By: Tatyana Pekarsky
In her sociology class, social studies teacher Sarah Reynolds passes out rubber purple bracelets. She explains to her students these bracelets are used to keep track of how often one complains, whines or uses sarcasm. The experiment has begun.
Reynolds has been having her student participate in the purple bracelet experiment for four years.
“I thought it was a great way to challenge kids to be positive,” Reynolds said.
If students catch themselves complaining in anyway, they are to switch the purple bracelet to the other wrist. This shows a conscious awareness of one’s negativity and allows students the chance to control themselves.
“My first impression was ‘this is gonna be hard for me’ ‘cause I’m a big complainer,” senior Christina Kolmer said. “I felt like it was gonna be one of those things that I was gonna give up on.”
Reynolds feels students are usually excited until they realize how difficult it really was.
“I didn’t find it horribly difficult,” senior Kelsey Drambour said. “I knew some parts of complaining were gonna be hard.”
Kolmer disagreed.
“I never realized how much I complained until we started this project,” Kolmer said.
Despite the difficulty, Reynolds stuck to the experiment over the four years for the sake of her students.
“I think it makes most students aware that they complain,” Reynolds said, “and it helps those who choose to take it seriously.”
When walking through the halls, one can find these purple bracelets along the wrists of the few students who participate in the experiment. While it may be more difficult for others, there are students who see the good in the experiment.
“The more people that try it, the better our environment will be,” Kolmer said. “We won’t have to worry about people complaining all the time.”