Laughter and smiles, along with sobs and tears filled the gymnasium of
Fletcher High School as more than 200 students, teachers, administrators and community members participated in Challenge Day, and took steps to break down the social and cultural barriers they face every day.
"Imagine a school where every child and faculty member feels safe, loved and celebrated," is one of the mottos proclaimed by the Challenge Day program. During the two-day event at Fletcher, facilitators Ray Ray Chavira and Jennifer Wilson challenged the students and adults to come together and create the lives and worlds of their dreams.
"Challenge Day is a day that allows people to be who they really are - they don't have to put up this fake persona of who they think they should be to be liked. Everyone gets to come together and be the amazing human beings they were born to be," said Wilson.
Challenge Day has been featured in The Washington Post, The Oprah Winfrey Show and in other media outlets, but it was from watching Oprah years ago that Fletcher American Sign Language teacher Julie Durden learned about the program.
After receiving the support of her principal, Dane Gilbert, Durden and the school got to work planning and raising the funds to bring Challenge Day to Fletcher.
"For any high school, hosting a Challenge Day is very important because it helps to address the various issues students deal with every single day," said Principal Gilbert. "If we can help students deal with these issues, we can create a school environment that is more productive where students can learn better."
Gilbert and his staff selected about 200 students - 100 each day - to participate in the program. These were students from all walks of life, representing a good cross section of Fletcher High School, including positive leaders, negative leaders, bullies and victims.
The students and adults took part in a day's worth of activities and discussions meant to make them more aware of their feelings and what they are going through, as well as open their eyes to what those around them are experiencing.
Participants were asked to hold hands in a small group, designated as their family, and respond to the statement, If you really knew me, you would know that... People shared things in their lives that no one knew they were going through.
In another activity, called the Power Shuffle, students walked across a line in response to questions about life experiences, such as being bullied or teased, or having parents who are divorced.
"When students cross these lines, it allows them to see that not only is everyone going through things, but that we are all going through similar things," said Facilitator Jennifer Wilson. "There are reasons we all separate, but these are reasons we should all join together."
Other issues discussed include violence, drugs and alcohol, racism, stereotypes and family situations.
Wilson described her first time at Challenge Day, which she experienced as an adult, as being life changing. She knows that for many of the people who participate, it will change their lives as well.
"Challenge Day completely changed my life. It changed how I was in the world and it made me realize I am not living passionately. It really woke me up to being alive and that's what makes this program amazing. It works, and it really transforms a lot of lives."
After completion of the two-day program, Fletcher will create a 'Be the Change Team' and will receive tools and curricula to sustain the momentum and transformational spirit of Challenge Day.
"Challenge Day is not ending today," said Principal Gilbert. "It is my hope that the program will help correct students’ misconceptions about people and their classmates, and they will stop judging people based on how they dress or who they hang around with. We are here to help them to become open minded and build trust with each other, as well as with the adults they shared this experience with."
Learn more about it on
www.challengeday.org.
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