Although we LT students are blessed to go to a school with endless opportunities and such brilliant students, I believe this is also one of the hardest parts of attending LT. Students are so focused on ACT scores and GPAs that along the way we forget how to be kind to one another.

I have deeply struggled to come to terms with this because it kills me to see students laugh at a peers suffering just so they can finish an assignment. Although I have been guilty of this too, I have also been on the other side.  The side where you are looked over because people are “too busy” with school.  There is no such thing as “too busy” when it comes to helping someone.  We always have time to help one another we just have to make the effort to do so.

One of LT’s first class principles states that we treat each other with dignity and respect, but unfortunately that is not the case.  We cannot claim to treat each other with respect if we don’t actually do so.  I constantly witness students dismissing their peers that need help because they are too focused on school, and while it is great that students at LT care so deeply about their academics, people are more important than grades.  There have been so many incidents at LT where I have just wanted to tell people that there is more to life than what you achieve in high school because at the end of the day what really matters is that you are a genuine human being.  There is such a large population of students at LT suffering from mental illnesses and the additional stress that comes with high school, we as a school need to step up.  It is absolutely necessary that we promote kindness at LT because honestly there is a problem.

It is quite ridiculous the number of school assemblies we have had, but we never actually talk about being kind or friendly to one another. We as students need to learn that obsessing over grades and ACT scores is important, but not the end all and be all your life.  Being kind to one another could be the difference in someone’s life.

Students are not the only guilty ones, I have often found that teachers too get so wrapped up in the academics that they forget to set a good example of kindness. I don’t think people realize what one simple act of kindness can do for a person.  If students and staff simply took five minutes out of their day to compliment someone or ask how their day was it could make all the difference.

Students, let your teachers know how much you appreciate their hard work and help, and teachers let your students know how much you appreciate their determination to succeed. You never know what someone is going through, you can never make assumptions about how people are feeling, but you can make someone’s day a whole lot better just by showing you care.  So please take your nose out of your book, take a break from studying and show some kindness.