“Challenge Day was eye-opening because there were so many things I didn’t know were going on underneath the surface of my classmates, and that I wouldn’t have learned if I didn’t have Challenge Day,” freshman Ellie Whittaker said.
Challenge Day is a six-hour experience designed to bring students together by embracing and understanding their differences. All of M-A’s freshmen participated during a full school day between Monday, Jan. 14, and Wednesday, Jan. 15. “Participants experience powerful love and belonging, connect across lines of difference, and move toward creating the culture they want in their school,” according to the Challenge Day website.
Participants had a range of experiences, as some found it to be beneficial, while others saw it as a waste of time.
“It was kind of boring,” freshman Kyle Gabriel said, “I wouldn’t have had it.”
Throughout Challenge Day, the students participated in a number of activities, including one where they were asked to cross the line when something stated by the instructors applied to them. For example, “Cross the line if you are in foster care, have been in foster care, or are adopted.” Many students felt like the questions they were asked were very personal and inappropriate to ask in a school setting.
“I would try to stay away from weird topics,” freshman Angel Caseiro said. “You don’t have to know if someone’s in a foster home or if their parent died. I feel like that was a bit too personal.”
Challenge Day was led by parent and staff volunteers. Student Intervention Counselor Andrea Booth volunteered.“Students are really intelligent these days, but they’re also under a lot of stress. What’s nice is that wellness now is at the forefront of our public education, which allows students to feel empowered and to recognize that they aren’t alone. We all have our own experiences, but we’re more similar than different,” Booth said.
Challenge Day prompted students to reflect on their own lives and gain a new perception of their peers that they hadn’t previously considered. “I think I grew as a person. I definitely realized how fortunate I am and how much I take for granted that I shouldn’t,” freshman Noam Mill said.
Reflecting on Challenge Day, each student had their own individual experience. Whether that was personal growth or a day of boredom, students got to know their peers better and view them from a new perspective.
