It’s 2:40 p.m. and the last bell just rang. Most students make their way through the halls, heading to their sports practice, music lesson or home. However, Paige Sinclair has an after school activity, unlike anyone else at KHS. Once a week, Paige shuffles to her car and heads toward Wilkins Preschool to read to preschoolers for 30-45 minutes through the organization Ready Readers. For Paige, reading to children is one of her favorite things to do.

“Children are so wonderful to be around,” said Paige. “They are so optimistic and are always generating positive energy.”

Paige said mentoring children is what she has always admired. In addition to being an active member of Ready Readers (an Illinois-Missouri based organization that promotes children to read at young ages), Paige is also part of other mentoring courses offered at KHS, including Special Olympics, Kirkwood Youth Service and Child Development courses. Next year, Paige is attending the University of Central Missouri (UCM) to pursue a degree in education.

“I’ve wanted to become a teacher since the first grade,” Paige said. “I don’t know what set it off, but I knew ever since then that I wanted to become a teacher.”

Although Paige hopes to major in education, she also hopes to become an art therapist because of her love for both art and children. Paige said an art therapist is someone who helps kids express their feelings through art.

“Becoming an art therapist is something I would love to do,” Paige said. “I find that since those are two of my favorite things [art and children], it’s a common ground.”

Paige has also gotten some support from her family, including her sister, Alex, a senior at UCM. Alex’s characteristics of helping children and volunteer work helped spark Paige’s interest in volunteer work.

“She has definitely been a great mentor to me and someone I have always looked up to,” said Paige. “Seeing her relate to children was one of the reasons why I enjoy volunteering and mentoring children so much.”