Face-to-Face is a feature that allows two members of the Redwood community to grill each other, argue, or simply converse about a relevant issue or event. We provide the topic, and they do the rest. This month’s participants are seniors Emily Newell and Ricky Couto. The issue: Is Everybody Loves Everybody week worth our time?
How will Everybody Loves Everybody week benefit
the school?
Emily Newell: I think this week is beneficial because during the stress of school, it is nice to remember that you have people that you can care about and care about you. You understand how important it is to express that to other people when you might forget about it sometimes.
Ricky Couto: I actually think it has people focus a lot more on things that they don’t like and having to force themselves to enjoy something that they wouldn’t normally like.
EN: Are you saying you hate everyone?
RC: I’m saying I hate everyone with a passion.
Have you noticed any impact on the campus?
EN: I have noticed that there have been a lot more smiling faces in the hallways. I have seen posts about the Post-It Notes and all those different things. It has had some effect in a good way.
RC: I will definitely back her up on that. There has been a lot of good effect from this week, like people being happy, but I have also heard a lot of unnecessary bullshitting about how everyone doesn’t like this week and that’s kind of not fun. I did notice there is a wall covered in paper, with little words on it, and that’s going to be a mess when those start falling. Someone should clean that up.
Do you think there will be a lasting impact?
RC: Maybe for the rest of the week, but come next week and the week after that, everyone’s going to forget it. It will only make a lasting impact on a couple of students.
EN: I think if this week turns out to be a success, it will have an imprint on people, and hopefully the underclassmen will look forward to having it every year. I think it will do good things.
RC: I don’t think this week is going to do anything. I think this week is just a test run. I have to be honest, I have not seen many more people being nice to people they wouldn’t normally be nice to. They are only nice to people they are already nice to. I don’t think this will change much in the long run.
What is your reaction to the specific days?
EN: I think it is interesting that they chose each day to have a specific loving [attitude] towards different people, like “Love yourself day.” I got candy in math, which is awesome. I think that’s a good way to open people’s eyes to not just saying, “Oh, you should just love everybody at school,” to “There are different ways to love different things.”
RC: I do appreciate the bonus points given by my chemistry teacher because of “Love yourself day.” Instead of sending love Post-Its, I send disgruntling Post-Its, where I write something almost rude and then I hand it to somebody. I found that to be very amusing.
Do you think teachers are participating more in this week than students?
EN: I think it always helps when teachers are into spirit weeks and dressing up and stuff. I do think it is good that they are helping out because it makes you more motivated to want to do what is asked.
RC: They definitely are embracing it, though they could be embracing it a bit more. I feel if the teachers took this up 100%, I think it would be easier to get more students to follow. If the teachers don’t treat it that big, then what are the students expected to do?
