The Votes Are In!
2023 Readers' Choice is back, bigger and better than ever!
View Winners → 
Arcadia Students Roll Out of Bed in Gratitude to Soldiers
Arcadia Weekly Jan 05, 2016
by
share with
Arcadia High students writing letters – Photo by Ashley Chen
By Ashley Chen, AUSD-DCI
Arcadia High School students walked eagerly in their onesies, pajama pants, and robes towards a cramped table in the center of campus, all leaving with a grin plastered on each face. Although Spirit Week is the bustling week before the winter break in the middle of December, the students’ school spirit still soared as they wrote letters to soldiers in their “holiday morning” attire.
Arcadia High is amongst the first to host an event in honoring active soldiers and veterans as part of an all-school activity. The ASB and Arcadia High Young Democrats teamed together to host an event from Operation Gratitude, a nonprofit organize that sends care packages and letters to military personnel. Despite this being the very first winter spirit week at Arcadia High School, Arcadia is setting an example for other schools to be more active not only in their communities but their nation. It is paving the way for a more active and involved youth segment, which seems to have become less empathetic since the 1980s and drastically in the last decade, according to a recent publication from University of Michigan’s Personality and Social Psychology Review.
Arcadia High freshmen, sophomores, juniors and seniors seemed to be an exception to the study as they hand-wrote each letter giving appreciation to the people who are often overlooked by others, but who dedicate their lives to making America free and protected. This act may be small, but one person’s suggestion for Operation Gratitude led to a ripple effect. Not only were students writing letters, but faculty and staff wrote as well.
“We should host more events like this,” said AHS Principal Dr. Forsee, as he joined alongside the crowd of students in writing a letter.
The holidays are known to lure out the best in everyone, so if you could spare a few minutes of your day, please visit https://www.operationgratitude.com/ for more information on spreading the ripple of gratitude.
