Since the beginning of the year MHS has welcomed the Student Council’s Kindness Campaign. They have incorporated many activities and posters to spread kindness and connection between students around the school. Started by students, for students for the betterment of their learning environment.
Junior Nick Dragnev, STUCO president, said the Kindness Campaign aims to bring more inclusivity and kindness to the school community.
“Everything we do is to make Marquette better and more inclusive,” Dragnev said.
Displays have included the butterfly wall located on the second floor near the back of the school and various motivational posters. Activities have included gratitude grams, friendship bracelets and studying with hot cocoa and cookies after school.
During second semester, Dragnev says they plan to work with clubs such as the Black Student Alliance for Black History month, and Girls United for Women’s History month to get more students involved and feeling represented.
“We’ll have announcements during Ac lab, posters, decorations, and events after school to inform and celebrate,” Dragnev said.
Dragnev said he promotes the campaign because he personally believes in its message and in the importance of producing a positive impact whenever he can.
However, he said it can be somewhat hard to promote because many students seem disconnected from the school and each other and have become closed off in their own groups.
“People don’t get to know each other and I think that’s extremely detrimental to the school because connections aren’t forming between people,” Dragnev said.
The campaign’s goal is to reignite school spirit to better form these relationships, Ishaan Brahmbhatt, junior, said.
Brahmbhatt, vice president of STUCO, said it is difficult for students to spread compassion because the large student population makes it hard for word to reach everyone.
Students spread more love and kindness when they are part of activities that surround them with people they know, Brahmbhatt said.
“Hopefully our small acts of kindness will influence people in the future to spread kindness and make our school a better community,” Brahmbhatt said.
Finals season created a lot of stress for many students, so STUCO tried to reduce students’ stress by having these activities to distract them and take their minds off of things.
“Hopefully through this kindness campaign students and educators will see that we’re all struggling in this together,” Brahmbhatt said.
Michael Wegener, Associate Principal, says through the events of the campaign he has witnessed multiple students discussing the butterfly wall.
“It has caused them to discuss other favorite motivational quotes they have.”
Wegener expressed his appreciation for the STUCO’s efforts to improve the school. He says he thinks students and faculty should work to have more face to face connections.
“I think anything we can do to spread and encourage kindness is a success,” Wegener said.
