This year at Weber High there is a new club called Only Us. Simply described, it’s a club focused on opening students up to new ideas and being comfortable with expressing each other’s opinions. That’s only scraping the surface of its importance to social health not only upon high schools but the world itself.
Only Us was created by senior Ethan Wintle. In his words, he said, “It’s to help people start being content with those different opinions and being okay with being wrong; respecting each other’s opinions and being open to new ideas; appreciating each other and seeing each other as humans to become a united world no matter the difference of opinion.” It’s about becoming, what he calls, an “Us.”
It’s to help people start being content with those different opinions and being okay with being wrong; respecting each other’s opinions and being open to new ideas; appreciating each other and seeing each other as humans to become a united world no matter the difference of opinion.
When asked about what inspired him to create the club, Wintle said, “I was a student body officer my sophomore year here at Weber High. I wasn’t very good at getting people on board with my ideas, nor was I good at understanding others.” He continues, “I found there were a lot of disagreements between me and the other officers. I wanted to move it to just me as a student and what I can do for my school rather than as a student officer. That’s where there were a lot of initial disagreements.”
Wintle recalled those were some of the first problems that helped him realize he needed to recognize the difference between hostility and just a difference of opinion. To see people more as friends rather than enemies. He wanted to “do better at having those conversations and being on the same page.” That’s where he came up with the idea to make a push for that understanding of one another.
The only activities from Only Us so far have been interviewing people about their ideas and opinions. Wintle said, “The first event we ever did was bring in Amir Jackson. He’s from an organization in Ogden called Nurture the Creative Mind.” Wintle had previously known Jackson and referred to him as a mentor in his life. “He was a big help for me in getting into photography. We did a lot of music videos for local artists. I looked to him as a mentor. I wanted to be like him and help open others to new ideas and careers just like he did for me.” Wintle explained, “We brought him in to talk about the importance of school education and how to be more accepting of others. At that event we opened up the discussion to the audience.” Wintle recalled, “That was a good moment when students could use that conversation to help them form an understanding of one another.”
Besides that, event, most of the Only Us activities included online interviews. Other online interviews Only Us have done include Zoe Chen, a HOSA state officer, and Jennie Taylor, the widow of mayor Brent Taylor who was killed as a special forces soldier serving in Afghanistan. Most of their conversations include helping people express their opinions and how they’ve been able to create an Us in their own lives.
The Only Us club currently has 27 members. Wintle believes, as they spread word of the initiative, they can begin to change the opinions and minds of high school students at Weber High, helping them become open and address the problems rather than stay unaware. Wintle also adds that “it’s kind of like a fear people have. So, a lot of Only Us is about creating a new norm and trying to see opinions in a new light without judgments.”
So far Only Us hasn’t gained much traction at Weber High, but Wintle is excited for all the good it’s done so far. He said, “My favorite moments are getting to know more about other people’s talents and opinions, that’s the cool thing. I’m more appreciative of people’s opinions, that’s definitely one of the most important things about Only Us.”
All of the discussions Wintle and his club members have been written on their website where you can sign up to join their initiative and learn to stop thinking of others as them but rather get to know us as an “Us.” You can also follow them on social media at thereisonly.us on Instagram.