Two Teens Build Kindness Wall at Minnesota High School

Two tenth graders in Upsala, Minnesota just proved that the smallest gestures can create the biggest shifts in school culture.

Emmalyn Harren and Brookelynn Schmidt built what they call the "Wall of Kindness" at Upsala High School before the school year started. The wall features colorful envelopes filled with kindness prompts that students can pull and share with classmates, teachers, bus drivers, and cafeteria staff.

The idea started as a project for their AVID college readiness program. When their classmates initially voted for other ideas, the two teens didn't give up. They pitched it to Community Education Director Sara Bauer, who loved the concept.

"At the end of the summer, we ended up just doing it and thought it could bring more kindness to our small school," Harren said. Schmidt added that the bright colors would liven up the white hallway walls while reminding everyone who passes by to be kind.

The system works through color coding. Purple and pink envelopes contain universal messages for anyone. Yellow holds notes for support staff, green for teachers, and blue for classmates and peers.

One popular card reads, "I'm so glad we are in the same class," perfect for welcoming new students or reminding friends they matter. Students can also grab "E it forward" cards, inspired by Ethan Gerads, a student from nearby Albany who died in 2023. These cards encourage recipients to pass on acts of kindness in his memory.

The wall is already making an impact. One teacher stopped her entire class to read a card together, then had each student practice thanking their bus driver and cafeteria workers. Harren witnessed students delivering those thank-yous at lunch, everyone beaming with smiles.

Sunny's Take

What strikes me most about this story is how Harren and Schmidt pushed forward even when their peers didn't initially support them. They believed kindness mattered enough to make it happen anyway.

Harren practices what the wall preaches. She's grateful for teachers who answer every small question and proactively check if students need help. She appreciates the custodians, including her dad Andy, who keep the school clean each day.

Schmidt credits her friends for always being there, supporting her through schoolwork and challenges. That's exactly what the wall promotes: noticing the people who show up for us every single day.

The teens hope their hallway project will evolve and grow, spreading kindness not just here or there, but everywhere.