Challenge Day(s) at Thomas Jefferson 9th Grade Academy

By Sharae Smith, CM– Thomas Jefferson 9th Grade Academy

Imagine a place that makes you feel safe. A place where you feel secure and protected. There are no risks that you take; you keep everything around you at a distance. This place is called our comfort zone. Are comfort zone is our work, living, and social environments that we have grown accustom too. It determines the type of friends we make or people we associate with. It determines a life style we could either accept or reject. This place is limited, and if we stay there too long we are not allowing ourselves to learn and grow.

That is just one of the many things that I have learned at Challenge Day. If you really knew me you would know Challenge Day has been one of the most beneficial and enjoyable experiences in my life. On Tuesday, January 10, 2012 Challenge Day came to Thomas Jefferson 9^th Grade Academy. The day started off with fun games. The games kept students, volunteers and faculty engaged. We rocked it out. After the games the two facilitators of Challenge Day told their life story.

The phrase, “If you really knew me you would know this about me,” is how the facilitators each began telling their story.  The stories were emotional and heart breaking. Each and every one of us in the room could relate to them in some way. I looked around me; I reached out to a student and wrapped my arms around her. We both cried together. For the first time in my life I cried in front of everyone. I did not feel embarrassed, I felt safe. Finally I was not afraid to be myself. I stepped out of my comfort zone, I had finally broken free.

We then broke off into our groups. For the first time I felt safe to be honest about my past. I began my sentence with, “If you really knew me you would know this about me.” Each person in the group was given two minutes to speak. To hear the students problems and their suffering ripped me apart. We held hands, we hugged, and we all cried together.

Challenge Day unites all cultures, allowing us to come together as one. Despite our hardships and life experiences, we realize that we are not alone. We no longer have to carry a heavy burden by ourselves and we have each other. Challenge Day helped everyone begin to understand one another more. The stories that I heard told about the problems our students face are much deeper then what I thought. Challenge Day was a day for all of us to unite, and to recognize that we are not alone. All that day we had fun, everyone felt safe, loved, and celebrated. We showed loved by holding up the love sign in the air with our hand.

After Challenge Day we were inspired to be the change. It’s from a quote that I know so well by Ghandi:  “You must be the change you wish to see in the world.”

Challenge Day took place three days in a row in order to make sure that every single student in the school could participate – and the Thomas Jefferson 9^th Grade Academy City Year team assisted all three days. If you really knew me you would know I cannot express my gratitude enough. I’m grateful I had the opportunity to participate in Challenge Day. I proudly wear my Aramark pants, my boots, nametag, and jacket every day and look forward to serve another day.

  

50 Acts of Leadership

By Marquisha Henderson, CM-Thomas Jefferson 9th Grade Academy

Thomas Edison once said, “Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”  Are leaders born or made?  A question that plagues the mind of most that’s in search of true leadership.  On December 6^th, thirty students at Thomas Jefferson 9^th grade Academy dedicated their 50 Acts of Leadership to someone or something during the dedication ceremony.  These students have seized the opportunity to become leaders in the 9^th grade. 

The 50 Acts of Leadership Program is designed to provide intervention to targeted students that need extra behavioral support.  It is also a student enrichment behavior coaching program and is a part of City Year’s Whole School, Whole Child model. Through the program, they begin to understand that their actions have consequences that affect others and themselves. Participating students keep a Leadership Log, in which they document how they helped others in four categories: a) Parent/Guardian/Family b) Teachers c) Peers/Friends d) community members. Their goal is to do and document at least 50 distinct Acts of Leadership for people in these groups by the end of the year and for the 50 Acts of Leadership in May 2012.

The 50 Acts of Leadership dedication ceremony held at Thomas Jefferson 9^th grade Academy was a great success – over 40 students, family and friends attended to support the students and City Year Initiative.  Our guest speaker, Victor Ruiz, Executive Director of Esperanza spoke to them about true leadership.  He told them that a true leader leads a group or organization without fearing to be a follower at times.  Leaders take action and motivate others to take action.  Leaders put visions and passions into action.  Leaders set goals and have a clearly defined purpose.  Most importantly, leaders take responsibility for their actions.  Many of students could relate to Victor Ruiz because he had also attended and graduated from a CMSD school and because of his Hispanic ethnicity – I believe this meant more than anything to them.  As the time came for the student dedications, all attendees were upright waiting to hear the students speak.  Many students dedicated their leadership acts to one or more of the following:  family for raising them and being a positive role model, a girlfriend or boyfriend for pushing them to be better, life for its un-expecting challenges, and City Year for being there every time they were needed. The most memorable dedication was from Joshua, a 9^th grade student.  Joshua had his lines completely written out, but when he approached the podium he decided to say,” I used to be bad (at this moment he pauses and began to cry), but City Year changed me to become good.” At this very moment we realized why the 50 Acts of Leadership Program was important. .  The progam has given the students ownership of leadership, responsibility of their actions, and reflection with satisfaction.   At the end, the students recited a Leadership Pledge, written by corps member Yoellie Perez:

I pledge to walk through life as a leader;

to take each step with purpose.

The things I think, say, and do affect myself and those around me.

I will build positive, strong relationships.

The actions of others will not keep me from reaching my goals.

Through adversity, I will stand strong.

I will do what is right, not what is easy.

I will make positive contributions to the world around me, by being a leader in my family, community and nation.

There’s nothing better than encouraging students to become active leaders and self-aware of their strengths and weaknesses. One can only imagine the excitement experienced by those students as they walked across stage with a sense of accomplishment.

City Year wishes everyone a happy Thanksgiving break!

PITW #93 Celebrate all holidays!

Thomas Jefferson 9th grade Academy City Year team celebrates corps member Brian Feldman’s birthday today!  Happy Birthday Brian, have a great day/weekend!