Today, while most students were beating the heat in shorts and tees, Linden High School ๐๐ซ๐๐ฌ๐ก๐ฆ๐๐ง ๐. ๐๐๐ฅ๐๐ข๐ง was making statementsโnot sweat.
๐๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ต๐ฒ๐ฎ๐ฑ-๐๐ผ-๐๐ผ๐ฒ ๐ถ๐ป ๐ฎ ๐๐ต๐ฎ๐ฟ๐ฝ ๐๐๐ผ-๐ฝ๐ถ๐ฒ๐ฐ๐ฒ ๐๐๐ถ๐ ๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฝ๐ผ๐น๐ถ๐๐ต๐ฒ๐ฑ ๐ฑ๐ฟ๐ฒ๐๐ ๐๐ต๐ผ๐ฒ๐, ๐ต๐ฒ ๐๐๐ผ๐ผ๐ฑ ๐๐ฎ๐น๐น (๐ฎ๐ป๐ฑ ๐ฐ๐ผ๐ผ๐น!) ๐ฎ๐บ๐ผ๐ป๐ด ๐ต๐ถ๐ ๐ฝ๐ฒ๐ฒ๐ฟ๐.
When Superintendent Dr. Atiya Y. Perkins spotted him, she had to ask: โWhatโs the special occasion?โ
His answer? โI AM the occasion.โ
Mic. Drop.
But what happened next might be even more inspiring:
His classmates surrounded himโcheering him on!
M. Valcin told them:
โI dressed this way because itโs what I like to do. And if my peers enjoy me standing out, then we all win.โ
Dr. Perkins was so moved by his self-assurance and authenticity that she recognized him on the spot. Because leadership isnโt always about titlesโitโs about knowing who you are and lifting others as you go.
Thank you, M.V, for reminding us all: Confidence is contagious. And being yourself is always in style.