This story was written by a high school student participating at NEPM's Media Lab Summer '23 cohort, in partnership with MassLive.
There are many stressors in life, such as unsupportive adults, food insecurities, peer pressure, a lack of transportation, unfair deadlines, and erratic working or study situations. All of these and more can make it difficult to focus in school.
Michael Pabón, 29, created a non-profit organization on Dec. 14, 2022 to support students in Springfield. The GiveBack Group strives to support students in removing those distractions and allows them to pursue their educational prowess. Pabón, a former Springfield student himself, decided to start this nonprofit with a focus on giving back to Springfield Public Schools. Pabón says he created this nonprofit with “the intention of helping kids focus on school rather than other distractions they may be going through right now.”
According to UMass Amherst, 25% of their students are first generation and in Springfield College, 27% are first generation. Being a first-generation student means that their parents didn't get the opportunity to pursue higher education.
“I am a first-generation student myself. Neither of my parents went to college and if it wasn't for my experience in both undergrad and law school, I’m not sure I would be in the capacity that I am in. So I want everyone to know that education really can put you in a different area of life for the better,” Pabón shared.
Supporting Springfield Public Schools has impacted Pabón’s life. Pabón says that receiving letters from families and seeing the impact he’s making has helped him grow as a person.
Sometimes high school students can feel unheard or underappreciated. Pabón has some advice for them: “ Just because you don’t feel heard at the moment doesn’t mean that it should stop you from believing in what you believe in or pushing towards whatever your goal is. Don’t ever feel like you’re stagnant.”
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