Service Takes On New Meaning for Two San Fernando Seniors

San Fernando High girls’ tennis teammates Claudia Perez and Maria Arteaga hope to have the same impact on junior high students as a well-placed backhand shot can have on an opponent.

Perez and Arteaga, both seniors, are peer counselors trying to keep kids in school and on the right PATH, so to speak, as part of a program called Pregnancy Abstinence Teen Health.

“I think if I see I can make a difference for even one person, then that’s good,” Perez said.

The volunteer program, operated by Northridge Hospital Medical Center since its inception in 1998, aims to prevent pregnancy, promote abstinence and encourage kids to continue their educations by using high school students to speak at junior highs throughout the San Fernando Valley.

Perez and Arteaga broach topics such as sexually transmitted diseases and the expenses, consequences and complications involved with pregnancy and child-rearing. They also discuss any concerns raised by the students.

The idea is to encourage abstinence until adulthood and to provide support to kids trying to make or stick to such a decision.

“The kids are young,” Perez said. “Some of them will accept it and some of them won’t. I always grew up with the idea that abstinence is a good thing until a certain age, and we’re trying to let people know that there’s nothing wrong with that.”

PATH counselors spend 20 hours a month in group discussions and role-playing sessions at the hospital.

“We try to prepare for anything that might come up,” Perez said. “We talk about everything. You’ve got to be really clear with what you say.”

Counselors work in pairs, speaking to 15-20 kids at a time. They usually meet once a week for up to six weeks with each group.

Both girls consider themselves recreational tennis players. But Arteaga and Perez are currently off from year-round classes at San Fernando, and have concentrated on their PATH work and the Tigers’ tennis matches. The pair helped San Fernando to a 3-0 record as the Tigers headed into Thursday’s Valley Mission League opener against Kennedy at El Cariso Park in Sylmar.

Perez, who plays at No. 1 doubles, started when the program began last year. Arteaga, a member of the No. 3 doubles team, joined in August, and will have her first counseling session next week.

“I’m kind of nervous,” Arteaga said. “But I hope it goes well. I want to go out here and change their lives and how they think. Everyone’s experiencing the same things and has the same questions. They should know the facts.”

There was one fact that surprised Perez when she joined the program that she now believes wholeheartedly.

“At first, they were going to have adults do this, but they found that junior high kids a lot of times will listen more and look up to kids in high school,” Perez said.

“I can actually make a difference. I’m 17, and these kids look up to me, and when they listen to me, it feels nice.”

A desire to become teachers led Perez and Arteaga to PATH. But the program also has been a learning experience.

“I’m learning how to communicate with people, and speak in public, and I’m working with kids,” Arteaga said.

“I was amazed there was something out there like this. It’s going to help me, and I’m helping other people too.”

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The City Section opened league play Thursday in a change from last season that includes realignment and more league matches.

Conferences comprised of two four-team leagues were eliminated under realignment this year. In the past, conference matches against teams from the other league were considered nonleague.

Some teams have moved to different leagues, which have increased to six teams.

Granada Hills was in the North Valley League last season but is now in the West Valley League.

Instead of playing nonleague opponents Kennedy, San Fernando, Taft and El Camino Real in one conference match each as they did last season, the Highlanders will face each of five league opponents--now including El Camino Real and Taft--twice, and they won’t face Kennedy or San Fernando.

The West Valley League includes Birmingham, Chatsworth and Cleveland.

The Valley Mission League is comprised of Kennedy, Monroe, Reseda, San Fernando, Sylmar and Van Nuys.

Canoga Park, Grant, North Hollywood, Poly and former Northern League members Verdugo Hills and Hollywood are in the Sunset Six League.

Changes were primarily geographical in nature and, according to Granada Hills Coach Ron Wood, meant more for the big-name sports on campus.

“It’s based on football and basketball and baseball, and we’re just along for the ride,” he said.

“It was fine with me. I just figure if my girls are prepared and the players do their best, then that’s all you can do.”

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Josh Stimac, a former assistant teaching pro at Merced Racquet Club in Northern California, is teaching students of his own.

At Canyon High, that is.

Stimac, 24, in his third year as a macroeconomics and world history teacher at Canyon, took over the girls’ tennis program from Marlene Holomon, who resigned after 25 years to concentrate on her duties as co-athletic director.

“I really came out and I wanted to start from scratch with the girls. We do drills to improve form and just to compete,” Stimac said.

So far, so good.

The Cowboys are 5-2, including a victory over Saugus in their Foothill League opener Tuesday. They had a key match Thursday against Hart, which has won the league title the last two years but lost its Foothill opener and has struggled this season.

“I kind of have high hopes, and I think they have some high hopes for themselves,” Stimac said. “They’re willing to listen and learn, and they’re having fun.

“That’s the main thing that’s important to me.”

According to Stimac, No. 1 player Amy Fu is among those who have improved the most, while No. 2 player Lauren Tripp is the most consistent player on the team, and No. 3 Nicole Furuya is a strong net player.

The Cowboys’ top doubles team of Alanna Gadd and Dorian Miller also is solid. The No. 2 team of Missy Suarez and Lorrain Plaza is playing well, and the third team of Kristin Hoefflin and MaryAnee McKeon has consistently picked up at least one set in each match.