Y-Pals socialize

AUBURN - It can be a great and intimidating leap to make from elementary school up to middle school with increased work loads, switching classes all day and a barrage of new faces.

It was this fact that first inspired the creation of Y-Pals.

“Kids coming into middle school are used to a more structured setting with one classroom and one teacher,” Y-Pals Director Sharon Collins said. “We created this mentoring program to help kids adjust socially and academically.”