❤️words of inspiration from our cafeteria manager for our students... #relationshipsmatter [1] #heartwork [2] pic.twitter.com/dj9MyKgI4q [3]
— Sharon Shewbridge (@DrShewbridge) October 25, 2018 [4]
For the past nine years, Stacey Truman, the cafeteria manager [5] at Kingston Elementary School in Virginia, has been writing inspirational messages on bananas as a of making her students' day a little brighter. Recently, Dr. Sharon Shewbridge, the school's principal, captured a photo of the uplifting words and shared it on Twitter, [6] and the concept is delightfully simple.
"I do it for my kids at home [7], so why not bring it here and do it for them because they are like my kids," Stacey told WTKR. She went on to explain how each student receives their inspirational fruit. "They're reading it as they come through the line," added Truman. "It may not be what they choose, you know, that just wasn't the fruit that they wanted for the day, but they were still like, 'Oh that's pretty cool.'"
As for how Stacey comes up with what to write? She just goes with whatever is top of mind. "Most of [the messages] I came up with myself because I would just think about what you would tell a kid or what you would want to hear yourself," she said.
Although we hope this idea catches on, Stacey never intended to be in the spotlight. "[Stacey]'s almost embarrassed about all the attention [9]," said Dr. Shewbridge. "She just wanted it to be anonymous. But I said this is so simple and amazing — and it has such an impact on kids. It's simple, but these words can help them be more courageous and realise that they are good enough. I hope that other schools see it's an easy way to get a kind message to kids."