Jul 31
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| Everyone can be a part of the Be the Change Movement!
People all over our globe are submitting their Acts of Change – |
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| Notice: What needs to change in my community?
Choose: What can I do to better the situation? Act: What will I commit to doing? |
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January 20th, 2012 at 2:10 am
Yesterday I picked up some empty cans that were lying on the street and threw them into a litter bin.
January 19th, 2012 at 10:11 pm
I enjoyed challenge day a lot. At my school (Jordan Middle School) a lot goes on, and a lot of things are said to each other. Most of those things are rumors, rude comments, nasty language, and name calling. I don’t like it… at all. But challenge day made many people in my school change, and notice that hurting people is very wrong. I love that there is something like this. Other wise… I would have never gotten my emotions out properly. I used to think that keeping my emotions and feelings locked up inside was okay. I now know that it is not okay, and that once you get through all of your feelings; you end up feeling happy again. Challenge day is a great thing. Thank you so much you guys! I love you all, and I will BE THE CHANGE!
January 19th, 2012 at 3:38 pm
Well.. for an act of change I have been nicer to people and not been all crabby, and I’ve made alot of new friends since then
January 19th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
When I went to Tim Hortons yesterday I gave the cachier 5 dollars to pay for the next persons drink!:) good ideas on youtube XD
January 19th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
i was at Mt. Sima during x-mas break and there was guy who is on the freestyle team and he wanted to go skiing but his dad didnt and the guy didnt want to go alone so i asked him if he wanted me to go with him and he is sure. His name was Steven and he didnt leave me and he waited unlike i thought he would.
January 19th, 2012 at 3:37 pm
I was babysitting for my neighbour who had just broken up with her long term boyfriend and she was going out to a party at her friends house. I noticed that she had a big pile of dishes on her counter and she has no dish washer. So after I put her kid to bed, I did them all for her and left before she noticed,so she wouldn’t feel bad.
January 19th, 2012 at 3:35 pm
I helped my brother do small things that I knew he didn’t want to do as Acts of Change.
January 19th, 2012 at 3:34 pm
After getting a ‘ Pay it Forward ‘ card, I carried it with me for when I needed it. The day after I took the card with me again and bought a bottle of Ice Tea, tied the card to it and just put it on the machine with a note, ”No worries, bought new.” I went to look after half an hour and it was gone! That made me quite happy.
January 18th, 2012 at 3:23 pm
For an act of change, I think I’ll shovel the driveway this weekend.
January 18th, 2012 at 3:21 pm
I’m always gunna be there for anyone not just my friends when they need me. to talk or anything
January 18th, 2012 at 3:16 pm
The other day, it was FREEZING cold and my friend had to walk home, so I offered to give her a ride to her house. She was very grateful
January 12th, 2012 at 8:58 pm
after being a student leader in challenge day i have been thanking people for simply being themselves
January 12th, 2012 at 7:44 pm
Challenge day was a good experience hopefully i do it all over again during high school
January 9th, 2012 at 5:35 am
I’m stopping by to show my school pride! Dude! We are sooo cool
January 6th, 2012 at 5:04 pm
Well today was the first day after challenge day and it is also the first day bully/harassment free!
im hapy
January 5th, 2012 at 4:03 pm
WOW!!! i had challenge day last year and this year was even harder! thanks to angela and jon i dont think i am going to be bullied any more…..hopefull!
December 20th, 2011 at 10:33 am
Very impressive, are u posting more updates soon?
December 13th, 2011 at 3:14 pm
This was one of the most amazing things that has ever happened! After this i now realize how many people are going throught the same things i am. i know that people do care and that people are there for me. i encourage everyone to go out and be the change. Notice. Choose. Act. also if you really knew me you would know that my stepdad died in a motorcycle accident when i was 9 and that my mom then lost her job and that she became addicted to drugs…but she went to rehab and we are doing better…although even to this day she does not have a job nor does my dad but i still smile everyday of the week becuase of my amazing friends who have helped me through all of it! i thank you for coming to grnat high school!! i never thought that such a small town could have such and impact i am soo happy!!!
December 12th, 2011 at 7:47 pm
I never knew one day could change me forever. Before Challenge Day, I was alone. I was depressed, fake, and enclosed in a hard shell that wouldn’t break. My past took control of my body and owned me. Constant negativity took over my life, I was a wreck. I cut myself, tried to kill myself, reverted to drugs and alcohol because that was the only way I knew best. I never imagine people that I thought wouldn’t accept me for the real me after they heard my story as much as my school peers did. I was hugged and loved for a change, I felt human, I felt the real me. For once, I wasn’t someone trying to fit in, making fun of others to make myself feel better. This truly impacted my soul and heart. I feel so free, and brave. Because, it took alot to do what I did today. It took a lot to open up and pour my heart to my “family circle”. This leaves a permit message upon my heart, and mind. Be the change you want this world to be. You can do it. We together can make this world a better place.
December 8th, 2011 at 8:06 pm
i really appreciate challenge day it changed my life more than i thought it would before challenge day i was pretty new i didn’t know anyone really and i was to afraid to talk to everyone and people saw me as antisocial but after this i met some really awesome people and have made some great friends that i could have for life
thank you 
Angela and Sean and The wholf Be the change organisation
December 8th, 2011 at 4:01 pm
I like the valuable knowledge you be offering for your articles. I can bookmark your blog and have my youngsters test up right here generally. I’m quite positive they will learn a number of new stuff here than anyone else!
December 8th, 2011 at 10:50 am
Normally I don’t learn article on blogs, however I wish to say that this write-up very compelled me to try and do it! Your writing taste has been surprised me. Thank you, very great post.
December 8th, 2011 at 8:49 am
I am a freshman at Midland high school, and we are having a serious problem with bullying with is leading to suicides, we have had 6 suicides in the past two. months. We need to stop it! The girls are the worst they call each other names when walk down the halls. And we r sick of it.
December 6th, 2011 at 6:15 pm
Challenge day showed me that I am not alone. It gave me a feeling that someone out there cares and I am grateful to know that angels like you all exist on God’s earth. Becuase of you, I’ve been inspired to make a song called Much Love that tells people to change their attitude and think about friendship besides bullying others for fun.
December 5th, 2011 at 10:08 pm
Last year in 2010 i had the best time at Challenge Day, I just had to go back again! The one who opened my eyes the most was Vinny, such a wonderful man! Im so happyim going this wednesday, I hope i get to meet amazing people just like i did last year! Challenge Day saved my life, all i have to say is thank you, so much!
December 5th, 2011 at 9:21 pm
This is a pretty good site, good job!
December 5th, 2011 at 4:13 pm
I am going to attempt taking everything I’ve learned from the episodes and talk to my principal and see if we can have our own day, to help improve the lives of our students.
December 1st, 2011 at 11:40 am
Yesterday when Challenge day came to my High School, it thought that all we were going to do was just talk about our emotions, but when one of the challenge day leaders talked to our group of 100 students, he told us that we won’t be crying the whole time! Right when we walked through the doors of a church, a line of adults were waiting there for us to come through! they formed a tunnel and some of them were dancing to the pumped-up music that they had going! At that moment, i knew that it was going to be a LOAD of fun! i was right, i had the time of my life there!! The games that we were playing were fun! And now that i went to Challenge day, i feel ‘lighter’ now that i was able to let out my emotions that I haven’t been able to let out for gosh, the last 7 months!! cross the line, was hard for me to do, but i did it! and i really LOVED how much love there was in the room from every one!!! i’m blessed to have gone to the Challenge Day Program! Thanks, Migs & Jon! u both did a VERY good job!!
nearly every one i saw this morning that was @ the program, they were giving hugs to others in the hall!!! 
God bless u!!
November 30th, 2011 at 6:13 pm
Sean and Kattie came to my school in Connectinut city of Bristol and they change everything. I thank them for everything they did. We needed this in our school and its better for us to come together and help each other out and letting us feel like were not alone (: and i really thank them for that, i wish they were around more often but i give them much loveee <3
November 27th, 2011 at 5:53 pm
It has been 2 months since Tony and Echo came to my school and I must say it has changed for the better. People are a lot kinder to each other and there is a minimum amount of bullying. I still look back on Challenge day and it still warms my heart. I would do it again in a heart beat. Thank you Tony and Echo you guys are amazing!
