Last October, I invited counselors, teachers, students, and parents to take a page from what had become a viral, press-garnering video of Oak Park High School’s Positivity Project, where each teacher identified one student who inspired them and made them want to come to work every day. Cathy, a counselor at Hastings High School in Hastings, Michigan, took me up on it. She brought the idea to their student counsel, who took ownership of the project and garnered overwhelming support from the faculty to do so. But they also added a great twist—they not only invited teachers to present to students, but also students to teachers, and students to each other.
I’m not sharing their video here, because those expressions of appreciation weren’t necessarily meant for public viewing. But the results are just as heartwarming as those in Oak Park High School’s video. Both teachers and students appear so happy and grateful to receive their acknowledgements. It’s such a simple gesture to thank someone, to tell them you appreciate who they are and what they do. It takes less than 30 seconds. But the lift that expression gives someone goes far past the brief interaction.
The videos are great because they allow those expressions to live on. But counselors, teachers, students, and parents, remember that you don’t need to make a video to tell someone how and why you appreciate them. The absence of a camera won’t detract from the impact of the sentiment.
Thank you, Oak Park High School, for initiating such a wonderful project. Thank you, Cathy and the Hastings students, for taking the time to do this for your own community. And thank you to those of you who show up here regularly to read my blog. I appreciate you. You’re the reason I keep writing every day.