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Miami Palmetto High School senior Hallie Pladdys has created Infinity Learning, a community service project that specializes in tutoring autistic kids.
She initially worked with children at the Western Lakes Parks and Camp, where she was an assistant to a math teacher during summer camp.
When a friend of the family’s son who has autism needed help in math, she volunteered to help and began tutoring him in math.
“I decided to make it a project,” she says.
She also added tutoring in English and other subjects to the agenda. She promoted the project on Instagram.
Currently, Pladdys and her friends tutor 10-15 students in English, Math and Science for three to ten hours a week during the school year. Over the summer they would do more.
“At first it was a lesson, but once I realized it was really helping them, then I wanted to make it a project,” she says. “We help with homework, if they have math homework, I’ll help them. If they have English, my friend Gabriela Petersen will help them.”
Pladdys has been working with the autistic students since her sophomore year and her friends have worked with her about a year.
Some of the students are older and taking subjects such as algebra, and other students are taking basic math.
Math is one of Pladdys’ top subjects. She loves helping the students in the subject she loves. She also loves helping students achieve. She says she’s found a method that makes it easier for her students to understand her.
“Patience, and just try again later, it will come,” she says. “Practicing every day, it becomes easier. Practice, practice, practice, that’s all it is in math. Eventually it becomes natural after doing it so many times.”
At Palmetto she’s a member of LEO Club, Key Club and Thespians. She starred in productions at her previous school but hasn’t had the time to participate in productions until this year. She plans to audition for a school production.
At her previous school, the Miami Arts Studio, she took musical theater. While she loves musical theater, she wanted to attend a school with stronger academics.
“I want to do a math based major in college,” she says.
Outside of school, she participates in the Miami Children’s Theater at Dave and Mary Alper Jewish Community Center.
“I’m planning to see what plays they are doing and audition for one,” she says. “This is the last year I can do it.”
She’s been acting at MCT since middle school.
“I’ve done probably seven or eight shows there,” she says.
She’s also volunteered at two of their summer camps for kids 8-12.
“I’d teach them how to sing and dance,” she says. “I’d help keep them organized. Whatever the director asked. Whether it’s keeping them entertained, keeping them quiet or teaching them a song.”
Pladdys is applying to the University of Florida, Florida State University, the University of Michigan, University of California at Berkeley and UCLA. She’s already been accepted to the University of Central Florida and Florida International University.
Pladdys is also a model. She’s been in small parts in Apply TV shows, she’s been an extra in movies and she’s acted in commercials. She’s done more than 100 casting calls and shoots.
Recently she was hired by a Korean company to represent their brand.
“A lot of these shows are filmed in Miami Beach,” she says. “They are always doing something in South Beach. I love being in a big city.”
Linda Rodriguez Bernfeld
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