Teen's Project Shows HHS What Really Matters

The following story was submitted by the Harrison Central School District. to see how you can have your stories featured on Patch.

Caroline Gaeta, a junior at Harrison High School, has started a grassroots movement she calls "Operation Beautiful" by encouraging the female students and faculty at HHS to wear no makeup to school on Wednesday.

Many teenage girls struggle with their self-esteem,  said Gaeta.  This project was designed to help girls who hide behind their makeup realize that beauty is more than what we all see on the outside. Our goal is to boost self confidence.

What began as part of her Creative, Action and Service requirement as Gaeta looks to achieve an International Baccalaureate Diploma has now taken on a life of its own.

For months, groups of girls have been meeting and planning for this day. Earlier in the week, students were asked to fill out  compliment cards  to send to fellow classmates, friends, or even people they don t know. The cards have compliments that start  You are beautiful because &..  and were delivered on Thursday with a red ribbon to symbolize Operation Beautiful.

Support has been overwhelming from the students, faculty and staff at HHS. Gaeta also hopes this will open the door between mothers and daughters to have a conversation about  inner beauty.

"We want to show girls that beauty in not only skin deep," she said. "We are hoping to make a statement that says 'I am beautiful on the inside and that is all that matters'."