November 14th, 2011 at 12:59 pm
I was headed home after walking my son to school and saw loads of trash…so much plastic…stuck in the drain grating right next to the lovely symbol that alerts us that the drains dump directly into the ocean. I was not equipped with gloves or a trash bag, but saw trash bins on the curb awaiting pick-up. I recently watched a documentary entitled “Tapped” and have had been learning more and more about what’s happeing with much of the plastic we make and use briefly in our world today…it frequently ends up in the ocean and never goes away :(. I couldn’t just walk by and let this pile and another at the upper drain complete their journey into our ocean. I hooked my son’s stuffed puppy (he likes to ‘walk’ it to school like the other kids…but has allergies to real dogs)on my shoulder and picked up the trash opening each tied up plastic bag filled with even more plastic boxes of donuts, cookies, misc. items and sorted them into trash/ recycle / and some greens waste. Curious the looks you get when you’re digging in street trash, but all I could think of was the quote “Be the Change”! If I don’t want it in the ocean it’s not enough to just stop using so much plastic, I need to take action and get dirty making a difference if that’s what it takes. Decided to look up the quote after it cycled in my head and found your site :). Cheers!
November 12th, 2011 at 8:08 pm
In my school community, neighborhood community and just every where I go I’m going to smile at everybody! No matter what dirty looks i get or how many smiles I get back! I feel everybody needs a smile and a positive attitude to go with it!!
So spread the smiles! 
Love; Nikole G.
November 9th, 2011 at 11:30 am
WOW!!!! This was one of the most incredible things I think I have ever seen. By far the most moving experience. I had the opportunity to volunteer at a Challenge Day in Chagrin Falls, Ohio. To have 100 kids walk into a room with every type of personality you can imagine and watching them change to become 1 group of kids that honestly cared about each other at the end of a 6 hour period…. AMAZING!!!!!!! It took me 3 days to get my own emotions straight. This program just opens yours eyes to so many things. It will change you forever. You cant hide here. You will see the fake faces removed and real faces put on right in front of your eyes. To think that every kid in the room crossed “THE LINE” at least once. To see the hurt on there faces, the tears, the concern that fellow classmates had these issues, their eagerness to reach out and want to help and support each other, was so overwhelming. I would never thought 100 children could all have personal issues. It made me realize that i had my own issues that had to be addressed. I was the guy in the “MAN BOX”. I found myself raising my children the same way. Just a FYI it will stop!. I can go on all day about this day. There is just to much to list. Unless you have experienced a Challenge Day you will never understand the true meaning of change. This program is priceless. It has changed me forever. I am currently working hard to get the school where my children attend to book a Challenge Day. Chris and Jennifer Thank you, You are amazing people. Please anybody who reads this, please If you have a opportunity to participate in a Challenge Day I promise you it will be the best 6 hours you ever had.
Sincerely,
Eric L.
November 8th, 2011 at 10:46 pm
My name Is April Barrier, I’m 20yrs old and I graduated high school this June at the age of 20.My mother passed away when i was only 9yrs old for myth abuse and my older brother and i were put in Forster care many times before we finally got to be with my dad again. this is My Life Change story of what happened to me on the Challenge day. It was my senior year when my councilor at school who told me about The Challenge Day.When she told me that there would be 100 other kids who were like me and knew how I felt i was excited, it was a day off from school(haahaa) but also i was gonna be around people who understood me. But when I walked into the room I was shocked to see alot of people I didn’t like or get along with. I was confused and didn’t understand why their were there. I thought “These people have no idea how I feel or know what i’m going through.” I found a group of my friends and talked with them for awhile, but when it started we were separated and I was a little uncomfortable that I was with people I didn’t like. We started out with silly games that were ok, but them it came for the Across The Line Challenge. Thats when it got deep, it was one of the most hardest things for me to do. When the be the change people asked us questions like “Have you ever had a person in your family pass because of drug abuse?” or “do you know someone who was in a drive by?” it was hard for me to walk over to the line and face everyone else see whats happened to you. All you think is “I wonder what they think about me?” one of the last few questions was really hard and hurt me so much to do,”Have you ever been in or are in now, in a foster care home?” I remember I was crying my eyes out because of all the memory’s of being in and what was everyone thinking. I had my eyes shut when i was walking over to the line. It felt like a thousand Needles were going into my chest. I opened my eyes when I got to the other side. There were only 5 other people standing next to me and I knew one of them I was shocked and they were crying too. I looked up at the crowd, I couldn’t believe it they were all crying too everyone was even the tuff guys were crying. When we walked back over I was still Crying, when I felt someone Grabbed me tight. It was a guy in my First period who I had often had fights with over stupid crap. He was crying and holding me. He said to me “It’s ok I’m here, I feel you and I’m so Sorry!” The tears wouldn’t stop from flowing from us. I hugged him back and told him it was ok and that I was sorry too. After that it was over and we all had a chance to say something to everyone, I did as well I said to everyone there that….”I wanted to thank everyone for being honest and supportive, and I’m Glad to say now that My Name is April Brianna Barrier and I’m going to Graduate At 20yrs old and I’m not afraid to say it anymore!” A guy came up to me as we were being dismissed and said “Your my hero.” I smiled and thanked them. I will never forget that day, it changed my life and the way I think about everyone and that I know I’m not Alone in this at all. Thank You Be The Change you guys really helped me out.
November 8th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
when i went to challenge day at my school last year i thought it was going to be this lame boring thing where u listen to ppl talking about feelings, but it was amazing, i learned new things about ppl that i would have nvr thought i would know, it changed my life and opened me up to listening to my friends, and for me to become friends with many ppl, it opened me up to tell my story, and that is something that not even my best friends new about me…so it helped me very much, thank u guys for coming, and i cant wait for u guys to come back cuz i will be the first one sigh up!
November 8th, 2011 at 2:53 pm
I wanted to share this blog that I wrote after experiencing the program yesterday: http://tinyurl.com/6nzhf5c.
I am still blown away by the day, and I am touched to the core. Thank you for such an amazing, life-altering experience. What you do is hands-down the best program around to teach teens about equality, humility, respect, and so much about themselves - who they are and whom they wish to be. I can’t say enough about this experience, only that I wish every child could have the opportunity to live it.
November 3rd, 2011 at 4:45 pm
My friend Katie and I are starting groups of Christian people to hang out with. We want to inspire people to keep up their faith and continue their walks with Christ. Our high school is full of people who don’t walk the walk for Christ. We are trying to spread God’s word and keep support groups for people in need. We’re creating a group to stand up for God. Who is with us?
November 1st, 2011 at 4:45 pm
Challenge Day really helped me open up to the bully’s and I said what I had to say to all of the kids that I’d rather be friends then to have enemies till I Graduate,because in the long run when you have school reunions to go to it’s not going to matter anymore unless the people live close by you for the rest of your life but you hope they don’t.I even opened up about my father.Thank you Tony and Malvika oh so very much come again to the school we miss you!!!
November 1st, 2011 at 9:53 am
I come from a high school of about 800 and I think that as a result of the tiny size, people are always in others business. So gossip and harsh rumors are spread to much because everybody knows each other and wants to be on top of their game. but this game is not a good game. this game hurts so many and i am even a first hand account of this, as well as many friends… I wish challenge day would come this town and help us!
November 1st, 2011 at 7:01 am
For Halloween the Denmark FFA Trick-or-Treated for Canned Food items and was able to collect and donate 993 pounds of food to our local food pantry. Not only does our community greatly appreciate our efforts but the members have a FUN time during this activity!
October 24th, 2011 at 4:46 pm
You helped us out greatlyat the Meade county high school and now we need ur help at north harden high school in Hardin county, the school really needs ur help, there is a lot of bullying and the teacher r not doing anything to stop it and help the problem…..the other day one of best friends friend shot himself and didn’t make it…all because he was being bullyed and no one would help, please….hear my call, help the north Hardin high school..they need ur help
October 24th, 2011 at 9:43 am
I believe every highschool needs a challenge day. Im not in highschool but im planning on organizing a challlenge day at my old high school. im organzing volunteers to assist then i will talk to my vps from my school. This is amazing and it can impact so many people, everyone needs this. Since i can’t get them to come here, id like to be the change.
October 12th, 2011 at 7:43 am
Wayne County High School needs this it feels to me like our school is falling apart.
October 11th, 2011 at 5:04 pm
always be there for the people that need me need most to listen and give advice.
October 9th, 2011 at 7:14 pm
I gave away furniture to a young couple today
October 7th, 2011 at 12:54 pm
Challenge Day changed Calhoun High School! Big, huge, thanks to Tony and Echo for being incredible leaders! Calhoun loves you!
