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Paradigm freshman shows love to classmates on Valentine’s Day

Mar 08, 2018 03:03PM ● By Julie Slama

Paradigm High freshman Jordan Bourne collecting flowers to give to her classmates on Valentine’s day. (Photo/Leicha Manning)

Among the 306 Paradigm High School girls and staff and faculty, there are some who may not know freshman Jordan Bourne, but she has a message for them anyway: They’re loved.

As Valentine’s Day approached, Jordan was busy contacting area florists, asking for donations so each female student as well as the staff and faculty could receive a flower Feb. 14.

“I want to see everyone else’s faces show happiness,” she said. “I want them to feel counted and have them know that someone loves them. It doesn’t matter if I don’t know them, I want them to know ‘I’m still looking out for you.’”

The idea to make everyone feel cared for comes from Jordan’s past; she hasn’t always received that message on Valentine’s Day.

“I never got anything, and it can feel lonely and depressing,” she said. “I don’t want to have anyone else feel left out. All girls need attention, so this is something that makes them feel included. My mom gives me things like stuffed animals, and that makes me feel good, so I want others to feel the same way.” 

Jordan got the idea to give her classmates flowers from watching an old show on television. 

“They said, ‘thanks for giving everyone flowers on Valentine’s Day,’ and I thought, ‘I could do that at school,’” she said. “I haven’t done anything like this before, but I thought it was a good way for everyone to feel cared for.”

Jordan, who has helped neighbors pack belongings when they move or helped paint someone’s house, said she likes helping others and would like to do more service projects in the future. 

If she finds more flowers than she needs, Jordan said she plans to pass them out randomly at the mall so others feel the love. But as of Feb. 7, she only had 75 of the 306 flowers lined up. Even so, she wasn’t discouraged.

“I’ve had companies say no and hang up. I’m holding my head high and pressing forward,” she said. Florist shops who donated include Berrett’s Blossoms in Riverton, Miae’s Floral Design in West Jordan, Curly Willow in Riverton, Holiday Helper’s in Bluffdale and Red Mountain Wholesale Florist in Provo.

Jordan said that her classmates don’t tend to buy flowers.

“They won’t do it,” she said. “Many of them don’t want to spend money. Some may take it the wrong way and wonder what happens if you don’t like the person back. This way, I’m showing them I care about them — everyone.” 

Jordan and her classmates planned to deliver the flowers on Feb. 14 around the school. She may add a brown tag tied to the flower with the person’s name and a message saying “You’re loved” or “We care about you” but not signed with her name.

“The flower may be enough, but if I do add a tag, I want each message to be different so it feels special,” she said.

The boys won’t be left out, Jordan said.

“I asked them, and none of them cared about getting flowers, so I may give them candy kisses or something like that,” she said.

Jordan, who plays violin in her school’s beginning orchestra and takes voice lessons, would like to create prosthetic animal legs as her future career. Last school year, she created a 3D image of a dog’s leg. She owns a dog and has ridden horses since she was 8.