Social Media Seminar

High school students have a lot on their minds, from class assignments to college applications, and letters of recommendation, but one new phenomenon is their social media impact. One person who knows this better than anyone is Ben Tracy. Ben used his own life experiences and follies on social media to caution Pioneer Academy students about the importance of being safe on the internet.

Ben Tracy not only warned students about the risks that come with their own digital footprint but hidden online predators and how to report them, ways that students can combat screen addiction, and the adverse effects of social media overload.

One of our own students, senior Adnan Alkhalili, a prominent mental health advocate, has cultivated a close friendship with Mr. Tracy. Adnan sums up Mr. Tracy’s visit on a positive note “Ben Tracy has become a very influential person in my life — and he has enabled countless opportunities for me and others within the school. I can never thank him enough.” Their efforts have helped destigmatize mental health, and make social media a more positive place.

Social media is relatively new, and our students needed more guidance on how to deal with it. Now, with Ben Tracy in the Pioneer family as a friend and mentor, we are confident our students will not only be safe but have a positive impact in the digital world. Ms. Lainez, the Dean of Students, says, “We all leave a digital footprint and our students are now aware of how their own digital footprint can affect their future.”