Crew Leader: With Link Crew teacher out, Ingraca takes on bigger role
Manteca High senior Jayson Ingraca has played an instrumental role in Link Crew this year, especially with Link Crew advisor MaryAnn Tolbert out on medical leave.
By TEGPREET SINGH
The Tower
Manteca High senior Jayson Ingraca is a Link Crew leader who is passionate about helping people, on and off campus.
When he joined Link Crew as a junior, he immediately found joy in assisting people around the school and helping out wherever he could. He doesn’t want students to feel alone, especially the school’s newest students — the freshmen.
Ingraca is refreshingly polite.
“Jayson has been in Link Crew for two years and emerged immediately as a mentor leader who truly cares about mentoring and helping the freshman class be successful,” Link Crew advisor MaryAnn Tolbert said. “He has been an important leader in HTC events and presenting. He is very inspiring and took the lead on the Yellow Ribbon project, not only arranging times with teachers but scheduling with Link Crew leaders and often times stepping up himself to make the presentation because of his belief in the need for the program.”
Ingraca has been invaluable to Tolbert, because she recently had surgery and has been out of the classroom for months. In her absence, Ingraca has helped lead the class.
Manteca High senior Jayson Ingraca (second from the left) competes in a tug-of-war competition.
“With me being out of the classroom, I’m confident in Link Crews’ ability with Jayson, Alondra (Lopez) and Shylea (Hollins) ensuring things get done,” Tolbert said. “He is funny, dedicated, responsible, respectful and one of our best examples of a student in and out of the classroom.”
The Tower contacted Jayson Ingraca to conduct an interview, to discuss his experiences as a Link Crew leader:
The Tower: As a Link Crew leader, what roles do you play?
Jayson Ingraca: We are there for the school, but mainly for the freshmen, to let them know they are not alone during school. They have tutoring available. They have a Link Crew leader to talk to them. We are all Yellow Ribbon suicide prevention-trained if someone needs to talk to us.
TT: What are some challenges dealing with young kids?
JI: One of them is attention span. The attention span gets shorter and shorter the more incoming kids come (onto campus). That is definitely a challenge, but also keeping them engaged.
TT: What exactly is Link Crew?
JI: Link Crew is about helping others. Honoring the Code and being there for students — not just freshmen — but all students.
TT: What is the main goal of 8th grade orientation?
JI: That Manteca High is the school for them. There is a community behind Manteca High. The teachers are amazing. They are very well equipped for any type of student, just speaking from personal experience. The students are also very welcoming. Our sports are amazing; our athletics is amazing. … When I was taking them on a tour, I was showing them that there is a lot of stuff to do. There are a lot of teachers, a lot of students, a lot of staff members that are willing to help them out. Even the hall monitors. I made sure to show them that Manteca High was the school for them.
Manteca High senior Jayson Ingraca (center) has been an instrumental member of the school’s Link Crew, especially with advisor MaryAnn Tolbert out on medical leave.
TT: What factors did you add to the Link Crew team that helped?
JI: I always encourage all my Link Crew members go out and get out of their comfort zone. I’m always trying to get them to present to another class or help them lead as best as I can, lead other students, lead incoming freshmen and even some of their friends, just stepping out of their comfort zone.
TT: What was it like when you were in eighth grade?
JI: Man! In eighth grade, I had a lot of emotions, but mainly excited and nervous. I would say those are the biggest things that I faced when I was in eighth grade. I was super excited to come to Manteca High; didn’t know what it had to offer me. Ultimately, my freshman year was an amazing year.
TT: How did Link Crew help you to where you are right now?
JI: When I first joined Link Crew last year, it was kind of hard at first, but then I realized that it’s just better off stepping out of your comfort zone. That’s how you grow the most, in general. I really found a passion and love for Link Crew and helping out around school. Ultimately, this is one of the best decisions I made. It helps me engage socially with a lot of people and it helps me out a lot.