October 4th, 2011 at 4:51 pm
This year, the high school that I attend has been having serious issues- from fighting and bullying all the way to discrimination. Me and a small group if friends decided to take a stand and start up a club that will bring these issues to everyone’s attention and show them that they can live a better life just by treating others the same they would like to be treated. After a year of jumping through hoops to get this club started, “Be the Change” was born. We’re hosting a small challenge day for a select group of troubled students who need that extra attention. We’ve already seen major differences in our school and cannot wait to see what the future will be.
September 26th, 2011 at 3:41 pm
I’m starting a new non-profit organization to raise awareness for people living with Multiple Sclerosis, to raise funds for cutting edge research, and to bring hope to those living with MS.
September 26th, 2011 at 6:33 am
I have never went to “the real deal ” challenge day. However my academy instructor for UB had made our own version of it. It was a great inspiration for me and for most of the campus. we had 100 people and 12 groups….. unfortunately it was as big i wouldve liked it to be…. everyone including me felt the weights of our personal burden lifted and we had gained access to our peace and tranquility and we were allowed the right to enjioy other people company more not out of pity but out of sympathy. Sympathy for our fellow students and it showed that the people we believe dont know what we have been through….. well it turns out that they do and they have felt the same pain maybe more and we as a people as a commnity, a nation nad the people of the world need to wake up and realize that we ARE NOT ALONE
September 18th, 2011 at 10:08 am
Challenge day came to my school september 12-15. It was only for the freshman and wow it changed a lot of our attitudes towards eachother. My experience with challenge day was tough. I shared things with others that I have never shared before. And I thought that the speakers were amazing.
At the beginning of the day I wasn’t sure what to expect from it. When I walked into my gym that morning I was not excited I didn’t want to be there at all. But once we started playing games I decided to give it a chance. I had a blast! When we got into our “small family groups” I was not thrilled because I had two people that I thought I couldn’t share with. So when the speaker told us to close our eyes and think I started crying and those two people we the ones that hugged me and were trying to make me feel better. So we all shared and I realizes that those two people had been through so much. We all hugged and were trying to cheer one another up. After lunch we all had a chance to say something on the mic and I was suprised about what people had to say. We all got into our circle and it was time to play another game called cross the line this game made me realize that some people are going through the same things i am and im not alone. In the end of the day I got really close to people id never Imagine being close to. I apoligezied to people
I should have a long time ago. And lastly it changed me and the way I see people. I would do challenge day again in a heart beat! Thank you so much!! It changed my life!
September 13th, 2011 at 7:51 pm
Challenge day came to my school today, Sept. 12. It was amazing. Not only did I realize who else has things in their life who make them who they are today, but having those people who you never thought could have a thing in common with you support you and realize how bad your life is. I got to let things out about myself that I never dreamed of telling anyone in fear of never being understood and Challenge day helped that. I have a lot of new friends and other who will just sit down and talk to me without judging me and it feels great. I would encourage everyone to do this, even if they thought it was dumb, because when it was over and we were telling people on the bus about it, there were kids that said it was stupid and they weren’t going to do it. We didn’t argue with them though. If they went for themselves, they’d know. I cannot say how much this changed my life for the better. I had this girl that I had been fighting with for almost 2 years go up onto the mic in front of everyone and call me up to apologize for all the things she did to me after I let her into my home when she was having her own home problems. It felt great hearing the “popular” kids relate to what I was going through and making the challenge to support me as I supported them through whatever life throws at us.
Last, I stopped blaming myself for the death of my grandmother who committed suicide 3 years ago on Sept. 30. Thank you for reading. This day was life changing and totally worth it. <3
September 6th, 2011 at 9:47 pm
I have made a change by starting the process of being a youth mentor in my Childrens school, My youngest is nearly two and I feel with my life experiences I maybe able to help at least one Child who is moving on to high school. My four Children are wonderful caring Kids and try to look after mates as best they can. So I feel my life has meaning teaching these kids who they really are what they can achive in life and show them most people have troubles in life and probably feeling very much the same as them. I was a troubled teen and learnt from my mistakes I was lucky to have good people with me I want to give that feeling to someone that they can be what ever they want to be have have the life they wish they had in a fairy tale. xxoo love you fantastic job Keep the change going and maybe they will pay us back when we are old and frail lol.
August 28th, 2011 at 6:40 am
Since seeing the first episode on MTV Europe i just knew i wanted to have a Challenge Day in my school and that also i need to make a change in my life. I needed to show myself and to show others that being cool means being yourself and being a good person. Since i live in a country (Bulgaria) where Challenge Day is almost an unknown programme i decided to make something crazy. I decided to create something like a small seminar lasting for about 2 hours after school and including a lot of the elements of Challenge Day. I gathered around 30-40 freshmen and talked to them about Being the CHANGE. The student councelor was also there and i thought i effected the kids. The thing is that the one week later gossiping was still there, harrasment was still there and everyone was once again devided into cliques and groups. I became really sad but that is when i realised that it’s impossible to become a good person in a day or to change yourself in a day or a week. Change comes slowly and willingly. The most important thing is that we never give up on ourselves and on others. After i read the book (Be the Hero you’ve been waiting for) and watched all of the episodes of If you really knew me i decided to follow my dream and to help others for the better. Nowadays i continue to work on changing the world and changing and accepting myself. I’m no fool - i know it will be hard to do it and it probably won’t happen by the time i die but what i want to tell you is to not be afraid to BE YOURSELVES and to BE GOOD,KIND,LOVING towards others, no matter if they are different than you. There are no bad people, only bad choices. So make a good choice and change the world. That will be the greatest thing to do.
Thank you for reading! Love you guys! I’m here for you
August 23rd, 2011 at 8:01 pm
when i was twelve i told a girl on my soccer team that i didnt like her. i was rude and made her cry. four years later i saw her at the gym and i walked straight up to her and apologized. because in my heart i knew what i had done wasnt right reguardless of how long ago it was. and i knew i wouldnt get another opporitunity. even if she didnt remember, had already forgiven me, or worst, was still felt hurt by it, i knew that i would never feel right about it as long as i lived. i was proud of myself and i havent felt that way in a while.
August 11th, 2011 at 3:16 pm
This september I’m starting at a new school and my personal change will be that when I see that somebody is alone, feels alone or thinks he/she doesn’t fit in the school or class, I will make him/her clear he/she does and I will pay attention and make clear that I’m there and I’m going to try other people to think the same way.
August 7th, 2011 at 1:49 pm
I was in Catalina this last weekend and met a woman that has been very sick in her body and feeling very lonely. And my family and I took her out to dinner and at the end of the 2 dyas of hanging out she said that it was the first time that her body wasn’t bothering her and felt like it was a blessing to have met us and we felt like it was a blessing to meet her. We brought each other so much love and joy that never would have happened if we never said “Hello”.
July 18th, 2011 at 10:38 pm
I left the living the change workshop and I left with goals in mind. I had came to the workshop to help me make a decision but I felt my “decision” was forced by my mom. So my act of change was I went home and talked to my mom about the whole workshop experience and I tried explaining to her boyfriend what it was. I sat us three in a circle and suggested we did “If you really knew me” and I told my mom the feelings or anger, hurt and resentment I had towards her for hurting me and making me feel the way i did.
July 1st, 2011 at 11:24 am
This is not really an act of change, but I just want to say thank you. Thank you, Challenge Day organization, for providing me with an opportunity to get these messed-up, bottled up feelings and emotions out.
I was an emotional eater. I used to sneak food just comfort myself and ease the other emotions I had. I used to be teased about how I looked. I did not have a very high self-esteem. I had practically no self- confidence.
But after Challenge Day, I see myself getting much more stronger, and I’ve taken up community service as a way to avoid that pest of a desire for food. I’ve lost a lot of weight (in a good way, don’t worry) and feel much more confident about myself.
God Bless,
Ammu
June 26th, 2011 at 10:10 pm
I have watched,”If You Really Knew Me” on MTV and it has changed how I act against “verbal violence.”
I have seen many people get hurt within the days that I was feeling the same, in that same situation. So just in my last year if junior high, if I saw someone getting bullied I would stop it and protect them. I felt proud of what I did but still, not accomplished enough because the my city isnt like that. They are against the change and I will try my best to change that.
Notice:The acts of violence, drugs, and abuse.
Choose: I choose to be the peacemaker for most fights.
Act: Staying that way and changing the world around me to be peacemakers too.
