An overview of the program sounds hokey, and it can seem even more hokey with Oprah’s backing, but Challenge Day can actually be a very powerful and emotional day for teens. By creating an accepting environment for expression, kids began to talk about things in their lives that I know they wouldn’t have talked about anywhere else. Very few people want to share what’s going wrong in their lives in day-to-day conversation. When was the last time you honestly answered, “How are you today?” Challenge Day created a situation for sharing - and people DID share. I suprised by the topics that teens were openly discussing, as if they’d only been waiting for someone to ask. I was shocked to find that so many seemingly active, laughing, carefree students were hiding deep fears, insecurities, dispair, and putting on a brave face to the world. So many had seen violent fights, felt the affects of alcohol abuse in the family, knew someone who had committed suicide, been discouraged by the people they love, run away from home or been homeless, and more. The worst was the number of youths who, by not silently crossing a line on the floor, told their classmates and friends that they had never, ever felt like a child. The burdens are heavy these days, my friends.
Here is a link to find out more about Challenge Day.
You don’t have to participate or support the program directly, but you can seriously sit people down, ask them what’s going on in their lives, and LISTEN. Think about giving a hug too. People need to know that they’re not in it alone, and that it’s GOOD to let it all out once in a while.
Tags: alcohol, alone, Challenge day, council, cry, drop out, drugs, facilitator, family problems, group therapy, help, hero, hug, inspire, jail, listen, mediate, mentor, mentoring, peer, share, suicide, violence, volunteer
