Peer Leaders are unstoppable forces for positive change. They not only possess strong leadership skills; they are innovators who use their strengths to positively impact their communities. This week, we’re celebrating Angel Galeas, a Peer Leader Captain at International High School at Largo who’s putting his passion for technology into action. 

On October 26, I arrived at International High School at Largo, following the large turtle painted on the brick to find my way inside. I was there to capture the excitement of a PeerForward application event, where Peer Leader co-captains Angel Galeas and Salehrahman Sahak welcomed me and led me to the library. Inside, Peer Leaders were busy preparing for their classmates, hanging signs, setting out candy, and coordinating with volunteers ready to help seniors explore their next steps. The event focused not only on applying to colleges of the traditional 4-year variety; it also emphasized additional postsecondary pathways including community college, trade schools, and other work programs students could explore. Shortly after, seniors began filing in, guided by Peer Leaders toward the pathways they hoped to pursue.

The room was buzzing with energy and excitement. While I was photographing students, Coach D.C. approached me with Angel by his side. “He has something really cool to show you,” he said. Angel held up a keychain in the shape of our PeerForward ‘Peer Fire’ logo. He tapped it against my phone, which automatically opened a link to their team’s PeerForward Instagram page. I was blown away! I had never seen tap technology used in that way. Angel explained to me that he’d created this keychain using a 3D printer and an NFC chip he programmed himself. But what impressed me even more was learning how he was using this same technology to solve real challenges in his community. I had to know more.

Can you tell me more about the keychains you developed, the technology that goes into it, and how you are using said technology? 

The chip inside [the keychain] is a near field communication chip (NFC). It holds bytes, which are just small amounts of memory. I’ve programmed it so that it opens links. Once you tap it with a phone, it’ll actually open that link inside of the chip. During the summer, I worked with this nonprofit organization from my community, VineCorps, which focuses on youth development. I created a reimbursement app that uses their mileage, NGPS, and multiplies it by how much they get reimbursed per mile. They use it for when they’re transporting students in their personal car. Before, they just used to take a picture of their speedometer, and that’s the way they would track their reimbursement. Now I’m working with their data team on creating a new system that’s for their attendance. I’m using the same technology as this NFC chip to hold the memory and the profiles of the student and creating a software where, once you tap your other NFC chip with the staff member’s phone, it opens the student’s profile and it’ll just check them in automatically.  

How does this align with your future career goals?

I’m very interested in artificial intelligence and overall software engineering. I don’t only want to create the software; I want to have hands-on, physical items. I want to be able to develop those things and also be able to solve problems inside of my community with what I create.   

Tell me about your postsecondary education plans. Are you applying to colleges? What majors interest you? 

My main focus is on the University of Maryland. However, they have really limited positions for computer science and artificial intelligence majors. I need to have prior knowledge of calculus for them to even consider me for these programs. What I’m planning to do is take calculus during the spring just so I can get myself comfortable with advanced mathematics. I want to make sure I’m prepared. 

Can you tell me a bit about the event your team is hosting today? I’d love your insight as one of the captains. 

Today we have our application event. This is where our senior class will get together with us, the PeerForward team, to apply to their chosen postsecondary path. We’re helping them apply to things like university, trade schools, the military, and our local community college. We’re here making sure no senior gets left behind!