It might not be obvious what old-fashioned letter writing has to do with careers in the cutting-edge medical field, but Huntley High School Medical Academy teacher Renae St. Clair says the relevance is crucial.
“One of the things our students are lacking right now with all of the technology is the ability to just have a conversation,” said St. Clair. “And if you’re going into healthcare, that’s what you’re going to be doing, dealing with patients that you’ve never met before.”
St. Clair hopes that skills developed during a pen pal correspondence will foster better communication for her pre-med high school students.
Huntley High School Medical Academy students immerse in a number of medical related classes to give them exposure to the medical field. Classes range from basic introduction to health occupations all the way to complex biomedical engineering. In addition, students can apply for the prestigious Youth Residency Program with Northwestern Medical Health System in Huntley.
But with the pandemic putting internships, job shadowing, and other volunteer opportunities on hold, St. Clair dug deep to find meaningful learning experiences that would enhance her students’ medical skills.
That’s where the pen pal program comes in.
“I don’t think a lot of students can walk up to a stranger and start a conversation,” explained St. Clair. “They really don’t understand how to listen, how to carry on, and how to reply. I’m taking this pandemic to teach something that I wouldn’t have in the past. But I can’t do it all alone,” added St. Clair. “I really need the help of the pen pals to show the students how that works.”
And what are the prerequisites for a pen pal?
“I’m looking for someone that wants to take the time to make a difference with these students, to help them grow and learn what good communication is all about,” said St. Clair. “How not only to be a good writer, but also a good listener. There should be some kind of back and forth in these letters. I’m hoping that the volunteers can model that good communication.”
St. Clair is seeking Sun City pen pals in particular.
“I am so impressed any time the Sun City residents volunteer with us. The quality of the people at Sun City is just phenomenal,” said St. Clair. “If I want great people to do a great job that’s one of the first places that I’m going. And, they are right at our back door.”
According to St. Clair, the pen pal procedure is simple. Del Webb residents are paired with high school students, whose letters first go through St. Clair and then are mailed to the pen pals. The pen pal responses will also be mailed to St. Clair before being forwarded to the students. Pen pals will be able to participate postage free, and all addresses will remain private.
So far, the program is off to a good start.
“My students are really excited about it,” said St. Clair. “The response so far has been fantastic.”
If you are interested in becoming a pen pal, please contact Renae St. Clair either by sending an email to rstclair@district158.org or mailing your request to Renae St. Clair, Huntley High School, 13719 Harmony Road, Huntley, IL 61341.
