SHAWNEE, Kan. -- Walking the halls of Mill Valley High School, you’ll see sticky notes covering the lockers.
It’s part of ‘Consider Kindness’ week. Each day has a different color and theme. Wednesday’s color was yellow.
“For Others Day,” junior and 2018 Miss Kansas Outstanding Teen contestant Isabella Line said about Wednesday’s color and theme. “Yellow is the color for power and friendship, so you have the power to be kind to someone.”
She created the ‘Consider Kindness’ week idea.
“I really want this Consider Kindness and this week, this spirit week, to kind of be the voice for the underdog, that you need to be kind to everybody,” Line said.
Line said she created the week because she’s been personally impacted by teen suicide.
“This was a super emotionally connecting topic for me,” Line said. “So, it was very easy for me to get fully emerged in.”
Recently, one of Line’s friends attempted suicide.
“They're fine now, but we got them help,” Line said. “It was a very emotional situation for myself and our other best friend.”
In the state of Missouri, suicide is the third-leading cause of death between the ages of 10 and 24.
In Kansas, it’s the second-leading cause of death between the ages of 10 and 34.
“It's gut-wrenching, just knowing that someone felt they couldn't reach out,” Line said.
While simple encouraging words on Post-It notes sprinkle the halls, she hopes it can start a conversation of unity through differences.
“You don't know what kind of day someone is having, but that smile in the hallway or a simple hello to someone or asking how someone's day is can truly turn around someone's day,” Line said.
This is the first time Mill Valley has had a spirit week like this one. They hope to continue this for years to come.
