Malow JHS students challenge themselves to be the change

Showing some love (standing l-r): Malow JHS counselor Jennifer Vernon, student Olivia Salerno, counselor Michelle Witt, student Elizabeth McConkie and counselor Kristy Newell join Challenge Day facilitators Florabeth Luebk and Tony Lowe (kneeling), displaying the American Sign Language sign for “I love you.”

Malow Junior High School students recently experienced ‘Challenge Day’ and learned that if they see negative behavior toward others among their peers, they can and should do something about it – they can take it upon themselves to be the change.

Challenge Day is really a two-day event for junior high and high school students structured to increase students’ respect and understanding of others and their differences. It encourages students to apply seven ‘norms’ in their daily lives:

• Be inclusive
• No put downs or teasing
• Compliments and love encouraged
• Listen with your ears and heart
• Be open minded
• Drop the waterline/get real
• Be the change you wish to see in the world

Presented at more than 800 schools across the nation each year, the program encourages young people to “be the hero you’ve been waiting for” and offers tools to discourage bullying and improve the school climate.

The high-energy program makes its message clear through eye-opening, uplifting and at times emotional group talks and exercises. Students practiced exploring their own feelings and experiences to become more aware of how individual challenges and insecurities can cause people to act negatively toward others, especially those most vulnerable.

One exercise, called “If You Really Knew Me,” reveals how a person’s outward behavior can be opposite of what he or she is really like inside. Students engaged in this dialog starter discover its power to free one’s inner self to build connections and break down barriers.

Students were also asked to think of themselves and others as ‘icebergs’ in that we show the world only ten-percent of ourselves, the image we want to portray. In trying to live up or down to that ‘safe’ self, we keep secret the rest of our iceberg – the unseen 90-percent below the waterline – fearing it would make us less likeable. The lesson is to work at dropping your personal waterline to give others an opportunity to know and appreciate the real you.

“It was extremely positive,” said ninth grader Elizabeth McConkie. “I took away that every single person goes through struggles you don’t know about. Even a joke can hurt. People bully because they are in pain. Tell someone, you’re never alone.”

Day one of the program involved 25 staff members and parent volunteers working in groups with 100 Malow students. Day two saw a school-wide assembly reinforcing what the earlier students and adults learned. According to Malow counselor Kristy Newell, the goal in bringing in the Challenge Day facilitators is to “develop the best, most welcoming school atmosphere possible.”

Seventh grader Olivia Salerno called the presentation “very different but very effective. It was a life lesson not to judge a book by its cover. People have two lives,” she said, referring to an exercise called ‘crossing the line’ that asked students to cross a line on the floor if something adverse ever happened to them or their family such as a parent’s job loss, divorce, moving to a new school or illness/death of a family member.

Olivia said she was surprised to find almost everyone, including older students she admired, crossed the line at some point. “We’re all real people inside,” she said.

Newell concurred, adding she is impressed with the resilience of students who face personal obstacles. Her colleague, counselor Jennifer Vernon pronounced the event a success and outlined plans to start a “Be the Change Club” at Malow later this month.

Jennifer Vernon and fellow Malow counselor Michelle Witt were instrumental in bringing the Challenge Day program to the school. The Malow Parent Sounding Board provided funding support.

For more information on the California-based program, visitwww.challengeday.org.