//Emery Davis and Mandira Gowda//

To kick of Mountain Vista’s 2020 Wish Week, beginning Feb. 3, students carried on the tradition of sporting the ‘Be A Good Person’ brand, along with gold awareness ribbons given out by StudLe.

All throughout the classrooms and halls of Mountain Vista, students wore purple shirts designed for 2019’s Wish Kid, Chad, in support of him and his dreams; it was a fitting precedent for the upcoming assembly. 

After third period, the student body filed into the main gym for the annual opening assembly of Wish Week. StudLe adviser Lindsey Jaffe and student body president, senior Colby Field, set off the assembly with a series of introductory speeches that later lead into a video introducing the importance of Wish Week and updates on former Wish Kids, with a special segment dedicated to Marlee Pack, 2016’s Wish Kid.  

This year, in honor of Marlee, Gabby, 2018’s Wish Kid, presented a special “Marlee Monday Bear” to former Wish Kid, senior Marlee Burkett, for her amazing display of contagious optimism and courage. “It means the world to me to know that so many people care about these kids in times of need,” Burkett said. “[Wish Week] honestly feels like a second Christmas to me, this week brings me so much joy and I’m so glad Vista does this week.”

After this heartfelt tribute, seniors Allison Marsh and Priya Kodenkath taught the student body a cheer that included a compilation of dances that incorporated moves from TikTok, a popular social media app, for Tuesday’s basketball game. 

In succession, a powerful dance from Vista’s poms team followed, each step an emotional part of a greater message. “I played the role of the bully, so it was definitely out of my comfort zone, but I knew how important the dance is so I gave it my all,” senior Sydney Nobles said. “Feeling like you are not good enough, or alone, is something everyone can relate to, so all of the dancers were able to connect in their own way.”

To end the assembly, seniors Samantha Garvey and Delaney Sweeney performed “Defying Gravity” from the Broadway musical, Wicked, one of Je’Moni’s – 2020’s Wish Kid – favorite plays. 

Due to unfortunate weather circumstances, all after school activities were cancelled, including Vista Idol at 7 p.m. Luckily, the event has been rescheduled to Monday, Feb. 10.

Photos by Soren Brockway, Emery Davis, Anna Duffy, Sam Evans and Mandira Gowda