Breast Cancer Awareness Month was in October, yet some students claim that this year didn’t really exemplify what Breast Cancer means at Wayne Hills High School. 

The “Pink Month” usually gives survivors and supporters of breast cancer an opportunity to show significance about the hard topic. It is an outlet for story sharing, donations and charity work, and presenting the spirit that patients need to get through their treatments. 

Freshman Aidan Sonera said, “No one really gives breast cancer awareness the attention it deserves, so the least the school can do is talk about it a little.” 

There wasn’t a “Pink Out” day this year, where kids dress up one day in all pink for the symbolic color of the cancer. One of the football games suggested wearing pink as part of their dress attire themes, but the head of the school wasn’t in charge of that decision. 

One of the few initiatives taken that this school was in charge of was in the Empowerment Club at Hills. The club had a meeting on October 13 to discuss women’s health awareness. They talked about the significance of breast cancer awareness and normalizing it. The Instagram post contained everything the heads of the club talked about in the meeting, including facts, statistics, changes that can be made, motivation, etc. about breast cancer.

“I’m glad that the Empowerment Club made an effort, but there could always be more contributed,” said Natalie Lewis, a member of the Empowerment Club.

To follow up on the meeting, the club also set up donations for a local women’s shelter located in Wanaque. The charity was called “Strengthen Our Sisters” and students helped by donating many practical and important items to women in need. 

The Empowerment Club came to the rescue this year, helping women in need and educating others about the importance of it. Next year, students would like to see more fundraisers, maybe small assemblies about what it is and how it starts, or even opportunities to donate money to research. Wayne Hills’s response to Breast Cancer Awareness Month can always be improved, but is arguably doing a good job helping those in need.