June 25th, 2011 at 1:59 pm
I live in LA and I have been thinking of a way to get you guys to come here.I’m about to go into High School and all my friends are changing their style because they want to be “in the crowd” in High School.To be honest I don’t like the idea of them changing just to be accepted..Our school has drama,bullys,and alot of people who think of themselves to be higher then everyone else.I know alot of kids in my Middle School currently that have thought of suicide,and I have helped them through it.I want to start a program in my community for troubled teens and anyone who just needs a place to go to have people they can trust.I hope one day you guys will be able to come to my school.because I believe it will really help alot of kids.I am actually watching the show right now and crying because it is so touching(:! Thanks for inspiring me to change my community and to help me get ideas to help.
Love Courtney<3!
June 11th, 2011 at 12:13 pm
Living in the uk challenge day isn’t something that happens over hear but i think personally my school would benefit. I’ve pretty much left as of wednesday as that is my final exam but this past year i’ve mentored and worked with a year 7 form and they really have changed me for the better. They are wonderful people with vibrant personality’s who are scared of other years, as my school is very set in the years are years and must stick together and the cliques within the years must stick together and it really aggravates me! I wish challenge day would come here because i know the area i’m in needs it, not just my school. Every child at my school should be thought of as an individual but as the same time the same as everyone else, bullying really shouldn’t be an issue but it is so i think it’s time for a change!
June 4th, 2011 at 3:33 pm
I liked challenge day because i liked how the people whom were in there supported us.
May 19th, 2011 at 5:06 pm
hey,
i go to Lakeside
Chris Foster came to my school with angelia
they were awesome..
everyone told me that Challenge dat was and inside fun day
but.. that was sooo much better
i am sooo happy i desided to show up
i reached out and got reached out to by soo maany people
i am happy and proud
i felt it was a place where i didnt “have to” but could open up
and i did i changed
im feel im a better person
im will start to live
soo much more beneth my waterline thanks to those 2
best day of my life!
-Kassidy <3
May 6th, 2011 at 6:33 pm
In March of 2007, I participated in a challange day workshop at my high school that needed it more than I can express. That day is engraved in my memory as one of the most uplifting and eye opening experiences of my life. Unfortunately it has been many years since Challange day made an apperance, and everyone that remembers Challange day has now graduated. The school has gone back to its old ways, cliques, bullies, kids threatening each other. Quite literally today, there was a fight in the ravine just outside my house, and I had to call the polive to break it up. My father went down to the ravine to do whatever he could, but its never enough. Last year, and young man was run over in front of my house because of a lost fight/argument. Thank god my father is as paramedic and we were able to help the young man injured BY ANOTHER TEENAGER!!!
Things have not chagned in that school, and the fights have only escalted into intense violence. The violence is nwo disrupting my calm quite neighbourhood and this HAS TO STOP!! Today is another day for change. My entire family has spoken to our local RCMP and we are setting up a neighbourhood wide meeting to discuss ways to prevent these acts from occouring again.
Challange day changed my life, and I am excited and willing to do almost anything to change my community. Thank you SO INCREDIBLY much from the bottom of my heart. I now have the power to do good in this world, and that is all thanks to the support of this program.
Forever Greatfull,
Kimberlee
May 3rd, 2011 at 3:46 pm
I had a challenge day in march. Kakoa, and Gina came to my middle school. I had a very good day that day. It was kind of sad too. Challange Day really changed me. Kakoa and Gina, YOU ARE THE GREATEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD, AND YOU GUYS ARE VERY NICE TOOO! Are school change in a good way becase of you two! I loved to go to enother challenge day! - McKayla
May 2nd, 2011 at 8:25 am
its almost been a week since our school has gotten the privilege to have challenge day come and work their magic and I can say that there is already a sinifigant change and on of my personal chang I am very proud to say that I sought out and found my sisters ex and in stead of doing things that out of respect of this orginazition i will not say those words. But i walked up to him and simple as it was i forgave him for the things he put my family through espesially my big sister. I now relize that the anger and the hate I kept inside to reminde really just kept me angry and obsessed and thanks to challenge day that weight is finnaly off my back and i can just stand strait and smile, because without them I could have ended up in prison or worse. and i just wanted to thank all thatare a part of such a wonderful thing.
April 27th, 2011 at 8:02 pm
beacuse of the challenge day today i came home and apollijized to mi mom nd mi dad for mi behavior towards them going threw challenge day was like a wake up call for me nd many people have it wors than i do
April 17th, 2011 at 1:22 pm
I am starting a Be the Change Club at our Middle School this Wednesday in preparation for Challenge Days next fall. I am blessed to be accompanied by a small group of High School Students to initiate the Notice Choose and Act movement! The group I am working with has never participated in a Challenge Day… Our last Challenge Day in the school system 2007 and since then I Noticed that bullying was an unspoken topic existing in everyday life and then saw Tom Brokav’s special about intolerance in America and was inspired to take action in our schools. I made a choice…and am taking some action…I hope this little stone makes a ripple in our community. I am scared and excited at the same time! Take risks and make change!
April 16th, 2011 at 8:11 am
Hello - I attended Challenge Day with my Son last year. He didn’t realize that I was going to be there. When he saw me I was a little nervous that he would be upset but it turned out that he welcomed me with a big hug. Our relationship from the age 15 to 17 years of age has been the biggest challenge of my life as Parent. He refused to let me in and lived with his Father full-time. I wasn’t a part of his life until the day he was arrested this past August, 2010. He is currently in jail and awaiting trial. Since his arrest he has opened up his heart to me. He has apologized to me for being absent in my life. We have been working on our relationship while in jail. This is not what I had planned for my son but I’ve realized that its not my journey to walk it his. Gosh, I wish his life lesson didn’t include the harsh reality of jail life. He is the youngest in there and he misses his freedom every second of the day. My son has expressed to me all of the signs of the formula for change by how he is showing up in jail. Even though I can’t see him in action his stories tell me that he is making the most of his situation by choosing to follow the rules. That has been my son’s biggest challenge as a teenager is to “follow” simple rules. He has admitted to me that he is the only person to blame for choosing jail as his journey. He realizes that he will be in there for a long time so he needs to get through this and come out a better man. Being real… Right now I’m watching from the sidelines with so much fear and anxiety that he will remain safe and come out with the belief in himself that he can be his own success story. I’m grateful for our relationship today and that I can be his sounding board. He can call me or when I visit him he can share his feelings with me and I can just listen opening with an open heart. These moments when they happen mean so much to me that I have the tools to listen and not get caught up in the “what if’s” should have’s etc..
I hope some day my son can write a book or mentor teens as he has so much to share. His personality and leadership abilities are uplifting. I’m not saying this just because he is my son I’m saying this because he is a passionate young man who stands out. When he pours his heart into something it shines. I’ve seen it before and I’ve watched others watch him with amazement. This is because my son when he was 15 years old was sent to a residential boarding school for troubled teens. His seminars were similar to challenge day but with much more intensity for a period of several days. It was breath taking to hear from his seminar leaders how he stood out how he opened up. Anyways, challenge day for me is a reminder of how much everybody needs to challenge themselves to step out of their comfort zone..
Love,
Karen
April 10th, 2011 at 1:41 pm
I volunteered at my second Challenge Day at my son’s school. This time he came too. He absolutely loved it. There is a lady across the street from my boyfriend who’s lawn hasn’t been mowed in weeks. She has to hire someone to do it since her husband left. She can’t really afford to do this. At first my son was going to mow her lawn to make $10 to put towards a child he is sponsoring from Tanzania, but instead, he looked at me and said he wanted to do it as an act of kindness. The best part was the lady was not home. He mowed her lawn and put one of those “You’ve just received an Act Of Change/Pay it forward” cards on her door for her to find when she comes home. Her lawn was over 5″ and it was his first time mowing a lawn. But, he really enjoyed doing it for her. I am saving up money because we both want to attend the Next Step workshop to continue Be The Change in our community.
April 8th, 2011 at 12:22 pm
I have promised that my 3 young children and their peers will be experiencing Challenge Day and I hope to get the program going in our community so that I can move on to other local school dristricts in my area as well.
