LIGHT IT UP BLUE
amandaxie'20
On World Autism Awareness Day, people across the world gathered to direct their attention towards children with Autism. Every year, the second day of April is internationally recognized and celebrated with fundraising events and informational activities. On March 31st, students at BHS received the delightful opportunity to show their awareness for Autism with the aid of the famous organization Autism Speaks, and a special guest. The event, Light it up Blue, was a complete success that not only spread awareness for Autism, but also helped students feel included and accepted in society.
Throughout all of Block 3 that day, BHS was buzzing with laughter and joy as students, dressed in several shades of blue, dispersed towards different stations in Bulldog Corner. One station included blue milkshakes, made fresh by student volunteers. Other treats, including chocolate bark, sugar cookies, pretzel sticks, and blue merchandise were also sold for fundraising purposes. Along with the food came a scavenger hunt, where students had the opportunity to find interactive clues and win a free bag of popcorn.
Guest Speaker Ashley Lowe came to BHS not only to inform our freshmen about Autism, but also to share her own stories and experiences. Having lived in a household where her son, Alexander, had Autism, it was undeniable that she felt very strongly about educating people on the topic. The first few slides of her presentation contained interesting statistics and facts, but as the presentation progressed, Lowe began to open herself up to her audience with captivating and entertaining stories of her experiences since Alexander’s birth. All of them were heart-touching, and they brought a deeper understanding of Autism and its effects for listeners. Throughout the presentation, Lowe stressed two points. The first was that meeting one person with Autism is, well, just like it sounds: meeting a person with Autism. But that never necessarily means that person now understands everyone diagnosed with Autism. That idea leads to her second point, the overarching lesson this day was meant to teach, that people may be different, but they are never less.
Throughout all of Block 3 that day, BHS was buzzing with laughter and joy as students, dressed in several shades of blue, dispersed towards different stations in Bulldog Corner. One station included blue milkshakes, made fresh by student volunteers. Other treats, including chocolate bark, sugar cookies, pretzel sticks, and blue merchandise were also sold for fundraising purposes. Along with the food came a scavenger hunt, where students had the opportunity to find interactive clues and win a free bag of popcorn.
Guest Speaker Ashley Lowe came to BHS not only to inform our freshmen about Autism, but also to share her own stories and experiences. Having lived in a household where her son, Alexander, had Autism, it was undeniable that she felt very strongly about educating people on the topic. The first few slides of her presentation contained interesting statistics and facts, but as the presentation progressed, Lowe began to open herself up to her audience with captivating and entertaining stories of her experiences since Alexander’s birth. All of them were heart-touching, and they brought a deeper understanding of Autism and its effects for listeners. Throughout the presentation, Lowe stressed two points. The first was that meeting one person with Autism is, well, just like it sounds: meeting a person with Autism. But that never necessarily means that person now understands everyone diagnosed with Autism. That idea leads to her second point, the overarching lesson this day was meant to teach, that people may be different, but they are never less.