Kate Gilhool
Associate Editor
TOMS motto is “Make life more comfortable,” and it appears that this mantra of comfortable living has spread to NCHS, with the now famous TOMS shoes appearing on feet of both genders. “TOMS are like ace bandages on feet,” junior Tom Carey said. “just about every other high school student is sporting them right now, but I have no idea why.”
It all started when Blake Mycoskie traveled to South America in 2006 with four successful companies under his belt. While in Argentina he came across Alpargata’s, a traditional rope-soled shoes that Argentinean farmers have worn for the past 100 years. He also discovered how impoverished many were, too poor to even afford shoes. Adults and children are left with scrapes and cuts on their feet, which induce serious infections to spread, making it impossible for children to attend school. It was after his trip that Blake realized it was time to create a fifth company, TOMS Shoes.
TOMS has grown so large that it aids Argentina and 28 other impoverished countries. Since Blake’s first donated pair of shoes, over 600,000 pairs of shoes have been put on the feet of children in need. Blake explained on his blog that TOMS received its name because he tried to fit ‘Tomorrows Shoes’ on the back tag, but it didn’t fit so he shortened it to TOMS.
“I just love their cause, and they’re so cute and comfortable that I ordered a pair last night!” freshman Savannah Shepard said.
“By wearing TOMS you are making a fashionable statement while also supporting children in need,” sophomore Annie Fox said.
There were even a few brave souls that went shoeless for a day on April 5 in order to support TOMS and ‘spread awareness of the impact a pair of shoes can have on a child’s life by taking off our own.’
As residents of a privileged town, many find themselves wondering how they will become as successful as their parents are while still enjoying themselves and making some sort of an impact on the world. Blake Mycoskie is an inspiration to all who ask themselves that question by believing that in order to be successful you have to “incorporate giving into your life.”
However, some students are still worried about how they will live up to the lifestyle given to them growing up. “I do feel there is a certain pressure not to lose what you have right now in this community,” junior Jake Rosenstein said. “I feel the pressure to be able to provide for myself and my future family the lifestyle that I am living now, but I don’t necessarily want to do what my parents do for a living.”
Although he had launched four other companies prior to starting TOMS, Mr. Mycoskie has stated, “I never had the passion and the drive that I have everyday now to make TOMS a success, because I know I’m not just doing it for myself, but I’m doing it to help others. So, the best advice I can say is, you know, the more you give, the more you live, and it’s never to early to start.”
