For millions of young people, teasing, violence, and alienation are a part of a typical school day. Many students are afraid to walk down the halls for fear of being teased or humiliated. Others feel so alone and frightened that they cannot even pay attention in their classes.
That is why students and staff from Shadow Creek HS, Iowa Colony HS, Alvin HS, and Manvel HS participated in Challenge Day, a program meant to bring together students from different backgrounds to build empathy and compassion for their peers.
Challenge Day is an organization that helps young people learn to connect through powerful, life-changing programs in their schools and communities. The day-long, interactive Challenge Day program provides teens and adults with tools to tear down the walls of separation, and inspires participants to live, study, and work in an encouraging environment of acceptance, love, and respect.
The program began with opening exercises and they served to do just that– open everyone up, through hugs, fist bumps, and other means of affection and acknowledgment. From there, large and small groups shared intimate and private conversations about things they were going through, developing a mutual understanding and cultivating empathy and a strong sense of community.
“Our kids came into the event wondering exactly what they’d gotten themselves into.” said Iowa Colony Principal Ashley Marquez, who also took part in the event. “Within the first 2 hours, they built bridges with others through games and competition before building deeper connections as they allowed themselves to be vulnerable in real, honest conversations within their small group families.
Every participant left with the understanding that all of us have obstacles and hardships in our lives, and all of our kids expressed a desire for their world to offer more kindness. Our challenge is to make sure we are building that world for them.”
Students and adults left Challenge Day inspired and empowered to become leaders in their schools and communities and to Be the Change they wish to see in the world.
