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Students of Harriton, do you need a job? Are you frustrated by your unsuccessful search for a babysitting gig? Are your parents ready to get you out of the house? Never fear GoPaperboy is here! An easy, unique and effective way to connect with the community and build the job you want is just a few simple clicks away. The tedious job search can be a thing of the past! We sat down with Jennifer Padova Gallagher, founder of GoPaperboy, to learn more about what struck us as an incredible idea.

This is how it works. GoPaperboy was created for talented students, and families in turn to find what they need with as little hassle as possible. Students with valuable talents that range from being a first class dog walker, to a piano prodigy make themselves available to families who wish to find user-friendly non-professional help. Students in turn are able to build a resume and gain valuable job experience. By simply creating a free profile students can market their skills, and create a job that fits their busy lifestyles.

We asked Jennifer what inspired GoPaperboy. As a mother of four, she explained how she always found herself in need of help for her kids. She discovered the incredible convenience of local help. All of a sudden it became much easier to find experienced help without going through the process of word of mouth.

So what makes GoPaperboy different from its competitors? Community. Through a community wide network, students and families are able to build connections and foster relationships. Jen hopes to expand GoPaperboy to other communities similar to our own.

By going to GoPaperboy.com, students can create their profile, and even upload pictures. Internet safety precautions are also taken care of, for those who wish to join the site but are under the age of 18. A one-dollar payment is required through a credit card to ensure that a parent or guardian has seen and approved the profile creation. Said guardian then has access to the student’s profile thereafter.

The Banner reached out to Zach Hamilton-Cotter, a Student Ambassador and Marketing and Communications Intern from St Joe’s

 Harriton Banner: What struck you as most unique about GoPaperboy? 

Zach Hamilton-Cotter: I think GoPaperboy does a great job of letting families feel a connection to the students before hiring them. The student profile allows for an individual to express who they are in a brief bio and also add any other achievements, awards, resumes, etc. that defines who they are. This way the families will be able to decide who the best fit is for the job.

HB: In your own experience how has/will GoPaperboy affect our community? 

ZHC: I believe GoPaperboy will be a very beneficial tool for families and students to make connections that give families the help they are looking for and students the opportunity to affectively market their skills to those families. There are many high school and college students who are in the process of fostering a unique set of skills and I think that GoPaperboy is the perfect platform for families to utilize that untapped potential for their services.

HB: As a student ambassador, do you believe GoPaperboy fosters entrepreneurship and initiative?

ZHC: Having a sense of entrepreneurship and initiative are essentials for being a student ambassador at GoPaperboy. In a sense you become your own boss and it is up to you to decide what kind of impact you will make.  Being a GoPaperboy ambassador has given me invaluable lessons that I will be able to take with me to any job and show my continuation of wanting to achieve more.

Mrs. Laura Conlon, a parent using GoPaperboy also agreed to give us her take on GoPaperboy

Harriton Banner: As a parent do you prefer the local and community based aspect of GoPaperboy? 

Mrs. Laura Conlon: Yes, I do prefer the local and community based aspect of GoPaperboy.  There are so many wonderful schools in our area where there are countless young, talented and well-rounded individuals.  It is very gratifying to be able to tap into the local pool of talent and to employ these students who are living right here in our community.  In our own experience, we recently hired a tutor for my son through GoPaperboy.  She is a student at a local university.  After meeting her and hiring her, we learned that she actually went to the same elementary school as my son!  She remembers doing the projects and papers that he’s doing, and she is able to help him based on her own firsthand experience doing the same work.  That sort of connection could only happen by having the opportunity to meet someone right here in our community.  Not only does she go to college here, but she grew up here as well.

HB: Has your son found relating to an inspired and motivated student easier and beneficial? 

LC: Yes.  Having an inspired and motivated student around my children has been more beneficial that we ever realized it could be.  We have worked with local college students as babysitters, which has also been very good exposure for my children.  However, in our case, working with a local student as a tutor and having her at our house specifically to work on school work has been very motivational to my children, particularly given the connection they have with her since she went to their elementary school.  They are so impressed with the successful student and young woman she has become, and it has gotten my children more interested in what will happen in a few years when it’s time for them to start thinking about college.

HB: Would you recommend GoPaperboy to other families struggling to find help?

LC: Yes! We have had a wonderful experience with GoPaperboy and would highly recommend it to others. There are so many young, enthusiastic and talented young students in the area that would love to work with local families.  This website provides a central connection where families that need help with just about anything can connect with these students and hopefully build long term relationships that will benefit both the families, and the students.

With its novel, innovative and refreshing approach, GoPaperboy has the ability to impact our community in ways we are only beginning to discover. So Harriton students and alum, create your profile today. You are the future of GoPaperboy. You are the untapped talent, and countless opportunities await you!

For more information check out GoPaperboy today: http://www.gopaperboy.com/