that you’re passionate about,” Turner said. “[de La Lama and Flores are] really passionate about this, and they’re gonna make that their career… I’d say just whatever is going to feel fun and exciting and worthwhile [is what you should focus on when choosing a project].”
Kiersten Mallet is another student in SCLA who is passionate about her capstone project, which also is about showing gratitude to nurses. However, instead of gift baskets and events, Mallet is focusing on giving handwritten cards.
“A handwritten note is personal,” Mallet said. “If someone just gives you an automated typed card, [you think they] didn’t really put that much effort into it. But with handwritten notes, it’s like people are putting in effort and time to give their appreciation to you.”
Mallet has set up a table in Altona Middle School for students to describe their appreciation for the nurses who ensure others are healthy. The table includes writing utensils as well as cards so the students can write the notes.
“I’m trying to deliver notes and gifts at least once a month [and] get appreciation to all those nurses at the facility that I chose,” Mallet said.
Based on their progress so far, and overall passion, Mallet, de La Lama, and Flores all think their separate projects are going well. Due to their commitment and personal connection to nurses, their projects will make a difference in the world.
“Showing other people who aren’t nurses what the importance of nurses [is how my project is making a difference],” Mallet said. “Spreading awareness [about how] nurses do a lot of work, giving those people a lot of appreciation, [and] helping people learn more about it [is really what my project is all about].”