April 6th, 2011 at 8:55 am
Challenge day was a life changing event for me. Now I look at life and relize not everything is bad. Challenge day also helped me understand people in my school. I was in foster care for 5 years and I’ve relized life isn’t so hard, yeh there is going to be ups and downs but that’s all part of life. Durning my 5 years of being in foster care I got taken away from my three younger brothers, I thought that if I was in an unsafe place then they would be safe, but it turns out I was wrong. They were with a new family that loves and cares for them:) All 4 of us are in a safe place and no longer in foster care:):) But challenge day helped me alot! If challenge day comes back to Snohomish high school I’m going:) Thank you for helping me and changing my life<3
April 4th, 2011 at 4:07 pm
I have started complimenting people anywhere I am. I walked up to a lady in the grocery store and told her that the colour of her shirt looked gorgeous on her. She was so surprised but I could tell it made her day. I am going to take every chance I get to step outside my comfort zone and share little bits of love with others.
March 30th, 2011 at 9:48 am
My students in our BTC team came up with an AWESOME idea! Before spring break, they want to have an Easter egg hunt. There will be eggs hidden throughout the school during the day, stuffed with slips that are printed with daily challenges on them. When a BTC team member spots a student living out their found challenge, they’ll win a prize! We are so pumped for our fun, motivational, spring event!
March 28th, 2011 at 1:28 pm
I helped an elderly man find items at the grocery store and made sure he found everything he needed. He was so thankful!
March 28th, 2011 at 9:55 am
Today I am hosting a meeting to start a special education PTA in our school district
March 27th, 2011 at 7:25 pm
I just wanted to say that this organization is amazing and is doing a great job with every school. I’ve watched most of the MTV “If You Really Knew Me” show and let me tell you that it has really changed my outlook on everyone. It’s changed me so much that I want to go to college to become a councilor or a therapist, maybe even be apart of “Be The Change” organization. Keep up the great work guys!!!!!
March 25th, 2011 at 6:16 pm
I went to challange day in prinville oregon,, i heard the storys devin and jake told and i related ti them alot. Today i standup for who i am and people around me. i am pround to say that i have changed and it is because of challange day.When the crossing the line part came it really shocked me because some of tthe biggest coolest kids in school steped over the line on things i never thought theyd of gone threw. I want to say thanks you to devin and jake for coming to my school and helping us make a change.
kathryn- oregon
March 24th, 2011 at 7:55 pm
I attend challenge day March 2nd the day before my birthday, i attend fort vancouver high school it was hard for me, my mom has a deadly deases, i may have it my self i live everyday with a smile but i dont feel like a smile inside, my meds dont make me feel like my self, i feel diffrent, my brother is a drug addict and got kicked out my brother is the reason why i was so stroung but i dont know what ill do with out hes strength, God i pray to you that children like me dont go thru this to.
March 17th, 2011 at 5:54 pm
you guys have seriously changed my life, im kendall moreno. and i will never forget you both for helping my school. it was an awesomething that you could do to make Lasalle Peru a better high school!!!! thank you so muchh!!!! come again soon:)
March 15th, 2011 at 3:20 pm
On March 8, 2011, as an adult, I volunteered a day for Challenge Day. Probably the most fun and soul-seeking day I have spent in a long time (I’m 66 yrs. old) Many of the young people didn’t like the idea at all……after the first day, what a change in attitude. Our two presenters surely caught the attention of all of the 8th graders. I originally thought that this was a good idea for the children, but everyone, teachers, administrators, retired volunteers totally took back to our community an amazing amount of “stuff”. Communication, communication, communication! Great job!
March 15th, 2011 at 1:38 pm
I wanted to give a shout out to Kekoa and Gina! I love you guys, you were amazing leaders at our challenge day. You two were very understanding
, supportive, and loving. I couldn’t have asked for better leaders! Thank you for coming to Gwinn middle school!
March 15th, 2011 at 1:25 pm
Challenge day was hands down, one of the best days of my life. Our leaders were AMAZING! Even though we only knew them for a certain amount of time, you could tell that they genuinely cared about each and every one of us. They shared their life stories with us, which really made a connection between us all. What they shared, and my fellow classmates shared was very touching. Challenge day was the best thing that has ever happened to our school. Even a week after, people are treating each other with respect, kindness, and love. I am so grateful for this program, and the leaders! Thank you for making a difference in not only my life, but everyone else’s as well. Much love to you all!
March 7th, 2011 at 10:59 am
I was part of a challenge day at my school, and it made me relize that there are people that I can help, that need help, and so I made a promise that I would protect everyone and I am going to keep it and I am using you to keep me to my promise . thank you for being there for me.
March 7th, 2011 at 10:40 am
If you really knew me, I left 4 school’s in the past two years because I was constantly bullied. And the bullying led to me doing druugs like Meth and Heroine because it was the only thing that would make me feel better. My family was always picking on me about being bullied. But Meth was always there to make me feel better. But I got caught doing it so I stopped doing it. Then I moved to another school where I wasn’t bullied and I made alot of friends so now I am 9 months sober
March 7th, 2011 at 10:14 am
Hi my name is Serge. I am sixteen years old. I attend Fort Vancouevr High School. I heard good things about challenge day but Idid not go the first day and the second day I wanted to go it was pretty much filled up. Many of the people that went said it was the best time they ever had. They said may people cried and told the stories that were buried deep inside them which they could not rveal until they were there and hearing other peoples stories. The next time my schol will have a CHALLENGE DAY I will sign up and invite all my firnds. Cause we thought that we were to cool to go but people like us went there too. My friends just came back from visiting poor countries liek Africa, Mexico and other places. They were telling us how our money that we put together abd donated so they can help them out. The rich people in Africa had brick houses but the poor people had mud houses. They get a cup of some kind of corn mixed with milk and water one time a day so they can have enough calories to move around and persue life. hey also have lots of bananas there with some they just eat, some they fry and boil to make some other type of food. When my friends came they brought food and groceries for them and ask a group of kids who were poorly dressed if they ever got food brought to there village and they said that they never had that done for them. when they tasted the normal white bread our frinds brought them they ate it sparingly like it was something big. THere beds were on the mud and a little of hay sprinkled on the ground and a piece of dirty cloth for there pillow. Also there are 120 foster kids gathered form all the villages. they live in a house that a grandma left them for that perticular reason. So that the little children could have a roof over there heads. When my frinds left Afica and after they visited all of the other poor countries came back home they were looking over there houses and not believing that they have a house, a bed, clean water, fresh food, healthy family car(s) etc. if you have extra money that your throwing away and you could help out poor people and one day if you will need help it will come back in return intoyour life when you will be in need. Be thankful for everything and dont take it for granit. Thank GOD for everything.
March 7th, 2011 at 10:10 am
My name is Mike. I am a teacher and I have been to Challenge Day four times and Next Step once. I use many of the things I learned in Challenge Day and Next step in my classroom on a daily basis, but I also take it outside the classroom. I try to say hi to as many students take pass my classroom each day as I can. I also will ask to see the manager at a restaurant after I have had a good meal to let him know that my server did a good job. They are usually surprised as they rarely hear that. I am the change.
March 7th, 2011 at 9:51 am
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March 7th, 2011 at 9:49 am
Heyy, my name is Alex i am 15 years old and i just want to say thank you…The people for challenge day came to Fort Vancouver high school, i was very sad because i didnt get the chance to go but i have gone to something like this and i can just say that all the people that went are and were very affected by it. the tears were none stop, and its was way cool, no one was afraid to be them self, to express themself and thats way cool, so i just want to thank you for all that you have done, changing the lifes of so many young teens that cant explain how they feel, so i just thank you for opening us up to the world, to get out our feeling and to communicate better with other people, thank you
March 7th, 2011 at 9:45 am
Hi mi name is Johny Love. I just had a chalange day at my school, but ended up not going. sad day:,( i wish i could have.
March 7th, 2011 at 9:43 am
this week i am feeding my neighbors fish while she is in Hawaii.
March 7th, 2011 at 9:30 am
dont judge any event or person before you get to know them:)
March 7th, 2011 at 8:59 am
Life changing experience…
March 7th, 2011 at 8:51 am
Hi, my name is Desirae i am 15 years old and i attend fort vancouver highschool, at challenged day it help me open up to people let me face my challenges. When i was 6 my mom was digenoised with chrohns deasies every day my mom fights for her life, somedays youll never know that shes sick. When my mom dies i will be the one that watches over my little brother and sister. My moms always sick, sometimes mostly in the hospital. My dad has no part of me, my older brother is know were to be found, so when she passes ill be the grown up i have been since i was 6, it wont be diffrent i just wont have nobody shoulder to cry on, ill have to be tuffer and be a leader. Challenge Day showed me that through everythings that happend, I am strounger then i should be, and even when im sad i shouldnt put it out on my bestfriend i should just keep my head up high, cause again its just another day, that i need to make more exciting, cause there will never be a day like this again.
