This week, August 8th through the 12th, was Pay It Forward week here at University Prep High School. Students this week learned about unity, the spreading of kindness throughout our campus, and how to brighten up people’s day in quiet.

On Monday of this week, students received purple clothespins with motivational messages written by their fellow pandas. These messages ranged from “you are a good person” to “You’re the 6 to my 7,” all positive and smile-inducing. “Receiving the pins made me feel, well, good,” said Freshman Luna Losada, “many of them had compliments I’d never heard or seen before, and it made me feel much more confident.” Luna also went on to speak about how “clipping” made her feel better, as it brightened her classmates' days. 

Along with the pins, homerooms also reviewed the history of 9/11, learning and honoring the day with a Red, White, and Blue spirit day. The school was dressed in red, white, and blue to show its American spirit.  Students also reviewed video stories from the heroes of that fateful day. “The videos made me feel inspired by their [the first responders'] stories,” Amy Morales said, “the fact that it happened was disappointing, but the way America was able to unite afterwards was inspirational.”

This week was appointed to be a week filled with motivation and kindness, and that is something that UPHS definitely captured. This showed the spirit of the student body with both actions and words, demonstrating how to be unified and teaching that we are never alone. Pay it forward will not just be active this week, but in weeks to come as well, starting a habit of kindness within our school.