What “Life as a Tiger Week” Really Stands For
Written by: Arlo Hoover Photo by: Jamie Duty
If you noticed the hallway decorations or day-by-day costumes last week, then you’ll know that it was Life as a Tiger Week. However you might not have understood the real message of the announcements or the videos played in class, so you don’t know what Life as a Tiger Week really represents.
Eisenhower High School organizes this event yearly to encourage students struggling with mental health to reach out for help, while also showing that it is normal and you aren’t alone. November is suicide prevention month so Eisenhower staff have been working to give students the support and awareness they need. Every day last week had a different theme and meaning, so here is what those exciting days stood for.
Day 1: Inside Out. The first day of Life as a Tiger Week is about emotions, and how it is essential to show your emotions to feel better. You are encouraged to wear your emotions to express feelings without shame and realize that help is a lot closer than you think.
Day 2: minions/yellow Yellow is the color that represents suicide prevention, so teachers could be seen wearing yellow “Ask Me” shirts to show their support to their students. These shirts welcome struggling students to speak to the teacher, so they can “Ask me about mental health.” An edition to day 2 is the Survivor Ball tournament. Survivor Ball first brings more enthusiasm to Life as a Tiger Week as well as to bring light to the nearly 10% of peers who have considered taking their own lives.
Day 3: Super Heroes. This theme was picked so students could be the hero of their own prosperity. It is about taking time for yourself to improve your mental health and understand every hero needs a sidekick to get through the tough times.
Day 4: Frozen. This day is to show people how to “Let It Go” like the popular song sung by Elsa in the first Frozen movie. It is important to not overthink problems you go through, and sometimes it is beneficial to just let it go.
Day 5:Toy Story. This day highlights the importance of friendship and being there for each other. We lived by the words of the song: You’ve Got a Friend in Me by Randy Newman, to represent companionship with others.
This week can be relatable for many students and their families, so it is extremely important to really sit and listen to what Life as a Tiger really stands for. Mental health is crucial to well-being, so be there for your friends, and check up on your peers every once in a while.
Celebrate Life as a Tiger Week Photo Album
