TAMPA, Fla. — A surprising thing happened when “positive” Post-it notes mysteriously appeared on lockers at Leto High School last week.
Custodians were ready for the floors to be littered with the multi-colored squares.
But the Post-its — with “Choose Happy” and “You Are Worthy” scribbled on them — stayed on the lockers.
So much for cynical teenagers.
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“People are really taking these to heart,” says senior Mike Threatt, one of the voices behind the Leto High kindness campaign. “It’s really helping people.”
Threatt is a star athlete at Leto. He is also a foster kid who knows all too well the ups-and-downs of life.
“Me, coming from a tough place in my life, I know people can always use a positive message,” says Mike.
Leto’s kindness movement originated in teacher Holly Ewing’s leadership class as a response to the anniversary of the Parkland shootings.
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Ewing’s uplifting crew is in charge of school spirit.
“Sometimes the response isn’t what we hoped, but in this case, it really was,” says student Tia Jiran.
Another kindness hot-spot at Leto is the colorful “Take What You Need” wall. Dozens and dozens of Post-It messages that students can select to boost their day.
Each includes an affirmation, compliment or cheeky joke like “Have you been working out?” and “You’ve stolen a pizza my heart.”
“You see them reading each one individually and taking what they need,” says Maisy McIntosh, a student who helps restock this wall of happiness.
