Last week marked the launch of the “Born this Way Foundation” by Lady Gaga and her mother, Cynthia Germanotta, at Harvard University.  Lady Gaga, who now has over 20 million followers on twitter, has joined forces with prominent thinkers and researchers to form what she calls a “youth empowerment foundation.”  The goal?  ”‘I want it to become cool to become an aware person’ aware of the people around us and their needs, and standing up for them” quotes internet safety expert Anne Collier, who was at the launch to hear Lady Gaga speak.  In short, Lady Gaga wants to show that it is cool to be KIND.

Teenagers are not always known for their kindness, which is not entirely fair.  In my experience, it is our young people who often have the greatest fire to change the world.  Lady Gaga isn’t creating a culture of youth kindness — she is empowering, enhancing and recognizing what is already there.

Similarly, in Natick, there are many teenagers who have given up some of their precious free time to serve each other and the community.  KINDNESS COUNTS  would like to thank them and their teachers and advisors at the High School.  Here are a few recent examples of kindness by Natick High School students:

• During February vacation, 3 student members of the NHS Earth Club joined Big Heart Little Feet’s initiative to clean up West Hill Park and Fiske Pond. (Check out Big Heart Little Feet’s website for their great work!)
• Many students in National Honor Society are giving up their “privs” and tutoring freshmen students who need academic support or help with organizational skills.
• Some Natick High School students are part of the Junior Medical Reserve Corps. Natick is the only town in the Commonwealth to have a Junior Division of the Medical Reserve Corps. The students have received training in CPR and First Aid and Epi Pen admininstration. They assisted in the orchestration of the Natick Flu Clinics. The students attend monthly meetings under the direction of Kathy Sassonoff and Christine Rich, who are members of Natick’s Adult Medical Reserve Corp.

This is a short list compared to all of the good work done by our Natick High School Students.  Though this work is not new — our awareness of it may be.  The goal of KINDNESS COUNTS is to let the community in on the secret that many of our students are changing the world for the better. We can all help them by recognizing their contributions.  Well done and keep it going!

(Information courtesy of Sharon Greenholt, NHS guidance, and “Students of the Week,” by Colleen McAuley, assistant to Principal Rose Bertucci) If you have any information about works of KINDNESS by high schoolers or others, please e-mail us at kindnesscountsnatick@gmail.com.  Also, high schoolers and all students — preschool through high school —  are encouraged to participate in our Kindness Counts! campaign (deadline April 2). For details, check “about” page on this blog.  Thank you!)