It’s 9 p.m. You’re trudging through the front door after a stressful game against Lyons Township. The only thing that sounds good right now is eating dinner and going to bed, but you have three tests tomorrow and an assignment due at 11:59 p.m. This is a classic weekday for many of the students involved in sports and academics here. But, now there is a student-run organization to specifically help students who just cannot seem to find the time to get it all done. 

Senior Aryan Bansal and his younger brother, sophomore Milan Bansal, have worked together to build P.A.S.S., Peer Athlete Student Scholars, an organization built to help student athletes through student tutoring, bridging the gap between the field and the classroom. It’s not just an issue at our school. According to a Penn Schoen Berland survey 54 percent of athletes say they lack sufficient time to get their work done after practices and games.  

“I wanted to help my fellow athletes also achieve a balance of their academics and athletics, so that’s what led me to start PASS,” Aryan said. 

The program is able to help student-athletes because the brothers tailor the schedules of tutoring sessions to team practices and games. When you sign up on their website, you can pick times to meet at the Hinsdale public library. Most times are after practice, or on the weekend. Students can find the sign up sheet on their website.

“We usually go on Sundays or one weekday, because on Sundays, according to IHSA, you’re not allowed to have practice or games, so it’s really easy for athletes to get the help they need,” Milan said. 

Along with tailoring schedules to students, the brothers also have set up a program for finals studying. They will have a final review on geometry Honors and physics in the Hinsdale Central libraryś conference rooms. There are flyers posted around the school and emails on the weekly E-Blast for Hinsdale Central students and family. 

“Math and science are the more common ones, because, like STEM classes, they’re usually harder,” Aryan said. 

Freshman Charlie Kordak said he feels the pressure of science classes especially during his baseball season. 

“Whenever I needed help, Ary would reach out and make sure that I had what I needed to be successful. Kordak said. 

This program started in 2024 and has been progressively growing ever since. It first started with just reaching out to some teammates and asking if they needed any help, and now has grown to trying to bring the program to other schools in the district or even other schools all around Illinois. 

  During the first week of May, Aryan and Milan gave a presentation for ISBE, the Illinois State Board of Education, to help bring this program to schools across the state. The brothers said they hope this program can grow and help all student-athletes balance their schedules and their stress, giving them the resources that they need to curate balance and structure in classes. According to the Aryan, making PASS a statewide program is in reach and is a future goal.

“I see it going to other schools across the state, while also being able to have a jump academically and through other students here at Central as well,” Aryan said. 

He not only wants this program to spread throughout the state and the other schools and help more students, but said he wants  teachers involved so he can start working with more classes and be more academic.

 Teachers have been involved since the start, with teachers like Melissa Jensen, physics teacher handing out flyers and promoting attendance to tutor sessions hosted by PASS. One of her students is Kordak, and he has found lots of success working in PASS. 

“I got a really good grade on a test,” Kordak said. “The night before I went to one of the tutors that really helped me be successful on the test.”

And there are many stories just like Kordak’s. Kordak said he raised his grade one entire letter grade by attending the tutoring sessions. 

“It’s a free resource that students can use to help benefit themselves and stay balanced,” Aryan said. 

His hard work is paying off; there are real success stories all around the school of people who are getting boosts in their grades and in their studying skills. 

According to research done by Sahar Taraseh published by Research Gate, shows that student-athletes face challenges when it comes to overcommitment and time management, and that so many student-athletes are left to struggle because they don’t have the correct support systems. 

This is the problem that Aryan observed, which he then found the solution to. PASS is currently supporting so many students and it’s a resource that has the potential to change the way student-athletes approach their time. 

PASS benefits the students who need academic help but it means something different for Aryan and Milan. They have built this program up, they advertise, build relationships, and run this program. They both share how this has taught them crucial life skills. 

  ¨A big thing is making relationships with administrators and faculty here at the school. It’s also about being able to serve as more of a public speaker,” Bansal said. 

With Aryan graduating this year and attending University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in the business school, Milan plans to take over, with the help of a board of directors made up of many other student athletes who are prepared to help the next generation of students. 

The future for PASS is bright and the future for student athletes across the state is just as hopeful due to the great work that this program accomplishes.