National program challenges students to broaden their emotional horizons.
By Anna Becker
Discrimination, heartache, sadness, and pain…all can be present throughout a high school, but it might take a little push to really bring the problems to the surface. On January 26-28th, 2010, the juniors of Thomas Jefferson High School will have the chance to confront these issues and diminish the road blocks and differences can create physical and emotional barriers between them.
Challenge Day is a nationally recognized organization known for bringing unlikely students together and helping teens feel like they are part of a community. Thomas Jefferson Social Worker Samanda Davis was one of many who were impacted by the Challenge Day vision. “I saw a special on Oprah a few years ago and it was one of the most powerful things I had ever seen,” said Davis. “Immediately I knew it was something I wanted to bring to the school.”
The Challenge Day organization is constantly working towards helping all children live in a world where they feel safe, loved and celebrated. They provide the kids 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.
Challenge Day is a day (or multiple days) where students get to open up and relate to each other on a completely different level. Through different exercises and activities, students learn facts about each other that wouldn’t normally be revealed on a daily basis. “It’s a day, or movement, that challenges students to take down barriers and create a change,” said Davis. “It’s a movement because it causes change and a complete shift in the way people interact with each other.”
After Davis saw the organization in action on television, she immediately began finding out more information. “I discovered there was a specific organization who worked with schools that were interested in Challenge Day and helped them fund-raise for the whole process,” said Davis. “Challenge Day is extremely expensive, and it is through the help of this organization that we were able to make it happen for TJ.” The program is approximately $3,500 per day to host; TJ’s base total came to $10,500 for the three days scheduled to participate.
The extreme cost of Challenge Day is spread out to the many activities incorporated in the program. “All the money goes to paying the Challenge Day faculty, flying them out to us, and many other things. It’s very well broken down to what it all goes to,” said Davis.
Before making the proposal to TJ, Davis actually volunteered at a few schools that were already participating in Challenge Day. “By the end of the day, everyone is blown away and completely speechless,” said Davis.
Deciding which class at TJ would be able to participate in Challenge day was a long, difficult process. “Sadly enough, only one class gets to take part in the program. At first we thought about the sophomores,” said Davis. “The Juniors’ parents are so active through the school though, and having them go through the experience would help lay the ground for them to mentor the underclassmen next year.” Thus the Junior class of 2011 was chosen.
TJ had to meet many different requirements before the dates became official and the papers were signed. “They chose us because we were able to hold the event here at TJ. It all came down to whether we had the amount of rooms needed and everything else that goes into these three days,” said Davis. “Thankfully, they felt TJ was a great place to bring their program.”
Many preparations are in need of planning and arrangement, and it is through the Be The Change group that everything will start coming together. “After we signed the papers, planning started immediately. We formed a committee to actually act on the views expressed by the students and the changes they want to see throughout the school,” said Davis.
The group is still welcoming new members, and has recently been opened up to all grade levels. “Anyone who wants to help and be on the committee, and whoever wants to be in a better place at school should join. The group will participate in fund-raising, help set up a few days before the event, and will help guide the students through the days the organization is at TJ,” said Davis.
Everyone is encouraged to join the Challenge Day Planning Committee. Anyone interested can go to Samanda Davis’ office in the counseling center for more information, or go to one of the weekly Thursday meetings at lunch in the same location.
