By Ashley Lau | Staff Writer

   This year’s first-ever Blind Friendship Date was created by ASB’s Office of School Spirit and applications were open Dec. 1-7. Here students filled out a google form where they were asked to fill out a series of questions about their grade level, interests and extracurriculars as well as putting down their personal contact information. They were then paired up with another student on Feb. 16 who had similar interests as them filled out on their form.

   ASB’s Blind Friendship Date was made to help combat any loneliness students might be feeling and was an opportunity for students to build new friendships and bond over similar interests such as sports and favorite boba shops. This year since students are not able to meet in person like they would have been able to do in real life, it was held in the comfort of their own home, virtually.

    Pew Research Center, which had surveyed over a thousand teenagers, released a report on how many teens have made friends online with 57 percent of teens, ranging from the ages of 13 to 17, noting that they have been able to form long-lasting friendships through a screen.

   Members of the Office of School Spirit Kelly Hy, Abby Phuong, and Annette Chavez planned this event in January, because they felt that an event like this would fit February’s usual Valentines day theme. It would be a fun twist on blind dating for the students of Gabrielino to enjoy safely.

   “We wanted a new way to encourage others to meet new students, and we believe this event does just that,” Phoung explained. “Our goal with every event we plan is to entice the student’s interests and hopefully leave them with a memorable, fun experience.”

   Overall, 48 students filled out applications for the Blind Friendship Date, including 10 freshmen, 13 sophomores, 12 juniors, and 13 seniors.

   “I think this event is really exciting. I am one of the ASB members who was in charge of this event, and it has been super fun to match people up with others,” stated Hy, commissioner for the Office of School Spirit. “It is nice to see students want to get out of their own comfort zone and get to know each other, as they would’ve in school.”

     This event is one of the first where students had the opportunity to meet new people and get to share the things that they love with people who feel the same way. 

   “We have always discussed the need for students to connect with their peers, and during this time, it is even more important that students experience being connected,” ASB advisor, Edith Gonzalez said. “I hope the students who participated enjoyed the experience and managed to make a new friend.”