I substitute in several area secondary schools ( think 6th -12th grade ). I won't mention the specific schools as I think the experiences are typical of any secondary school. There seems to be two prevailng messages as evidenced in that age old method of communication unique to every public sphere--bathroom graffiti.
As a sub I don't always get a chance to race to the faculty lounge or teacher restroom so I have to brave the LGR ( little girls room ) and often over hear the gossip, excitement, anguish and angry discussions that come from the ever present cell phones and social media feed. Interestingly I haven't seen as much of the random acts of wall writing or artistry as I used to because of the above mentioned cell phones. Students can virtually "tag" anytime, anywhere, anyone...and not get caught.
You can guess the first of the two general messages or vibes - gossip, maliciousness, lies, and silliness ( dancing cats ). But the second message , much smaller, I've witnessed in several restrooms in various schools:
" Hang in there"
" You look great "
" Chin Up You're. Worth it! "
" You are beautiful "
" Don't believe the lie. You are loved"
I now purposely seek out those restrooms for the emotional "shot in the arm" these missives bring. An inoculation against the viral junky messages that swirl around these kids all day. Yes, whoever penned and carved these quotes may have very much been in the "snarky" high school vein. But I think when a high school or middle school ( or much older ) girl reads "Hang in there" she hears so much more than sarcasm. This girls reads the truth that things will be OK. That she is loved beyond measure, a beautiful worthwhile creation. I have to believe these little love letters hold a little more permanence in hearts and minds of the young ( and old ) women that read them than the here one minute gone the next bombardments of social media. They do for me. Sometimes truth shouts boldly from a mountain top. Yet sometimes truth , for us to hear it, has to whisper quiet reassurance through a permanent marker on a bathroom wall.
Thank you for truth in unlikely places. Thank you for beauty in a bathroom stall.
