Peer Ambassadors help around the school in giving advice and support to student who need or want it. The ambassadors hold doors for students, clean off snow from cars, post posters and notes with positive messages around the schools, and volunteer at school events. These are all examples of how the Peer Ambassadors create the positive atmosphere of Creek.

One of the jobs of a Peer Ambassador is to give tours to new Creek students or to those who are thinking about transitioning to Creek.

“It’s about making a difference in the community and helping the transition from X school to Creek, because I know Creek is huge,” Peer Ambassador Ali Abbas said. “so I feel like that transition needs to be effortless and has to be nice for people”.

The Peers also work towards creating a positive atmosphere around the school and support anyone who needs it.

“The purpose of a Peer Ambassador is to be there for anyone, whether it’s help finding a better friend, just doing simple acts of kindness around the school,” Peer Ambassador Pearl Schwartz said.

Peer Ambassadors aim to be support mechanisms for the entire school. They are especially aware of those who feel they are not listened to or not important.

They make themselves available to anyone, every period of the day. There are at least three people every period in the Peer Pad which is located in the counseling office.

The ambassadors encourage students to come in, no matter the problem or situation they have.

“We are here every period and I know everyone here, and we are all super nice, super fun, and we all get super excited when people want to come in and see us, so don’t hesitate,” Schwartz said.

They consider themselves representatives of Creek to people that come and visit the campus and to new Creek students. They all have the goal of trying to make Creek look presentable.

“I can personally make someone’s day and make this transition worse or better, depending on what I do,” Abbas said. “It affects how someone has an opinion of Creek”.

These students have to apply and be accepted through a very selective process. Most who apply are not selected.

In the spring applications get sent out. Any upcoming senior can apply to be a Peer Ambassador. The students have to answer a series of short answer questions and are also asked to get teacher recommendations.

Usually 150 students apply and that has to be narrowed down to 21 students in the end. About 40-50 students are asked back for a 50 minute interview with the counselors themselves and the clerks that work in the office.

Counselor and Peer Ambassador Sponsor Katherine Gallegos tries to include many different types of people as possible to create a diverse atmosphere. This is so people who come in from different walks of life can feel welcomed and understood.

“We want to have a culturally and socioeconomically and academically diverse group of students,” Gallegos said. “We really want someone who is ready to grow”.

Being an Ambassador is also about trying hard academically. It is important to be academically sound.

“We take students from all levels of academic success as long as they are doing the best that they can,” Gallegos said. “We want our students to be doing well in school, and that looks different for every student,” said Gallegos

Although the experience is extremely beneficial for the students that come to Peer Ambassadors and is meant for the students, the Ambassadors take away much from the situation also.

“I’ve already met so many people I wouldn’t have if I hadn’t had the opportunity and knowing people come different experiences and remembering there’s a full story behind it,” Schwartz said.

Students who use the Ambassadors regularly come back for support from the Ambassadors. The Ambassador leave a huge impact on the students that come to the Peer Pad for help.

“The students who utilize the Peers as a resource, they often return to the Peer Pad and get to know the new Peers each year,” Gallegos said.