From the 27th – 31th of October Torrance High School celebrated Red Ribbon Week by filling  the campus with red to promote a drug-free life. Class council members woke up early to decorate different parts of the campus at 6 am. Students placed red plates along the ground with positive notes on them and hung big red banners from wall to wall in the senior patio, junior patio, gym, and the quad. 

Red Ribbon Week symbolizes the commitment and determination to end and decrease drug usage around the world. Red Ribbon Week began in 1985 to honor DEA agent Enrique Camarena who was trying to expose the drug trafficking operations to the public but sadly passed away due to murder. Shortly After Enrique’s death, the schools and businesses in his hometown Calexico, California wore red ribbons in honor of him and the sacrifices he made. As more and more people began to wear ribbons, awareness to live a drug-free life started to spread throughout California. Each year, Red Ribbon Week is celebrated from October 23-31.  During these dates more than ever the support to help promote a healthier and safer lifestyle had increased tremendously. Around the nation, people wear red in agreement that a drug-free life is a life worth living. Schools in particular support this and campaign motos like this. 

At Torrance High School, Jasmine Mendoza, a sophomore at Torrance High shares how her school supports living a drug free life: “Our school has done quite a lot of activities for Red Ribbon Week, such as making meaningful signs around campus and spirit weeks.” These actions may not seem big but little things go a long way. The signs posted around the campus send a message to all that saying no to drugs is a life-altering decision that can change your life for the better. Your life is worth more than a substance. I asked Mendoza what Red Ribbon Week meant to her. Mendoza responded by saying, “Red Ribbon Week to me means that we can come together as a whole to say no to drugs and help people who may be peer pressured or struggling to stop doing drugs.” Mendoza has high hopes for the future, and so should we all. Helping to guide others to a healthier lifestyle is so important, and just because Red Ribbon Week is only from the 23rd-31st doesn’t mean that we stop raising awareness.  According to ASB senior Cara Kim, “If we can just help one student stay educated on the dangers of drug usage, it would make the worlds difference”. We can spread a drug-free message all year round by motivating our peers to quit and recover from the use of drugs. Say NO to drugs and YES to a life full of possibilities.