So admittedly, it’s been two decades, but I can still remember how much I looked up to “the big kids” when I was in kindergarten. High-schoolers seemed like ancient, but hip, bastions of wisdom—and they could have persuaded me to do pretty much anything. That’s why I’m convinced Pasco’s work to connect high school students with kindergarteners and explain the importance of finishing high school is brilliant.

As part of the district’s “Destination Graduation” campaign, students from New Horizons High School return to their own elementary schools to spread the word that, if you want the career you dream of, you’ll need to graduate.

"We try to make them understand what it means. We tell them to have a talk with their parents," said high school student Adison Ramiro.

Teens in the marketing class at New Horizons developed radio and TV spots, T-shirts and posters for the campaign after the district got a Building Bridges grant from the state earlier this year.

“The $270,000 grant is to improve on-time graduation rates and work on dropout prevention with several community partners. The goals of the grant include lowering dropout rates among at-risk students and bringing dropouts back to school. The grant also is paying for staff training and four student achievement specialists who work with teens and families,” according to the Tri-City Herald.

**Attention Current High School Seniors: We know y’all have to complete a culminating project for graduation. If you’re struggling with an idea, I say “creatively borrow” Pasco’s program, grab a group of friends that owe you one and start this program in your own district.

Trust me, the kindergarteners will remember.