During passing time, students gather by Paul Guess’s room to socialize before departing to their classes. The corner has evolved from simply being a place to talk to a place, almost exclusive for hugging. The corner has been dubbed the “hug it out corner” by the students and Guess. Guess has even mounted a poster by the corner.
Although some students see the “Hug It Out” corner as a massive PDA display, teacher Paul Guess sees it as a place for students to feel good and be happy during passing time.
“I walk around this school and see a lot of restrictions but then I walk by my classroom and see these students embracing life by embracing each other,” said Guess. “It’s beautiful. I truly believe in the magic of the hug it out corner.”
According to Guess, the newly-found location is not just a place to get a random hug, but a place to make students smile for no apparent reason and to appreciate their friends.
“We just do it because we see our friends and we get to hang out and be happy,” said sophomore Emily Gibson. “It’s really cool. It makes me feel good and I just love it.”
Not only is it about classmates bonding, but also about getting a hug from a random person just because. Guess said that he sees arms appearing to grab people as he is walking down the hallway.
“I’ve seen the people who stand around there. I just don’t really get involved into it,” said sophomore Shane Mason. “I just thought it was kind of awkward, but it’s a fun thing that they do. It makes me laugh.”
The corner is slowly gaining more notoriety with students and teachers around the school.
“I think a hug can be a very comforting thing,” said assistant principal Chad Brinton. “I’m a hugger myself.”
Assistant principal Sharon Roberts agreed with Brinton on his feelings of the hug it out corner.
According to a study that the University of North Carolina published, hugs release levels of the hormone oxytocin and reduced blood pressures. In the article that Smart Heart Living published online, it said that for healthy survival people should get four hugs a day, eight hugs for emotional strength and twelve hugs to grow and be empowered.
The hug it out corner is helping students cope with stress from the everyday stresses.
