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SPOKANE, Washington — In a time when social media is often used for bullying and cruelty, one high school senior took it upon himself to create something truly beautiful.
Last summer — just before the start of his senior year — 18-year-old East Valley High School student Konner Sauve was on a road trip with this family when an idea popped into his head, according to Today.
While there are quite a few ways to make one’s senior year unforgettable, Konner decided he wanted to make sure this was a year every student in the school would remember. Being a child of the 21st century, he decided to turn to a language most of his classmates spoke fluently.
“It is easy for people to be cruel over social media, so I decided to make an anonymous account on Instagram that would counteract the negativity seen today by posting a picture of each student and a paragraph of what makes them great, and how other people should see that too,” Konner explained in a post on the account, aptly titled “thebenevolentone3.”
Slowly but surely over the next 11 months, Konner found something kind to say about all 657 of his schoolmates. He posted the notes along with a photo of each student. Instead of just highlighting his fellow seniors, Konner gave the spotlight to students in all four grades, Today reported.
“I know students have gone through things and this was my way of being there for them,” he told Today.
When he came to a student he didn’t know personally, he did his research — talking to friends and checking the yearbook to learn something unique about that person, according to Today.
Students across all grades began noticing, and the inspiration spread. Others began commenting on the posts, sharing their admiration for the students featured.
“Dilan Waterbury — shy, timid but ALWAYS helping,” read one post. “ALWAYS! How do you do it? I am not too sure. But I can guarantee anyone around you sees you work so hard in all you do.”
Another read, “Blanca Valenica, your enthusiasm about everything you do just makes people’s days brighter… I encourage others to look towards you in times of trouble because they can see how you see the simplistic beauty in everything around you.”
While Konner started the account as a way to quietly encourage others, his efforts caught fire in a very notable way. Thebenevolentone3 has nearly 9,000 followers, and students at East Valley couldn’t stop speculating about the anonymous person devoted to spreading kindness.
It is easy for people to be cruel over social media, so I decided to make an anonymous account on Instagram that would counteract the negativity seen today by posting a picture of each student and a paragraph of what makes them great, and how other people should see that too.
–Konner Sauve
When Konner learned he’d been named class valedictorian, he saw the perfect opportunity to reveal himself — in his graduation speech. So when the big day finally came, he dropped the bomb on his fellow classmates.
“I was nervous,” he told ABC News. “It got really loud, but they were happy. Some of my close friends were like, ‘why didn’t you tell me earlier?’”
Even though Konner is graduated and will be moving on to a new life at Gonzaga University in the fall, his legacy will live on at East Valley for a long time to come.
“Konner went really out of his way — for me especially,” 16-year-old Chloe Kahan, who was featured on the account, told ABC. “I lost my dad in August and he messaged me on the account. It was really sweet and I was able to open up to him, even though it was anonymous. There’s some accounts that bully others, but now we are really united and that’s all because of Konner.”
Two other Instagram accounts similar to Konner’s have popped up since graduation, so he has no doubt the mission will continue.
“In the end, I realized that we are all the benevolent ones in our way and actions of how we treat others,” he wrote. “It has been a wonderful year. I’ll miss East Valley. Although I’ll part without finishing all of the class of 2017, I wish that the next generations take over and find bolder ways to express positivity and encouragement in the East Valley community. Keep on keeping on.”
[Rebecca wiseman Our wonderful horse rider!!! You may be extremely quiet, but you are so wonderfully sweet and generous to all those you meet. You work hard in your classes and try to push your limits towards success. You are so beautiful that it is amazing to see you work so hard at what you do. You know how to train hard in order to get the success you want in horse riding, so apply that work ethic to all aspects of your life and you will soar like an eagle darlin'! Be amazin, be wonderful, and be strong!](https://instagram.com/p/3mjyAgKMmb/) A photo posted by Its About You. You're Next.☯ (@thebenevolentone3) on
[Jory Williams WOW! Another spectacular amazing smart young man! Mr. Williams has always been one of the smartest of the bunch and has never ceased to amaze teachers and his peers of anything less. You are such a bright student, but also a fun guy to be around because you enjoy your time wherever you're at! IT is exciting to watch a wonderful student like you fighting for your success and now with one year away we will see you achieve your last year of things at the high school level. Good luck and look forward to the future!](https://instagram.com/p/3mjkGpKMly/) A photo posted by Its About You. You're Next.☯ (@thebenevolentone3) on
