To confirm how grateful the students are at Bridgewater-Raritan High School, stop by the wall outside the main cafeteria and at the entrance of the 1000 building.
A poster at each location on the high school campus features a colorful display of feathers with written messages covering a turkey.
The posters were placed on the wall so students could tape on a feather with a short message or title of what they are grateful for in their lives.
This inspiring project comes courtesy of the Bridgewater-Raritan High School HOPE Squad. This student organization is dedicated to suicide prevention and mental health.
According to the HOPE Squad, the club’s mission is to promote a positive and supportive community at Bridgewater-Raritan High School and reduce mental health stigma. Through fun, inclusive events and accessible members, the HOPE Squad provides an outlet from the stresses of everyday life and a safe place.
These HOPE Squad students are under the guidance of their dedicated advisors, Lauren Amisial and April McGrath-Lutzky, who are Student Assistance Counselors at the high school.
The HOPE Squad memes encouraged their schoolmates a week before Thanksgiving to stick a feather on the turkey poster, which will hang until winter break.
Examples of things that students are grateful for include friends, family, sports, food, and teachers.
HOPE Squad Co-Co-Presidents Sarina Dalal and Wesley Lin, along with Co-Vice President Anastasia Gatilova, discussed the success of an overwhelming number of feathers placed at each poster.
“We want people to think about what they are grateful for,” Sarina, Wesley and Anastasia all shared.
“We wanted to have a public display that shows Bridgewater-Raritan High School has a lot of gratitude,” they said.