Bravery mingled with kind hearts as students stepped through the gymnasium doors, rubbing their fingers cautiously over their forearms. A single table faced the entrance with eager, smiling student volunteers sitting behind it. An atmosphere of friendliness seemed to drown out fear, just as the ambition towards sugar stifled the thought of being poked by a needle.

On Tuesday, April 23, a blood drive took place in the SDA gym, which was open to students 16 or older as well as the community. The drive was from 8 a.m. until 1:30 p.m., and was run primarily by ASB students and nurses who volunteered for the drive.

Many upperclassmen flocked through the gym doors on Tuesday in the hopes of helping a person in need. Perhaps the most wonderful sights were not the enthusiastic grins coming into the gym, rather the smiles remaining on the faces of those who had just donated. They were in different levels of pain, yet they were devoted to the aid of others.

Kira Gaby, junior, was preparing to donate blood to the drive, so that people on the receiving end may live a better life. In her words, “people really need it, and I have it.”

This was her first time giving blood, yet she has wanted to do so in past years. Unable to until now, Gaby eagerly filled out a pre-donation form and weaved her way down the steps onto the glossy gym floor. It was there where I saw many other charitable students were there, lying in chairs next to nurses, sitting on the ground post-donation period, or remaining behind tables passing out treats to those who gave blood.

Blanketing a section of the floor for students who had just donated was a cushy blue mat. I plopped down alongside those with brightly colored gauze wrapped neatly around the crooks of their elbows, their faces brimming with bravery. “My friends have donated before, and this year I saw a poster and thought, why not? If I was in that situation, I would want it too,” said senior Chris Hyndman. As far as the atmosphere, he thought the kids volunteering seemed to be enthusiastic, as was he.

Parallel to the mat was a folding table heaped with boxes of sugary treats for the donors. ASB students sat in chairs behind the table, chatting with those sprawled atop the mat, hovering around the donors to make sure they were munching on a snack.

Among the ASB volunteers was senior Bree Lund, who also volunteered last year. “I like helping out the community” she said, and chuckling, she joked, “and I like vampires.” Speaking with her further, Bree said, “I give out food and snacks, so this is my way of helping out.” Bree’s ASB buddies agreed with what she said, and went on avidly helping those at the scene.

Perhaps the blood drive is not the single defining feature of SDA that makes the school so special, but it is most definitely a building block in the structure of kindness that makes up our school. A sort of reverence and gratitude for those who donated, and all of the volunteers would not go unnoticed.