The CHIEF November 2021

Yellow Tulip Project By: Ava Nollen

The Yellow Tulip Project: it’s a project that destigmatizes mental illness in teens. In simpler terms, it’s a project that normalizes being open about mental health without being afraid of judgement. It was the summer before my sophomore year, in 2019, when my friend Emma O’Lone and me decided to attend a session at the Key Club international convention for the Yellow Tulip Project. This project opened our eyes to so many new opportunities we never knew were there. So many teens struggle with mental health and keeping a good balance between school and extracurriculars, and it's not easy (speaking from experience). Being able to talk about formerly taboo topics, like anxiety or depression, is incredibly important, especially after the year we just experienced. Olivia Schickel, Emma, and I became ambassadors for The Yellow Tulip Project this year. Olivia and Emma are lifelines for me, and I couldn’t have been happier to be in a group with them. Their positivity, friendship, and intellect are priceless. One of the options we explored within the Yellow Tulip Project was to bring a Hope Garden to the high school. With the help of Mr. Ritter and our Environmental Earth Science class, we planted a Hope Garden full of yellow tulips in front of the school. Hope Gardens are to symbolize hope and happiness. We also plan to act on more activities created by The Yellow Tulip Project throughout late fall and winter. Be sure to look out for these tulips in spring, and remember: hope is always out there.