Since 1987, Challenge Day has reached over 1,000,000 youth in the U.S. and Canada. Challenge Day’s mission is to provide youth with workshops and programs that demonstrate the possibility of love and connection through the celebration of diversity, truth and full expression. 
 
Jackson High School hosted two Challenge Days this past school year.  The Rotary Club of Mill Creek helped fund one of the days.  On Wednesday, students from Jackson High School students, along with its Intervention Specialist and a paraeducator spoke to our club about the program.   The students were very forthcoming about what each took away from Challenge Day. Some of the comments included:
  • Listening and standing up for others
  • Being nicer to others
  • Understanding differences but also learning that they were not alone
  • Learning that other students have challenges
  • Helping them grow as a person and feel more comfortable with themselves
  • Learning that others cared
What I took away from everything I heard is that Challenge Day helped each student learn a little more about their fellow students and about themselves, it helped them grow just a little, and it helped them to be more aware that each of them can also make a difference in the lives of their fellow students by just taking some time to listen and care.  Great program, great students, and very caring educators who are trying to help their students mature in a positive way…a great meeting overall!  
 
 
The Jackson High School Challenge Day presenters (from left to right):  Lyn Lauzon – Intervention Specialist; Jean Sarcletti – Paraeducator; Amy Walsh – 11th grader; Marie Tran – 11th grader; Miranda Stowell – 12th grader; and Zach Hubbard – 9th grader.