A new club has recently emerged at Pinewood, one with a distinct mission — to cultivate emotional awareness, build meaningful bonds between students and provide a safe space for the boys of Pinewood. The Boy’s Leadership Club, under the guidance of leader BJ Wasserman, is currently composed of 18 young men of the Pinewood community. 

   The commencement of this club can be traced back to an incident that occurred last year. 

   “I was invited because of an incident between some of the boys and some of the girls,” Wasserman said. “In my time there, I did an immersive experiential session with some of the boys, and they liked it.” 

   Wasserman was then invited to come back to Pinewood. Recognizing the need to foster emotional awareness amongst male students, he then proceeded to establish the Boy’s Leadership Club. 

      During club meetings, students gather in a circle to openly share their thoughts, experiences and the highs and lows of their lives. Sophomore Dhruv Gupta, a member of the club, reflects on his experience of the club’s very first meeting.

   “It’s helped me understand more deeply what other people are going through,” he explains.

   The Boy’s Leadership Club is a brotherhood where bonds are formed and trust is built, according to Gupta. 

   Wasserman offers advice to all the young men in the Pinewood community aspiring to become better leaders in their lives. He emphasizes seeking support, finding mentors, watching and reading about leadership and involving yourself in experiences that will cultivate and encourage personal growth.

   Wasserman is also set to lead three school-wide assemblies this year. 

   Although The Boy’s Leadership Club welcomes all boys of Pinewood, Wasserman described the specific type of students he looks for in his club.

   “[I’m searching for] boys who have a willingness to step up their leadership skills [and] want to be a better version of themselves,” Wasserman said.

   The Boy’s Leadership Club highlights the importance of emotional awareness and expression, but especially emphasizes the need for strong leadership skills in life. Wasserman noted that these skills have greatly helped himself throughout his life as a parent and with his nonprofit, the Mankind Project Northern California Leaderbody.

   “It has made me a better father for my two children,” Wasserman said. “Leadership has helped me step into an executive director role for a nonprofit for seven years, an organization that I’m very proud of.”