By: Annabelle Williamson
As Love Week rolled by and Redwood’s campus is no longer decked in paper hearts and posters we celebrate traditions started just 4 years ago, we would like to take time to meet someone behind the scenes of the project. Mahak Rajwani is ASB’s only 4 year member.
Rajwani, ’19, speaks fondly about her time in ASB and how much it has changed during her time. “There’s been a lot of changes, especially in these 4 years because we went through activities directors, battle of the sexes had to be changed and a lot of random things that happened. I feel like we’ve come a really long way and that has been really good, not only for our ASB class because of the way its grown but also for the school.” Rajwani says. “It’s kind of cool how far we’ve come since the first year.”
Mr. Miller, an AP Lit teacher here on campus and the former activities director talks about Rajwani as he knew her as an ASB student during her freshman and sophomore year in ASB. “She has a big heart, and she cares a lot about people. she knows that her choices [in ASB] matter and I really appreciate that about her.”
Mr. Miller continues to talk about Rajwani, “Another thing I can definitely tie her to is that it seemed like if it needed to get done and no one wanted to do it, Mahak was always willing.”
Rajwani was in ASB the year Love Week started “The idea behind love week was to give everybody something to look forward to for Valentine’s day because I know its kind of a hard day for some people… the idea was to get the whole school involved and to spread love.” She says, “The point I think is to make every kid feel like they have a place at Redwood. When you see your name written on a heart… it makes a big difference.”
Rajwani feels Love Week has been a great addition to Redwood’s spirit weeks and livens up the spring time where everyone is focused on school, and seniors are focused on graduating. Love Week provides a fun break from the routine Redwood students have gotten into.
In addition to this, the current activities director, Ms. Aguilar talks about how Love Week has changed in the years that she has been a part of it and how much it means to the people of Redwood. “It’s all about being kind to one another and making moments of happiness for one another. Whether it’s between dress-up days or finding each other’s hearts… it’s all about being really happy and connecting with one another.” Ms. Aguilar says.
“I think this week is just the best… it’s just a moment to really be inclusive of each other… there’s no differences or anything. Everyone just really loves each other and I think that’s the most important part.” Ms. Aguilar ends with.
Mr. Miller, who was the activities director who started it all, provides hind site into the creation of Love Week. At an ASB leadership camp in UC Santa Barbra, Miller and the Leadership board that year got the idea for creating a Love Week. After a challenging year and a new ASB team after 1st semester, they needed a project to pull ASB back together and Love Week filled the spot. “Hopefully we have a loving place.”
“It’s weird that we have to have a week for love. Why isn’t that the goal everyday?
Mr. Miller, 2019
Miller continues on to talk about the hearts that are taped all around campus and this tradition seems to go farther back than Love Week. The hearts have been making an appearance back to Redwood since 2002 when Britney Smith, the ASB President at the time came up with this idea and it has carried through since.
“The most important thing that a school can do is build relationships… Redwood is just a bunch of buildings without the kids… I don’t care how good of a teacher you are if you don’t care about kids, then the kids are gonna know.” Mr. Miller ends with.
“If we put love in our hearts at the forefront, then the rest will happen”
Mr. Miller, 2019