March 3rd, 2011 at 7:40 pm
challenge day really helped me and made me think. I am very happy i did it n will never go back to my old ways!
February 19th, 2011 at 3:53 am
Hi, I wathced If you on knew me on MY+TV around 3 months ago, and I absolutely loved it. I live in NZ, and we have the same issues here too. I would love to be apart of an organisation like this, and hope to one day travel New Zealand and do the same inspiring work you all do. Thank you for the grat work you do.
February 18th, 2011 at 4:19 pm
Hello im from Morocco and i wana do a chalenge day in my school i tolk with my Teacher a bouht that’s and she supporte my and all our teacher in school they wana be the change i just pls need a Direction and Some Advice becaus now i do my best to know how i can do it in my school for being the change thank you so much
thank you
February 17th, 2011 at 9:46 pm
HI MY NAME IS KHRIS AND I ATTEND HOOVER HIGH SCHOOL IN SAN DIEGO I WANT TO THANK EVERYBODY IN CHALLENGE DAY.I AM VERY THANKFUL FOR YOU GUYS FOR COMING TO OUR SCHOOL IT WAS A VERY HEART TOUCHING ACTIVITY AND I LEARND ALOT LIKE HOW TO EXPRESS MYSELF WITH FRIENDS/FAMILY AND TO BE MYSELF,BE THE OTHER 90% OF THAT ICE BERGE.IM GLAD I GOT TO SHARE MY LIFE WITH OTHERS AND HEARING AND FEELING THERES TOO. I HOPE THAT YOU GUYS COME BACK NEXT YEAR TO TEACH THE YOUNG MEN/WOMAN THAT DID NOT COME TO IT FOR WHATEVER REASON.THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
February 14th, 2011 at 8:05 pm
Hi, my name is Rachel, I am 26yrs old and I live in Australia. I watch my first few episodes of ‘If you really knew me…’ on MTV today and I feel majorly INSPIRED!!! Growing up I was bullied from the age of 7yrs old because I have a rare form of O.C.D that caused me to pull out my own hair including my eyebrows and eyelashes. Sadly I was constantly staired at and teased, I was the girl who parents didnt want their children around because of my appearance. Other kids and adults alike treated me as if I had the plague, and at 7yrs old that was an extremely painful thing to go threw. I was bullied throughout primary and high school and I felt alone and like a complete misfit, these experiences made me a bitter and very negative and sadly a judgemental person. I have had a control on my condition since about 16yrs old but my eyelashes and eyebrows have not grown back properly so even though i hide behind eyeliner and eyebrow pencil I am still treated as an outcast in alot I do.
I have decided to BE THE CHANGE I WANT TO SEE IN THE WORLD from now on. I am commiting to whole heartedly let go of my past and not judge other by their appearance because of what people that appear simalarly have done to me in the past. I will give others a chance instead of putting up a wall before i get to know them and I will forgive those who have done me wrong in the past because I am better than bitterness and anger!!!
Thankyou those who part take in ‘Challenge day’ for inspiring me to be a better me!!
ps. if someone can inform me on how to start and run ‘Challenge Days’ in my area I would be very appreciative!! I wish they held challenge day at my high school then maybe i would have felt more accepted and stuck around to graduate.
February 13th, 2011 at 2:52 am
I live in Australia and I watch ‘If You Really Knew Me’ every day, I record it on Foxtel.
Every episode brings tears to my eyes. Watching it just makes me really think about how we should treat people. I’ve always been the ‘Outcast’ or the ‘Looser’ or the ‘Emo’ of my schools and as many times as I’ve changed schools, it’s always been the case but, when I watch this show, it just shows that people really can change and the people that made fun of me, tourmented me for the way I look, dress, wear my hair, never really meant what they said. It’s helped me get some closure, and i’m back in school now after dropping out for 6 months.
I wish they did something like this in Australia because it really gives people hope, you guys do a great thing, showing people that they’re never alone. That there is people out there, like the men and women who make be the change, who care, who are compassionate.
Thank you for giving me the courage to go back to school and face my fears.
Even if you’re over the ocean.
Thank you.
February 10th, 2011 at 11:08 pm
i wish i had challenge day at my school in Australia, im over everything. The rumours, fights, i wish challenge day was here in Aus, if theres an application please tell me, i think this COULD help my school.
February 10th, 2011 at 3:07 pm
Hey, This is Angel. Be the Change came to my school today and it was great. Sean was so much fun and so energetic, it was a blast. The things he said and the activities he made us do, really hit me hard. It was very emotional and other times full of laughs. It is a great progam and I’m so happy that I got to take a part in it. It was definetly worth it. I thought that it was going to be a drag, but really, I have never hugged and hi-fived so many people in my whole entire life. I have went around being a jerk to everyone, and pretty much a bully, but this program made me really think; now that I’ve honestly took a little time in thinking I’m definetly going to change my ways. It was wonderful, I may not have cried myself but it was emotional. Thankyou Sean and everyone who came out. It was WONDERFUL. -Angel, Boyne City Alternative Student, Michigan-
February 10th, 2011 at 2:59 pm
Today our board president and our head volunteer bought me a beverage that I have been craving all week! Now that is an act of change! Not to mention the the amazing cop in walnut creek, ca who let me off ticket free after making an illeagal turn! She said i don’t know why I’m doing this but I am!
February 9th, 2011 at 7:22 pm
I had ChallengeDay two days ago and how I felt when I left my gym is a feeling I cannot put into words. Katie and Evert were the best leaders I could’ve asked for and their is no way I will ever forget this. I truly feel like I have changed and I loved the experience so much. This was the best day of my life and sooooo eye-opening. I really wish I could do this every year. I love Katie and Evert and I feel a lot closer to everyone who experienced ChallengeDay with me. The amount of Love I felt in that gymnasium was incredible! I go to Hillside Middle School and something cool was even my principal was participating in ChallengeDay. Thank you soooo much for the wonderful expreience. I love you Katie and Evert! -Eleni
February 8th, 2011 at 8:11 pm
My challenge to myself is to stop bulling in the halls of my school!! Barnstable High School! i use to be the kind of kid that would say things with people that hurt others becuase i didnt know them…and in the past 2 years i have gone including today it has changed what how i am around my friends and to make new ones!
February 5th, 2011 at 9:16 am
iam very happy to discover this site . i think iam lucky .i will try to be apart of it .i love u all guys
February 2nd, 2011 at 3:20 pm
Yesterday was Challenge Day at Franklin High School. It was an extraordinary day, spent with exceptional young people, along with dedicated professionals, who came together with one thought in mind, and left committed to each other, their school, and I believe their larger communities. I know I left feeling exhilarated, and filled with great hope that these kids would take what they had learned, and teach it to their peers, and more importantly put the lessons to work by treating each other with more respect, more dignity, more empathy, and finally by showing each other more understanding.
I spent a wonderful day with the Challenge Day Facilitators, along with the staff and students of Franklin High School located in Elk Grove, California. The story of how I came to be included can only be understood, if one understands the nuances of a small town that has grown to become a larger metropolitan area, because regardless of how big both Sacramento and Elk Grove become, their foundation remains that of a small town, committed to community.
Ironically, several weeks ago I was in a meeting one morning along with other committed professionals and as we sat there going around the table sharing with one another why we felt pulled to do something that at times would not be popular and would definitely make some people defensive, one of my peers who happens to also be a mother of a special needs child, and a middle school counselor started speaking about another dedicated woman named Edith. I was asked if I knew Edith, and I replied no. It was later in this meeting when someone else said something that things started to click, and I then I realized not only did I know Edith, but she had been a VP at Mira Loma for years, you see I knew her as Mrs. Crawford, and had sat through many of her Freshman orientations on behalf of my boys. Later on that day I gave Edith a phone call, where we were able to catch up with each other. As we were chatting she mentioned a program named Challenge Day, and asked if I were familiar with it, at which I replied, “sort of”. Edith thought Challenge Day would be an excellent source of information, and something I needed to experience. Through the efforts of several people I was able to secure an invitation to join the volunteers at the Franklin High School Challenge Day.
