Inclusion is the hardest thing to do whenever you have a school of over 1,500 kids where each and every person is unique in their own way. Everyone dreams of having that same high school experience, Friday night football games, lively pep rallies, and most of all homecoming and prom.
However, not everyone gets that same high school experience. In return, the Liberty National Honor Society led by College and Career Counselor Michelle Gerringer and science teacher Daniel Evans, took an initiative to change that.
On April 3, the National Honors Society held its annual All of Us Dance for students with special needs at Liberty. The night was full of music, dancing, a lot of smiles. This dance was created to give guests a fun time with kids of their own age, out of the classroom and an overall night of excitement.
“This event not only allows our special VIP guests to have a fun time with their peers, but it also gives the NHS members a chance to put someone else’s joy above their own,” Gerringer said.
The National Honor Society weren’t the original creators for this event. The idea for this dance came from Timberland High School and their National Honor Society, where they used to hold their own dance just like the All of Us dance.
“One year they had to cancel it for some reason, and then it just never got started back up,” Gerringer said. “About four years ago, Dr. Nelson asked Liberty’s NHS chapter to bring the dance back. We’ve been hosting the dance ever since.”
The dance, led by National Honor Society committee officer Loukya Vaka (12), spent countless hours with her committee, planning this event, everything from the decorations, to the RSVP’s, to the food on the table, everything was planned out. At the beginning of the year, all the committee officers got to pick the event they wanted to lead. Vaka’s first choose the All of Us Dance first as it had a big impact on her last year.
“This dance was one of the most impactful parts of my junior year, since I got to meet and connect with new people in such a welcoming atmosphere,” Vaka said. “I knew I wanted to play a larger role in giving this wonderful experience to more people in our community.”
The main idea for this event is to allow everyone no matter what to be involved and included, to create friendships, and to prioritize a positive environment around the school.
“This dance has always been about being inclusive and embracing new friendships, so it was incredible that we all were able to prioritize creating a positive, inviting atmosphere by always being ready to reach out a hand to anyone and everyone,” Vaka said.
The All of Us Dance is an annual event at Liberty and it embraces friendship and inclusion from everyone in the school no matter what. It is a night to remember, a story on its own. A moment in time that no one will forget for the rest of their lives.
