It’s a well-known fact that high school can be an immense challenge, particularly for young women. Amid the stress of academics and standardized tests, the pressure to conform to societal standards of beauty often overshadows their educational pursuits. However, a high school in California is taking a unique approach to address this issue right where it matters most: the girls’ restroom.
During a recent visit to Laguna Hills High School for a community event, local mom Jessica Brooks experienced a wave of emotion upon entering the girls’ bathroom. “I was completely taken aback,” she shared with a group of friends. Instead of seeing her reflection, she was greeted by a cascade of love and encouragement. “The walls and stalls were adorned with uplifting affirmations—no mirrors, just powerful messages!” Jessica recounted in a private Facebook group dedicated to positive community actions.
This is the kind of bathroom experience that everyone deserves.
Uplifting Messages
The messages on the stalls included affirmations such as:
- You are important.
- You are enough.
- You are valued.
- You are intelligent.
- You are beautiful.
- You are loved.
At the sinks—where mirrors would typically be—the space was instead filled with positive vibes, featuring lines like:
- Stay positive!
- You’re doing better than you think!
- You are extraordinary.
- Believe in yourself.
Sure, not being able to check for that pesky piece of spinach in your teeth could be a minor inconvenience, but we think it’s a worthwhile trade-off, especially when you consider the statistics surrounding self-esteem in youth. According to DoSomething.Org, a website dedicated to inspiring young people to advocate for change, 44% of high school girls and 15% of boys are trying to lose weight. Furthermore, over 70% of girls aged 15 to 17 avoid regular activities like attending school when they feel dissatisfied with their appearance.
The Do Something initiative promotes actions like “Mirror Messages,” encouraging tweens and teens to leave positive notes on public mirrors to uplift others and combat body shaming. Posting these messages in school bathrooms is a small yet impactful way to brighten a classmate’s day.
Psychology Today notes that our minds are shaped by a lifetime of beliefs and experiences. If we’re taught to criticize our looks, that negative programming can seep into other areas of life as well. This is where positive affirmations can help rewire our thinking.
If given the choice between staring at a mirror and soaking in affirmations, we’d choose the latter every time. After all, we don’t need to fixate on a stray hair or a blemish when we can embrace messages of self-love and positivity.
Further Reading
For more insights into self-esteem and mental health, check out this blog post on Cervical Insemination that emphasizes the importance of positivity in various aspects of life. And if you’re exploring options for at-home insemination, consider checking out Make a Mom’s range of products for assistance. Additionally, Medical News Today offers excellent resources related to fertility and home insemination.
In summary, the initiative to transform a high school bathroom into a space of encouragement rather than reflection is a powerful reminder of the impact words can have. It’s a small change that can lead to a significant difference in how young people perceive themselves and, ultimately, how they navigate the world.