Danika Pasley is only a freshman at Tescott High School, however you would never know it when speaking with her. Pasley is not only a four-sport student-athlete at Tescott, she is also a member of the SAFE program.
The basketball, volleyball, track and cheer athlete is gearing up for the basketball season, but her focus in school is always on her grades.
“I focus on my grades mostly because they affect if I play or not,” said Pasley.
Staying on top of her grades and ensuring she gets to step onto the court is a top priority for Pasley. When she was introduced to the SAFE program, she knew it was something she wanted to get involved in and help her fellow students.
“I recently joined the SAFE program just at the beginning of this school year,” said Pasley. “It is important for me because seat belts can save lives and people you care about like your family or close friends can be safe with them on.”
Pasley’s concern for the safety of her classmates was a big reason she decided to join the program. Helping spread the word about being a safe driver can have an impact on the community.
“I have only been a part of the couple things we have done so far, seat belt checks twice and pledge cards,” said Pasley. Finding balance between school, sports and other activities is never easy, but for Pasley the formula was to continue working hard towards her goals.
“Sometimes it is hard to keep everything balanced but I am a very hard worker and very competitive,” said Pasley.
Pasley has big plans for her future, which includes more high school sports and working towards her goal of becoming a nurse.
“After I graduate, I plan on pursuing my lifetime goal of becoming a nurse. Except I have not yet picked which degree I would take on n the nursing field,” said Pasley.
SAFE or Seatbelts Are For Everyone is a program sponsored by the Traffic Safety Resource Office and is a teen-run, peer-to-peer program focusing on increasing teen restraint compliance through education, positive rewards and enforcement. It is designed to bring awareness to the importance of wearing a seatbelt, therefore reducing the number of motor vehicle-related injuries and fatalities among Kansas teens.
The goal of SAFE is to increase seatbelt use among students while providing strong traffic safety messages throughout the school year.
