Partnering with the American Red Cross, Student Council (STUCO) hosted a student blood drive in the back gym on Jan. 28. Students 17 and older, or 16 with a parent signature, were allowed to participate if they passed a questionnaire.

“135 students donated [blood], which was 10 up from last year,” STUCO leader David Choate said. “However, we still missed our quota by five.”

Choate continued, “The American Red Cross is continually in need of blood and with the shortages occurring due to inclement weather, it was imperative that the student body help.”

“At first I was really nervous that it would hurt, or that I would pass out,” junior Tawnnie Crisante said. “But, everything was fine and it’s for a really good cause.”

Junior Sam baker agreed, “We’re just saving lives one bag at a time.”

However, the donation process wasn’t without its complications.

“When I was getting it done, my blood flow stopped and there were three people looking at my arm and the bag, which was kind of scary,” Crisante said.

She continued, “[The nurse] stuck me again with a smaller needle and then after the bag was full, and when she went to fill up the small sample tubes and [my blood flow] stopped again and she had to stick me in my other arm.”

“Despite [the complications], I am definitely planning on donating again next year,” Crisante said.

Baker, who underwent apheresis, a type of blood donation, described the strange sensations he felt.

“They first took out like two bags full and that made me feel just terrible,” he said. “But after it got filtered and pumped back into my system, I felt euphoric.”

Brian Huynh, 11, didn’t have a positive experience. While lying on a mat in the gym, he simply said, “I don’t feel so good.”

In the end, the act of donating one’s blood was a meaningful event.

“The blood drive was a great success, and STUCO looks forward to sponsoring it again next year,” Choate concluded.