Eating lunch alone was the norm for many kids—then a Florida high school senior decided to change things
Getting through high school without friends or making new ones at a new school can be pretty hard. Such a situation might be quite challenging for a teenager, especially during routine events like lunchtime. So to overcome that, one teen, Denis Estimon, decided to start an initiative to ensure that nobody felt left out or isolated during lunchtime. Estimon migrated to America when he was in first grade. It wasn't easy for him to adjust to a new school. So as a senior, he decided to help other people who struggled to find their place, per CBS News.
"It is not a good feeling when you are by yourself. That's something I don't want anybody to go through," Denis, who was a senior at Boca Raton Community High School back in 2017, explained. The teen had moved to Florida from Haiti when he was in the first grade and felt alone. By the time he became a senior, he had made his place among his peers. So Estimon decided to do something for kids who were alone most of the time. He ended up starting a club called "We Dine Together" that would allow everyone who had no other place to go to join them for lunch. "To me, it is like, if you don't go ahead and make that change, who is going to do that?"
The club members also went around the courtyard during lunchtime to ensure that nobody was alone and unhappy as they ate. The members made an effort to introduce themselves to the new people and gave them the option to join in. Jean Max, another club member, decided to quit the football team to dedicate his time to the club during lunch. He was quite excited to meet people with different inclinations and personalities, something that might not have been possible on the football field. "I don't mind not getting a football scholarship. This is what I really want to do."
The club made a huge impact on students. "I went from coming from a school where I always had friends to coming to where I had no friends," another student shared. "It's really unfair, it's honestly an issue. Someone who actually cares and listens to you actually makes a big difference. That could happen at lunch, that could happen." The club made a significant difference during her time at school. The members were hoping to spread their initiative to other schools across the country as well. People appreciated Estimon for his initiative in the comments section of the video and pointed out how it made a big difference.
@Vitalitay wrote, "That one kid who started the club is going places, certainly has a kind heart and is truly a man for others." @BRITTWOODNESHIE commented, "I know the feeling. I was that girl in school who always sat by herself. I had friends, but they weren't really real friends if you asked me. I was the one who just stayed to myself and out of drama, never ran with the crowds or was a troublemaker. I kept to myself a lot and was very observant. But sometimes it does get a little lonely to have no one to talk to." @appleonaya2659 remarked, "This needs to spread. It's not just high school. To this day, I call work conferences or even churches (often the worst) junior high lunch room. Especially in the adult world, it can be so hard to get in the circle."