Amador Valley High School Freshmen Break Social Barriers Encouraging students to "mix it up" By Nandhana Sathish / Amador Student SEED Journalist Amador Student SEED partnered with Amador’s LINK program and Leadership class to organize Mix It Up at Lunch Day, an event that provided freshmen at Amador Valley High School with the opportunity to step out of their comfort zone and cross social boundaries in an effort to reduce misconceptions, biases, and stereotypes. “I think Mix it Up at Lunch is a great idea…. I think this is an awesome way to meet new people. By not being in your traditional friend group, or the normal cliques, you can expand your horizons and meet new people, and maybe those people you sat with will become your friends,” said Alibi August, a member of the Student SEED. Mix It Up at Lunch Day encouraged freshman students to “mix it up” and get to know students they typically do not sit with during lunch. This casual and fun event provided students with an opportunity to break social barriers and eliminate some of the misconceptions and prejudices that often exist between high school cliques. By interacting across social boundaries, students realized just how much they have in common with their peers. During the event, students not only discussed their commonalities, but also explored and appreciated their differences. Ultimately, the event improved intergroup relations and supported a positive high school experience for all students. “Interaction with people who are different from us can reduce bias and helps to develop understanding and promote empathy for others. That's the Amador Way!” said Nimarta Grewal, Vice Principal at AVHS.
SEED members hope that Mix It Up at Lunch Day will be an annual event at Amador. Encouraging students to move out of their comfort zones and connect with someone new over lunch is a simple act that has a big impact. More than 4,000 schools around the world participated in Mix It Up at Lunch Day this year, and now Amador Valley High School has joined the campaign. SEED students will continue their efforts to promote acceptance in the school culture by organizing the next annual Donversity celebration in March, an event that encourages students of diverse backgrounds and interests to share their identity. Through participating in events such as Mix It Up at Lunch Day and Donversity, students learn to embrace their differences and accept one another—skills that characterize righteous citizens of the world.
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