For my first “official blog post” I have decided to write about something that is very near and dear to my heart: Smiling and saying hello to people in the hallway. This is something that I believe everyone should try and make an effort to do at school every day. Often times when I’m in a bad mood, I don’t want to talk to anyone and am tempted to walk down the hallway and ignore everyone around me. I have found instead of being super grumpy and scowling while I walk across the quad, it makes me feel better to smile and wave to people I know in the hallway.

I know this sounds strange, it seems like waving to people in the hallway is the most minor detail, but it really does make a big difference. Not just for you, but the people around you. If you pass someone in the hall that you aren’t friends with but you definitely know who they are and they know who you are, instead of avoiding eye contact with them and staring at the ground, take the half second to look up and smile at them. This is a small gesture but I think it really makes a big difference. Personally there is nothing that I love more than when someone smiles or waves at me in the hallway.

Something I notice and really appreciate about our school are the teachers who stand outside of their class rooms laughing and talking with students. It brings so much joy to the hallways and makes STA the wonderful place that it is. Every time I walk up the stairs in M&A I never fail to receive a kind and genuine smile from Prentiss and some sort of sarcastic remark from Mr. Bertalott. Nothing makes me happier than hearing Mrs. Reynolds voice from across the hall on second floor Donnelly. Every morning when Dr. Baker holds the door open for me as I walk into school I’m reminded that the teachers and students at this school really care. So try something new and say hello to people on the quad that you wouldn’t normally talk to. If we all tried out maybe the quad would be an even happier place.

So that is my word of advice, take a second and smile to people in the hallways… I mean it.