Jade Balansag encourages students to look for opportunities

Wrangell High School graduate Jade Balansag is getting her opportunity to start classes Aug. 30 at George Washington University in the nation's capital. And she is doing it with yet another honor, named last week as one of seven Local Heroes in Alaska.

Her advice to other Wrangell students is to look for their opportunities in life.

"Don't be afraid to try something new, don't be afraid to fail," the 18-year-old said. "I've basically had the same philosophy awhile now, not to be afraid and to say yes to opportunities."

No doubt change can be scary, she said. "But with change comes growth."

Balansag, who plans to study biomedical engineering, praised her community. "There is a giant support system in Wrangell."

The Local Heroes honor comes with a $1,500 scholarship. The award program is in its 11th year as a partnership between Alaska Communications and Boys & Girls Clubs of Alaska.

In naming her as one of Alaska's young Local Heroes, the telecommunications company cited Balansag's role as part of the support system in Wrangell.

"After three suicide attempts by fellow students ... Jade took action. She had difficult conversations with school staff, and challenged adults and peers to find ways make school a warm and inviting place," the award announcement said.

"School staff attempted to create a peer helpers group (students trained to assist peers in crisis)," Bob Davis, assistant principal at the high school, wrote in his nominating letter. "However, the peer helpers group went rogue, rejecting the staff's vision of their group. Instead, they wanted a more holistic approach, an approach focused on prevention."

Davis explained, "The students believed they could have a greater impact by improving the school's overall climate and atmosphere." Balansag and her fellow students "regrouped and renamed themselves" last year, building BASE (Building a Supportive Environment)," he said.

"Jade believes that the issues we face in terms of student suicide and depression are rooted in apathy - apathy in the students and apathy in the adults and the community at large. ... She is a role model, not only for her fellow students but for adults who work with her," Davis wrote.

She moved from the Philippines to Wrangell with her family in 2011, when her father, Vincent, went to work at the hospital. But when his work visa expired, the family had to return to the Philippines for most of 2017, causing Balansag to miss much of her freshman year at the high school.

"Jade quickly earned her missing credits, found herself elected as student body president, and graduated with more than 30 college credits," Davis wrote. She graduated in May as class salutatorian. "I particularly admire her determination ... and the fact that she wears her idealism on her sleeve."