I thought I was prepared to be WOWED. I thought I was ready to participate. I thought I was set to understand the power of Challenge Day and why it is so successful when many other programs aren’t. I was wrong. Now, The Challenge Day web-site does a very good job of conveying information and expectations. However, it does not equip you to disseminate the emotions of the kids or one’s own self. I am still trying to wrap my arms around why this works in this format. What is it about Challenge Day that makes these kids communicate with adults, when in many other instances they don’t or wont. I also wonder what is it about Challenge Day that makes the adults that participate pay attention to the whole child, not just what is being shown above the watershed, because the sad truth is, adults do not read kids well especially teenagers. I think out of the whole day my take away centered on how important it is to be a gracious listener and what a gift we give to ourselves and our kids, peers, co-workers, actually society at large when we not only pay attention, but listen with our whole heart. If you have never been on the receiving end of this type of listening, you need to be in order to really understand the strength of being a good listener because that is the foundation of Challenge Day.
On a very painful note, I spent a lot of time on Monday wondering if Mira Loma had invested in their students, their school; in their future by investing in a Challenge Day would my son Michael still be alive. I could not help but look at those beautiful Franklin High School kids, and see a little bit of my own child in each of them. When they ran around, I could see my own boys enjoying such an activity, when they danced I could close my eyes and see Michael moving so fluidly, I could hear his laughter, I could feel his love. I could also see my oldest son shifting uncomfortably at the thought of being so silly, and yet I could see both of my boys easily exchanging hugs as they were huggers. However, the biggest jolt of the day revolved around the exercise of “walking across the line”. I was shocked when I saw how many people had contentious and fractured relationships with their siblings, and I could not help but ponder as I splashed what I was seeing with what I knew my own children had with each other. A few days after later I am still thinking about that specific crossing the line – how do you teach people to savor, to love, to appreciate, to enjoy, to accept, to own what they so easily dismiss. The sad truth is we need to stop dismissing key relationships of our lives because we are not promised tomorrow and for many of us tomorrow will never come.
When I think about the Challenge Day that I participated in I am left with a wish list. How I wish the MLHS officials that Michael went to would have gone through a Challenge Day because then they would have known how to listen, how to not judge the 10% above the waterline. How I wish someone would have taken the time to pay attention as my son asked for help, cried for help, begged for help, but instead they judged him based on the image that he projected to the world, and that image, and their failure to listen, along with the cyberbullying, harassment, and torment he received from his peers helped create the perfect storm resulting in his immature decision to take a permanent solution to a temporary problem. High school is so fleeting, and I wish there was a way to teach that to our kids, so they really understood it. I wish more schools had the courage to admit they have problems, I wish the kids had more courage to admit they had problems, I wish the parents had more courage to admit they had problems, and finally I wish society admitted they are part of the problem. How I wish more schools would be willing to view Challenge Days as an emotional investment worth making, instead so many live in the land of denial.
As we were working yesterday challenging ourselves to get outside our comfort zones, I could not help but wonder again, if our students would not be better off learning social skills, common courtesies, manners, values if you will rather than being taught against a set of standardized tests, maybe we should concentrate on things that make someone a kinder, more empathetic person rather than how well they are able to do on a test. However, educational politics aside peer abuse is a rampant problem that so many refuse to address. Our class room teachers need to be completely empowered, and currently they are not. Parents need to teach their children how to behave, and they need to be held accountable when their child is part of the problem. We need to get away from justifying poor behavior. We need to have expectations for a code of behavior that teaches our children to be part of the solution, not the problem. Administrators and district politics hold complete campuses hostage by denying problems, and this needs to stop. Children are being abused by their peers and in many cases law enforcement is powerless because peer abuse in not addressed in the penal code. While Challenge Day does not address all that is wrong, it does address how to begin to be the change that you want to see.
January 28th, 2011 at 4:08 am
Hi my name is Ffyona, I am 31 and I just had to say that the “If you really knew me” MTV have been showing here in the UK has created this massive change in myself. If you really knew me you would know that I was that kid that was always bullied, put down, made to feel worthless everyday of my school life, at home things were tough. I have carried the hurt and pain and never felt worthy of positive comments or love that is in my life. Only in the last few years have I become a more positive person and try and smile and keep peoples spirits up. I work with people with disabilities now and within community, getting people accepted. I will continue to smile at everyone and be respectful of others as I know that we are too used to focusing on the negatives we hear in our lives. Thank you from Bonnie Scotland for helping me let go of the past!! xx
January 27th, 2011 at 3:30 pm
I had Challenge Day today!! At my school Atlantic Coast High School. It was such a great life changing experience. I must say I’ve learned so much about the people. Who I walk in the halls with and who don’t really open up to everyone. But when we did “Croos the line” we. Learned so much about the people who we attend school with. I truely enjoyed my Six hours being in the Gym at my school. Thanks to all the adminstration & staff!! And the leader for coming up with Challenge Day!! I loved it so much.
Atlantic Coast High Schoool, Jacksonville Florida.
January 26th, 2011 at 2:39 pm
Today one of our Challenge Day Leaders brought in to the office a giant box of diapers. The diapers are for a friend of mine who is a single mom. We adopted her and her baby as a company over the holidays. He said he never got to do something and wanted to. Evert is the amazing leader who found the time in his very crazy life to do something so big for someone elce! Thank you Evert!
January 25th, 2011 at 4:37 pm
Hey, Hope all is well with everyone of you!! I have challenged everyone on my facebook to do one random act of kindness and post it for me. It keeps them reminded that I am always there to continue to challenge them. They know I love them all and I want to get this into every school. It has also allowed me to share my story and help teens by making them aware of the issue and they have responded with stopping or teaching other about it. Because if you really know me, you would know that my son Grant died from the CHOKING game almost 2 years ago and it devastated my world. But now I educate other about it!!
Door shut, but a patio door opened!!
January 24th, 2011 at 10:07 am
I’m going to try and possibly get a challenge day at my school..
January 23rd, 2011 at 8:29 am
Hi, my name is Laura and I’m from Barcelona, Spain. I’m 16 years old, almost 17.
Today, here in Spain, it was the premier of your program “If you really knew me” from MTV.
This morning i’ve seen an advertisement of the program in the channel, and I have thought that it would be a different program at the others.
Here, in Barcelona. There aren’t so many groups in the high school. There aren’t jocks, cheerleaders, nerds, emos… Well, there are, but people is more friendly. I mean, that the differences between people isn’t so radical.
With the american high school movies, we realised that there are the group of cheerleaders, the group of nerds, the group of the band, the american football players…
But in this TV program, i have realised that all that not only happens in movies.
Watching this program, i have realised that despite of our appearance, we are all equal. We need to pertain to a group to feel that we are someone in this world, because we need to feel that we fit in the society. But we don’t realised that under that appearance, we are all teenagers, we have the same problems, the same feelings, but maybe we don’t want to show them because we have a social reputation. We have a tag that says for example: you’re a football player, you have to be a popular boy, you have to be cool, you have to be respected, and you have to pretend you’re happy, that you have everything you want. But our feelings doesn’t say the same. We all need to be listened, we all need to be love, and we all cry when we feel lonely.
An emo can think that he or she is less than the others, so they dress with dark colors, but maybe, a popular girl thinks the same. Maybe she isn’t comfortable with her body, or she doesn’t want to disappoint her parents so she does what they want, not what she want.
If we really knew each other, we could know that sometimes we hate ourselves, or we feel lonely or we don’t feel loved, we would know that sometimes we need a: How are you? or Do you want me to help you? But this simple question never comes. We all have to deal with our problems by ourselves. But this can change.
I think that the Challenge Day it’s an incredible program that can finally put an end to these tags, and make all social groups are at the same level, and know that inside of us, we are all equal.
This program can change this racist and differenced society.
Thanks for your lessons, thanks for make us feeling accepted with who we are.
Laura.
P.D: Sorry for my English. I have done what I have could. I hope you’ll understand.
January 20th, 2011 at 2:15 pm
I live in the UK and have been watching If You Really Knew Me…I think that show is awesome and i would love to start doing something like that here, as i have been reading about it and we do not have a challenge day within the UK, what would be your advice to try and bring this to the UK as i would love to help people who feel like some of the teens on the show and i know a few good people who would be willing to help. Thanks
Soph.
January 20th, 2011 at 7:10 am
“We did not come here to fix you, because YOU ARE NOT BROKEN!” Thank you for altering the perspectives of me and the students that I serve! Be the Change belongs in EVERY public school across the nation. The impact of the Challenge day experience is felt long after the training is complete. Thank for renewing my energy to continue teaching and for helping my students to choose to grow past their pain and/or circumstances. THANK YOU!! May God bless this movement with abundant prosperity and steady growth!
