'Love is all you need' during Lynbrook High School's Human Relations Day

Lynbrook High School Student Government Association members hosted the school’s annual Human Relations Day on Feb. 14, under the guidance of faculty adviser Mary Kirby.

Human Relations Day is entirely organized by the SGA every year. In each period of the day, inspiring individuals and guest speakers discuss topics and issues relevant to students. The SGA spends many months preparing for the festivities and organizing guests.

This year, Rohan Murphy, a motivational speaker and former star wrestler, served as the key note speaker and spoke with the students about overcoming obstacles and adversity after being born with deformed legs.

“The speaker that truly resonated with me was Rohan Murphy, not because he had one of the saddest disabilities, but because he coped with it and he became something amazing,” SGA member Djellza Pulatani said. “He is the true embodiment of perseverance and was a role model to everyone that day. “

Murphy spoke to the students in the school’s gymnasium and told them to strive to reach their goals and to never hold back when challenges are presented. Other speakers who visited the students throughout the day included Joe Slaninka from the Henry Viscardi School, a special education center; members of the Lynbrook Police Department; Ruthanne McCormack from the Rockville Centre Coalition for Youth; Joanna Formant from SIBS Place, a Hewlett-based organization that provides a psychosocial support model for children based in prevention theory; “Impractical Jokers” star Joe Gatto, who spoke to the students about the dangers of bullying; Jeff Fenn from Long Island TRIO, an East Meadow-based organization focused on those in need of transplants; and Holocaust survivor Kathy Grieszh.

“This year was super successful,” Kirby said. “The overall theme of the day was #loveisallyouneed. Because the event was on Valentine’s Day, we knew that love would be our focus for the day.”

As part of another tradition at the high school, the PTA prepared its annual multicultural luncheon for students and staff during the day, which included a variety of food representing the many cultures that comprise the Lynbrook community.

“The members of the SGA work tirelessly for months organizing this event,” Kirby said. “ … The students worked nonstop to make the event run perfectly.”