Students take on Challenge Day

Sisters High School sophomores had the opportunity to participate in Challenge Day last month. This program, a nonprofit based in the San Francisco Bay area, helps young people connect through powerful, life-changing programs in their schools and communities.

The program on a larger level is designed for grades 7-12 and uses highly interactive and energetic activities run by two trained leaders. Facilitators guide 100 youth and 25 adults through a carefully designed model of ways people separate from each other and identify tools to create connection and build community.

"We are working on ways to treat each other with dignity and respect," said Sisters High School Principal Joe Hosang. "We wanted to build a community here at the high school within each class. We've hosted Challenge Days before, and there is an emphatic buzz that happens for weeks after."

According to the non-profit's website, the six-and-a-half-hour program works to create trust and connection by helping students step out of their comfort zone. Throughout the day participants begin to recognize stereotypes and labels that exist among them and discuss the healthy expression of emotions.

"For me the step over the line (activity) was the most impactful part of the day," said sophomore Cassidy Ling-Scott. "The leader of Challenge Day would say something, and if it was true for you you step across the line and turn and face everyone who hadn't crossed over. As an example, if the leader said 'step across the line if you are under 18 years old' then the sophomores would step across and face the adults. During this activity the questions dove into the hardships some people may have experienced already in life, including death in the family, someone close having an addiction, or parents divorcing.

"Stepping across the line and seeing that you were not the only one who had experienced whatever the leader had said was really impactful for me," Ling-Scott continued. "If I didn't step over the line for a certain hardship then seeing people who did really made me feel for them and helped me to understand new things about the people in my class."

Challenge Day teaches students to "Be the Change" in their school or community. It incorporates their formula for change - encouraging students to notice, choose, and act. Students who participated in the program left the room inspired to seek ways to contribute to the creation of a positive school environment.

This year's Challenge Day at Sisters High School was supported in part by The Roundhouse Foundation and other funds from the Oregon Community Foundation.

"Challenge Day is one of the most requested from all of our students," said Hosang.