This Valentine’s Day, students experienced a celebration centered around kindness, service, and community. Instead of traditional fundraisers, such as the carnation sale, the Service Learning Coheads, sophomore Sophie Yao and junior Arjun Bhardwaj aimed to spread positivity and highlight the impact of small acts of service. Every student received a heartwarming surprise in the morning; each locker was decorated with a note of affirmation and a small piece of candy. This simple yet meaningful gesture created a sense of belonging within the community, and the delicious gummy bears or pieces of chocolate truly made everyone’s day. 

Many students appreciated the thoughtfulness behind these activities, recognizing that Valentine’s Day is about more than romantic gestures, but also extending kindness to those around us. The event encouraged students to take a moment to express gratitude to others, displaying the importance of small deeds. 

In addition to the locker surprises, students had the opportunity to participate in a service learning activity with the Color A Smile organization. Students colored uplifting pages for individuals in need of encouragement. This project allowed students to contribute to a non-profit organization while spreading love outside of the school community.

Reflecting on the event, Yao commented, “I think this engagement can continue to grow, and in the future, we could explore even more ways to involve students in spreading love and kindness.” She also emphasized the importance of community participation, saying, “It was heartwarming to see our community come together for a shared act of service.”  

The Service Learning Coheads hope that this tradition of kindness and service continues to grow in future years. This year’s Valentine’s Day was full of kind notes, candy, and giving back to the community.