Pink and blue posters that seemed to appear overnight line the locker with messages such as “Smile you are loved,” “Nothing can bring you peace but yourself” and so many more.
After some investigating, Health teacher Lorin VanWagenen’s Wellness classes were responsible for raising morale throughout the building.
What started as VanWagenen scrolling on Instagram ended in an idea that could make a difference in the school.
Since there were a lot of VanWagenen’s Wellness students who would be absent leading up to spring break, these posters seemed like the best option for her classes. “I was trying to think of something that would be fun and engaging before we went into break. And since the class is Wellness, to put them in a positive state of mind on going into break. So I thought, let’s just do this.”
As VanWagenen explained, Wellness class isn’t only about physical health, but mental health as well.
Junior Raima Naurin sees the class for exactly what it is and says, “Wellness isn’t just about physical health but well being. It’s important to see positive things to improve your mental health and well being.”
To VanWagenen’s Wellness students, this assignment impacted them in the exact way that she was hoping.
Sophie Rater, junior, saw the image of the assignment and stated, “I thought it was a good idea to make others happy by adding the posters and to help raise morale.”
The Wellness classes produced posters that read:
“You are resilient and can overcome any challenges that come your way!!”
“You are worthy of all the good things that come into your life!!!”
“You are capable of achieving great things!!”
“You must do the things you think you cannot do.”
“If you stay positive in a negative situation, you won.”
The posters, including the ones above, have been catching the eyes of many people in the school including Sarah Robinson, school counselor. “I think it’s really influential, and I think every little bit of positivity and sunshine in people’s day can make a difference,” Robinson said.
VanWagenen’s hope for this assignment was for her students to be able to spread positivity throughout the school and to make our school a better place. “The world is just such a negative place right now and there is so much negativity going around so I just wanted the students to spread positivity and positive wellbeing and just positive mindset for other students throughout the school,” VanWagenen said.
There are no regrets when it comes to trying to make an impact in the world.
“I wouldn’t change anything, but I would want to make more,” Rater said.
From a small assignment that was given to the class because of upcoming spring break slowly turned into an inspiration for an entire school.
See more of the posters here.