Students Strive to "Be One"

Imagine a high school auditorium packed with hundreds of teenagers. Not a single one  is talking, laughing or texting. Eyes are focused on the speaker on the stage -- a classmate with a painful story, one so personal they may not have even shared it with their friends.

To hear past participants describe it, this is the scenario at Cheshire High School each year on B1 Day, when students put aside bias, celebrate differences and stretch beyond their own circle of friends.

“The point of B1 Day is to show that we’re all different and we all have experiences that hurt us,” said Talia Erris, a junior and student organizer of this year’s event, slated for March 30. “It’s a very touching experience. I cry every year.”

The tradition began 11 years ago following the shootings at Columbine High School, said Jeffery Goodin, a technology education teacher and one of the faculty advisors for the event.

He said students noticed striking parallels between that high school and their own, from the “CHS” initials and school colors (red and black) to similar demographics.

They realized many aspects of high school life brought to light by the tragedy – the cliques, the stereotypes, the struggles to fit in – also existed in their own hallways and classrooms, so they came up with B1 Day (which stands for “Be One”) as a way to bring students together.

The most memorable part of the day is the student panel, where speakers discuss personal stories about a hardship they have faced or overcome, organizers said. Stories have touched on topics such as suicide, depression, addiction, abuse, family problems, bullying and death. There is also an "open mike" portion for any student who wants to share.

 “Some of the stories are tragic, some are sad, but all are thought-provoking,” Goodin said. “It’s a way to let people know these things exist, even in this nice, affluent town with strong families.”

Lorraine Schumacher, a high school social worker and B1 Day advisor, said the goal is to make students more empathetic toward their classmates as well as to reach out to those who are suffering.

“I have seen it have a positive impact,” she said. “I have had people come up to me afterward and say ‘I related to so-and-so on the panel and I think I need help’.”

This year’s panel includes seven students and one teacher. Nico Telesca, a senior, said he will speak about his battle with depression during his first three years of high school.

“I was ashamed of it for awhile but now I’m not,” he said. “I’m proud that I’ve been able to deal with it and get through it. It’s a source of pride for me.”

He said his speech will focus on what students can do to help a classmate who is depressed, even if it is just a ‘hello’ in the hallway.  He also hopes to strike a chord with students dealing with similar pain. “It would have helped me a lot to have somebody to connect to the way I want to connect to people in the audience,” he said.

The event will also include the screening of a student-produced video (typically a more lighthearted take on the day's themes) as well as a coffee house, free store, talent showcase and club demonstrations. Goodin said the activities are meant to encourage students to try new things.

“I think this day really brings out true colors and shows people that you can be yourself and be accepted,” said Joel Glaude, a junior. “I think it makes everybody feel a little more closer than they were before.”