Living in a negative world has negative effects and can make people doubt themselves. Getting a compliment every once in a while can lighten someone’s life or keep them in a positive mindset.

Social media has made students think they need to be picture perfect, like they need to have a flat stomach, no body fat, small legs, small arms, a perfect smile, no acne, and expensive clothes.

“[Compliments are] really important because you never know how somebody’s day is going or how insecure somebody can feel about something,” sophomore Aliyah Cruz Miguel said.

Compliments are very powerful, especially when they come from someone one doesn’t talk to often or has never spoken to before. If someone is wearing an outfit they weren’t sure about that day, or they wore their hair differently for the first time, a simple compliment can really boost their confidence.

“I think the most meaningful compliment someone has given me is that they see Jesus in me,” sophomore Michelle Bungard said.

Compliments don’t just have to be about looks, but they can also be about someone’s personality, like religion or their lifestyle.

“ I can have a bad day, and someone will just give me a compliment, and it will make my day a lot better,” sophomore Emma-Jean Werdann said.

Some students find that if they are having a bad day, getting a compliment can cheer them up or make them smile. It’s really important that if someone looks down, then giving them something to smile about can give them hope.

For some people, teachers have had a huge impact on the way students see themselves and the confidence they have.

“My teachers kind of pushed me to realize how smart I am, especially with my parents; they really pushed me to realize I have so much potential,” Cruz-Miguel said.

It’s important to be a light in someone’s day. No one ever knows what someone is going through, so there is no reason to be a mean person. Give someone a nice thought instead of a bad one.

“Compliments are always something to make everybody happy,” Cruz-Miguel said.