September 15, 2010
I've obviously been really bad about keeping up with this, but instead of dwelling on my lack of blogging skills I'll just jump right in where I left off!
As I had mentioned before, I really enjoy my job and where I work. One of the main reasons for this is because it allows me to be involved in my community. Back in September I got to particpate in a program called Challenge Day at a local high school. Some of you may be familiar with it because MTV made a show about this program titled "If You Really Knew Me."
But for those of you who aren't familiar, Challenge Day's mission is to provide youth and their communities with experiential workshops and programs that demonstrate the possibility of love and connection through the celebration of diversity, truth and full expression. It is the spark that ignites a movement of compassion and positive change, known as the Be The Change movement.
I have to be honest in that I was a little skeptical going in to this. I was told it was a day where freshmen students were encouraged to show their true selves, and just thinking back to when I was in high school, I couldn't really fathom that kids would do this. But man was I wrong. It truly is hard to describe the impact this day had on all of the students. It shocked me to hear the things some of them have been through. We started out with ice breakers as a large group but later broke up into groups of 5-6 and this was who you really beared your soul to.
The most memorable parts were the If You Really Knew Me activity, where you went around the circle sharing secrets most people don't know about you, and the Cross The Line activity where the Challenge Day leaders would call out certain scenarios that required you to cross over a line if it applied. "Cross the line if you or someone you know: has ever been discriminated because of their color of skin, has ever tried to committ suicide, is afraid to go home, has ever lost a family member, has ever had an abortion..." And the list went on and on. There really wasn't a dry eye by the end of this activity. The kids were so honest with their homelife and emotions and it completely took me by surprise. This program put the effects of negative judgements, thoughtless jokes, rumors, and violence in perspective for these students.
Their 3 step formula really sums up the whole day and this post:
NOTICE - Wake up! Notice what is happening.
CHOOSE - Dream it! Create a vision for what you want your life to look like.
ACT - Do something! Have the courage and committment it takes to be the change.
To learn more about Challenge Day: http://www.challengeday.org/challenge-day-program.php
