October not only marks the start of the second quarter but also the beginning of Breast Cancer and Liver Cancer Awareness Month. Breast Cancer Awareness Month is an annually held global campaign orchestrated by major cancer charities such as the American Cancer Society to raise awareness and money for this particular cancer. As a contribution to this campaign, Quartz Hill High School hosts events such as Pink Out games and Cancer Awareness Week.

Cancer Awareness Week was held from October 15th through the 19th and was organized by the American Cancer Society Club on our campus. Each day had its own theme of colors to wear to raise awareness for all variants of cancer, not just breast and liver cancer. During this week, QHHS’ sports teams also had “Pink Out” Games in which the athletes dressed in pink in recognition of breast cancer. The school also organized activities for teachers on campus who had or have cancer.

Natasha Rosenthal, a junior at QHHS, said the week was significant and meaningful because it showed “support to those who have cancer or know someone who does.” She continued, saying, “It is important for us to be educated about such topics so we can better our people and world.”

The rather low-key method of raising awareness is sometimes criticized for being too subtle.  For example, wearing specific colors to signify awareness for a cause would not be recognized or acknowledged by people who were uninformed of the spirit week and its implications.

Rosenthal reasoned: “the execution [of raising awareness] was not great…. We never actually learned the downfalls of the disease and how it affects loved ones and our future.” She believes that merely hanging up posters and doing kind events was not enough to truly raise consciousness about the disease to the students at our school.

She suggested the school should have had science or health teachers take a day to discuss the disease with their students, even if just briefly, instead of “a football game and wearing pink clothes” as a way to raise acknowledgment. Rosenthal believes educating students about this disease is the most effective way for students to become more aware of this disease and how it can impact family and loved ones.

To further raise consciousness about cancer and help researchers develop more cures and methods of treatment, Natasha Rosenthal proposed that the school – or the club – should have held a fundraiser in which all the money gets donated to cancer research or cancer-related organizations.

Cancer Awareness Week at our school is a way to show our respect and acknowledgment to teachers and staff on campus who have survived cancer. The “Pink Out” games provided for a sense of community as the crowds were covered with a stream of pink on the bleachers, showing collective support for those who have been, or currently are, affected by breast cancer.