“I didn’t expect it to gain so much attention. I really went into this with low expectations. I remember thinking, ‘If all fails, well, it was a good game because I heard nobody talk about it,” said Amirah Hall, a senior at Tallwood High School.

Amirah has just made Tallwood history by creating the first pop-up thrift store in the school on February 16, 2024. That Friday, the commons, which is usually filled with hungry students looking for a quick lunch, turned into a mini-mart full of clothing, shoes, and accessories. 

Students with cash in their pockets could choose and pick any pieces they wanted and return to class right after their clothing haul. Word about the pop-up shop buzzed throughout the school all day, but did anybody ever ask why it appeared? Amirah Hall has the answer to that question. 

Amirah’s environmental class was where it all began when the class was talking about ways to decrease the amount of waste in the world while also providing for others in need. 

“I got the idea from a classmate in my AP environmental science class. They said that there should be a way for everyone to get rid of their clothes, and it would be cool if there was a thrift store,” said Amirah Hall, a Tallwood senior, during an interview. 

“A lot of kids in the school need clothes, and thrifting has been really popular with kids our age, she continued. 

Now with a plan, Amirah just needed a platform to successfully execute her ideas. Though it may seem as though a lot of challenges could be faced when conducting something so big, Amirah seemed to handle things smoothly with the help of some teachers and advisors. 

“I went to Ms. Christansen and Ms. Bergamino to help me set the whole thing up. Ms. Bergamino really helped me organize all of it,” said Hall. 

Amirah also had to get approval from head administrators to confirm that she had an area to set up shop, but it seemed to have been a pretty easy feat in her circumstances. 

Dr. O’Meara gave me full range, so I didn’t face any challenges with any administrators whatsoever,” stated Amirah. 

She now had the approval of all and permission to set up on the school premises. During lunch on a cloudy Friday afternoon, she finally established the plans she once saw as an idea weeks ago. Students rushed to see what was in store for them to purchase. More than Amirah could have even dreamed of. 

“I didn’t expect it to gain so much attention. I really went into this with low expectations. I remember thinking, ‘If all fails, well, it was a good game because I heard nobody talk about it,” said Hall. 

She was soon surprised to see the commons fill up with classmates, not only interested in her clothes but also in the idea of the thrift shop itself. In another interview with a classmate named Chloe Utley, she describes what she felt when she heard of the pop-thrift shop. 

“I first heard of it a month before it happened, and I continued to hear about it until the day of. I thought in my head, “I want to go!” so I decided to head down to see what they had,” said Utley, a junior at Tallwood High School.

When asked how the pop-up event affected her thoughts, Chloe went on to talk about how good and unique the idea was. 

“It was definitely an original idea, and I liked that it was an event in school that was targeted towards teens,” said Utley. 

When asked about the effect the pop-up thrift store had on the school, Chloe also said that the effect could be quite positive, in her opinion. 

“The idea of the pop-up store might even have a domino effect. Now that people have heard about one pop-up store, many will probably come along. It even made me think about having something like a cafe in the Esports room! We may see more events for students to show off their talents or hobbies,” Utley continued to say. 

Utley was not the only person to be inspired by Hall’s actions. The news about the thrift store was even spread to different schools. 

“Somebody from Bayside even contacted me. He was asking me questions about how to do the same thing, so it’s crazy that so many people were inspired,” said Hall.

Not only was Amirah’s event a positive event for the school, but also for children in need. When asked about keeping the money she made from the event, this is what Amirah had to say: 

“I donated it to ForKids. Inc. in Norfolk to help kids that are homeless” said Amirah. 

By holding the event, she demonstrated that she didn’t have to stop at helping the environment but also helping the people who live on the planet by donating the $217 she made to a charity. 

When asked about any advice she could give to those who are motivated to host similar events, Amirah had a few tips to give out. 

“Get connected with a few good teachers. I had to reach out to two or three. Or just someone who can help you get your ideas out there and make that dream a reality. Someone like a fundraising teacher or people who are on the announcements” said Hall. 

“Also, make a whole bunch of flyers and make sure to put your face on them because it will make people wowed,” she continued. 

With a genuinely positive attitude toward the thrift shop, many students hope to see it return or even become a tradition. Thankfully, Amirah and those who helped her felt the exact same. 

Ms. Christansen, a science teacher and advisor to Amirah, made a statement about Amirah’s achievement and the hopes she had to see it again. 

“She did it just for the sake of doing it because it was such a good idea. I think we will have another one if Amirah decides to do it again. I think it will be on March 15th, hopefully, March 15th,” stated Ms. Christainsen. 

Amirah also confirmed these hopes in an interview. 

“I’ll do another pop-up. I’m thinking about March 15th. It might even become an every-Friday thing,” stated Hall. 

Now with confirmation of the return of the pop-up store, students interested in fashion, revamping their closet, or helping out the environment have something very exciting to look forward to. Amirah’s accomplishments have proved to many that school can be a place to show off your interests, and her legacy as the originator of Tallwood’s first pop-up thrift store will continue to be shared. Many, students and teachers included, can’t wait to see how far this amazing student and her ideas go!