Happiness, basketball and music at WHS

In 2012 the United Nations General Assembly adopted Resolution 66/281, which decreed that the International Day of Happiness would be observed on March 20. That day is also the spring equinox, so throughout the world the day and night are approximately the same number of hours. (Visit bit.ly/1LQ7yzS for reference.)

Honestly, I was a bit reluctant to get in on the celebration because I had never heard of the International Day of Happiness until a Wasilla High leadership class posted signs around the school. So what did we do to make WHS a happier place? Music was playing through the sound system at the beginning of the day. Kids were dancing in the halls, and rumor has it that a few teachers were, too. There was a much lighter tone throughout the day. Did the energy dampen instructional time? Not at all! It was great to enter the building and feel the shift in tone at Wasilla High School. This is not to say that the school isn’t a happy place but this is the time of year students and staff are like marathoners at mile 22. There are only a couple of months left of the school year but we are drained due to all the activities, competitions and field trips.

We were happier on March 20, but we also were more of a community, especially watching our girls play Thunder Mountain at the AASA Basketball Tournament. Even though the team was playing at the Sullivan Arena, many of us at school could still root for our teams by watching the games during passing time. During the last few minutes of the day there were close to 200 students and staff members watching the team play their all. Needless to say there were many smiles and cheers in the crowd as the buzzer sounded the end of the game.

The celebration continued as we committed to spread happiness in the larger community.

“When we write something down, especially longhand, then we’re more committed to it. Writing compared to, for example, thinking or talking about something increases our commitment to the idea and to taking action,” wrote Susan Weinschenk in her book, “How to Get People to Do Stuff.”

(An excerpt is available online at bit.ly/1FwKORu.)

I’m eager to see if others shared their happiness over the weekend. Perhaps it will spread to you too!

Jill Showman teaches English II and Yearbook at Wasilla High School.