by Priyanka Subburaman
A true community is one that works together [1].
What is a community? Well, Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary defines a community as “a unified body of individuals”. We live in a day and age where everyone and everything seems divided and unity is scarce. Although humanity has come far, it is still divided by race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, political beliefs, and more. At times, these differences blind us from the fact that, at the end of the day, we are all human.
It’s amazing that even in these troublesome times, the students and faculty at Biotech have managed to create a beautiful and welcoming community. However, a community is nothing without the individual connections within it, and in this case, it would be friendships.
All our lives we are taught that family and friends are the most important people in our lives. and we all know the importance of family in our lives. But what about friendship? Well, if you ever need to see the role that friendship plays in our lives, you need to look no further than Biotechnology High School!
Here at Biotech, classmates mean more than just those you go to school with. The bustling hallways, scattered giggles, open lockers, and study groups are just some of the few things that make Biotech such a cohesive community. We all face the stress and pressures characteristic of high school students. Even in the toughest of times, when the workload and deadlines may seem overwhelming, our friends make everything worthwhile. Studies in a 2010 meta-analysis have proven that there is a clear correlation between one’s health and friendships.
However, the community of Biotech is not only built on its friendships. The relationships between freshman, sophomores, juniors, seniors, and even staff members is what makes Biotech special. The kindness, respect, and mutual well-wishes within the entirety of Biotech is what our community is about. Known for its rigorous academics, Biotech may seem “competitive” or even “cutthroat” to outsiders However, ask any student here, and they might even laugh at this notion. Over the years, staff, alumni, and present students have built a supportive and nurturing community that brings out each and every one of our strengths and helps us thrive as individuals. In the halls of Biotech, you see all people—from seniors to freshmen and even staff—working tirelessly to help out one another.
Interconnections between grades are a huge part of what makes Biotech so special. Upperclassmen are always happy to help out any struggling underclassmen, and it truly is a heartwarming sight. The double helix in the Biotech school logo may symbolize our biology-focused curriculum, but for us students, it also represents our intertwined community that wouldn’t be complete without any one person.
Finally, I must end with this quote that truly depicts what Biotech is all about: “In the sweetness of friendship let there be laughter and sharing of pleasures. For in the dew of little things the heart finds its morning and is refreshed.” - Khalil Gibran
Regardless of each and every one of our situations, it’s important for us all to take a moment to appreciate the small things in life. From the jokes made at lunch to an act of kindness, ultimately, these “small things” are what create our happiness.
Sources
Category:icons. Wikimedia Commons. (n.d.). Retrieved November 26, 2021, from https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/Category:Icons.
Merriam-Webster. (n.d.). Community definition & meaning. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved November 26, 2021, from https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/community.
Sohn, E. (2016, May 26). More and more research shows friends are good for your health. The Washington Post. Retrieved November 26, 2021, from https://www.washingtonpost.com/national/health-science/more-and-more-research-shows-friends-are-good-for-your-health/2016/05/26/f249e754-204d-11e6-9e7f-57890b612299_story.html.