January 19th, 2011 at 11:55 am
Hey , i’m Vanessa from helen A. Fort middle school. Chanellege day has brought a change in my life. It’s showed me people really go through it & making fun of someone doesn’t help there pain their feeling inside, it makes it worst. Putting another child down , hurts them tens times worst because they have to deal with it out and in school. The show ‘if you really knew me’ brought a change in my life too, everyone in this world is going through tought times included myself. Personially I only used to put people down , because I was never happy and I thought everyone should feel the same way I did, but I guess it wasn’t the right thing to do. I was never happy , I never felt loved , I was lonly ; but making other people that way wasn’t right. So I apologized tp the people I hurt. Instead of me putting others down , i’m going to help the ones that are being put down , and hurt ; and the ones who are making them feel this way I am going to make them feel loved to , everyone needs a friend in this world , noone should put anyone down , because everyone is not perfect , evveryone has a problem or something bothering them inside , doesn’t give anyone the right to make someone feel the same. Everyone in this world deserves to be happy. Everyone needs a crying shoulder to lean on when there days are bad and they need someone. Everyone needs someone to talk to when their down. letting everything build up inside and not letting it go , can really hurt you , it can actully kill you. I know I let everything build up and that ballooon inside me poped and I tried to take the easy way out, but now I learn talk to someone , take some weight off you shoulder. Never give up , never let no one take your pride , live life, and love life you onyl have one. Everyone deserves happiness. Everyone deserves to be loved.
January 19th, 2011 at 12:53 am
Hi ….. love your work …… we do somewhat similar work here in Hawaii at our Polestar Community where young people come from all over the world to learn to develop life skills, the art of living in a co-operative community, and how to better connect in with their spirit …… my role is overseeing our Apprentice Program
and most of the folks who come are in the teens, 20’s or 30’s ….. HOWEVER, I want to share with you that my avocation is songwriting & I wrote a song called:
“BE THE CHANGE” …… there’s a simple version of it on YouTube.com if you’d like to check it out (type in the title & my last name, Kelaghan) ….. I think it’s an upbeat song and the CD will be out in a few days ….. Hope you like it (& hope this is not too “personal”)! Again, thanks for all you do ….. Robert Kelaghan
January 18th, 2011 at 5:48 pm
Hi my name is Kobe, i’m in middle school. Usally challenge days have been in high school but being in 8th grade i am trying to spread the idea of being the change in my local school. My fellow student counsel and I are organizing a challenge week at all the local middle schools in Alameda, CA. We belive that challenge day shouldn’t only be in high school. Us, middle school students would like to have the chance to experience a challenge day. We’d like to thank the “Be the Change” Movement for letting us have this oppertunity. Love, Kobe XOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOXOX
January 18th, 2011 at 11:56 am
What needs to change is to celebrate Seniors in a positive way rather than being isolated, unimportant, politically weak, socially discountable, and economically insignificant are becoming more active, creative, productive and useful members in society. My small contribution and commitment is a book entitled, Encore! Encore! Seniors (50 Plus)As Entrepreneurs: Their Time Has Come. Available on Lulu.com and later as a printed book on Amazon.com. We must also put pressure on all levels of government to improve the quality of life for Seniors through more opportunities for quality Lifelong Learning programs/courses; especially in the areas of Financial Education, Leadership and Entrepreneurship.
January 17th, 2011 at 6:21 pm
We can’t write on the mirror in the restroom like they do at the Challenge Day Office, so I got a posterboard and posted it in the main office for Employee Celebrations!!! Everyone is having a blast. I will change the poster board every thursday (that’s my friday).
January 13th, 2011 at 1:44 pm
i attended challenge day this week as an adult. Althuogh my career is often based around youth programming, this was a very impressionable reminder that there are a lot of kids suffering from a lot of different things. It reminded me to make extra efforts as a parent, even when I am tired, frustrated or angry. It also inspired me to continue to reach out to kids, and offering motivating progamming. Teens Rock!
January 12th, 2011 at 10:42 pm
I asked my family to stop insulting each other. We are giving more hugs.
January 11th, 2011 at 6:07 am
Hi my name is Jenny, I have watched If you really knew me on MTV for a few weeks now and it has really made me want to start something like that here in my community in Ireland. I am 37 and I feel that it would be such a wonderful programme for the schools here. I just wonder how would I go about it, I have some really good people I know and they would be willing to help me but I feel if we just get some help in starting up and a guide on what to do that will best help the students it would be great. Anyone any email address that I could contact to ask for some guidnce, Thank you, Slan from Ireland
January 10th, 2011 at 4:42 pm
1/10/2011-Snohomish High School Washington.
I am currently a freshman at SHS. Today we had the Challenge day and, you know how people always say, “Today was the best day of my life” for example, when they go to Disneyland, that to me is only something that is temporary. The Challenge Day Organization has truly changed my life in a way that will stick with me forever. I encourage every school to act apon doing this and for every student to take action and participate in something that will deeply and amazingly change your life. If they had 1 Challenge Day every month, I would go to everyone for the rest of my high school career. It has made a change, not only for me, but for the people that are affected by it. I have to shout out a special thank you to Gina and Ryan i believe his name was. Thank you guys for coming out here and doing this. Mahalo
January 9th, 2011 at 1:10 pm
Wow!! What you people are doing is truely inspirational. Im South African and in my country there is an enormous need for people to start appreciating each other. Keep up the great work!!
January 9th, 2011 at 11:59 am
My nema is Eve and I live in Latvia. I’ve been watching If You Really Knew Me for some time now and it inspired me to make a change in myself and around myself. We don’t really have ‘clicks’ in my school, but bulling and talking behind other peoples’ backs is a very common figure. I have been bullied, laughed at, beaten up, I didn’t have any friends for some time and I even thought of commiting a suicide.
I moved to another town in which I didn’t know anybody. I went to a guitar class and there I met my best friend. He even helped me to become a christian and I feel so blessed to have him.
I try to give other people the best of me as my friend did. Not always it is giving a testimony. I love to be there for people and let them know, that someone cares for them. I know how hard it is to talk to someone about your problems, so I am a volunteer in an e-mail consultation centre where pople write their problems and you can help them.
Sometimes people think too much about changing the world, that they forget to start wit themselves. We start to change, people around us start to change, then people around them start to change… in the end we all learn to love each other and ourselves as we are. As miracles.
January 6th, 2011 at 11:30 am
PLEASE COME TO BRETHREN HIGH SCHOOL…WELLSTON MICHIGAN 49689
January 6th, 2011 at 11:27 am
BERNICE AND TONI ARE THE BEST LEADERS EVER!!!!!! Thankyou for changing the lives of everyone! Bernice your story made me one emotional wreck but im very happy you chose to share with us! Toni thankyou so much for you story because even though I do not have a desease i did get hit by a car and that made my life from now on a VERY hard experience. I LOVE YOU GUYS LIKE MY OWN FAMILIA!!!! thankyou guys once agian…….BE THE CHANGE 4 EVER
December 21st, 2010 at 2:58 pm
The change that I have chosen to take on is to make the WI PAUSE B 4 Circle of Change the best circle. I try to go to every Challenge Day in WI. Because I always try to bring someone for a diffrent school districts, or mental health professionals, so they will also see the need to bring the Challenge Days to there School districts or also offer the opinions of the transformation that they see. I live my life everyday to serve others. Because I have the belief that we ofton have to step outside of yourself to truly find your true worth. I promise to do one ramdom act of kindness everyday!!!!!!! Let’s step up more now than ever!!!! With love and respect always!!!! Cindy Brown- WI PAUSE B 4 Circle of Change leader.
December 16th, 2010 at 11:51 am
hola ..soy de peru.. y les cuento mi experiencia..
hoy vi un episodio If You Really Knew Me y me gusto mucho .. en verdad.. ,,
y veo que aca en lima peru los chicos tienen esos mismos problemas ..tengo 7 hermanos por eso se lo que digo
no crei que despues de mucho tiempo ver tan fuertes emociones asi..
se que es una iniciativa que ya tiene tiempo .. y me gustaria decirel que maduren su idea
que la apliquen a niños que recien entran a la secundaria .. no se como se dice alla la verdad
creo que lo chicos entenderian la verdad de sus acciones
se que es muy dura la crudeza de un insulto , de un desaire , de un rechazo. y etc pero si es encaminado por las buenas personas que son ustedes se que van a llegar aun mas lejos de lo que creen
mirenme a mi
estoy a mitad de mi vida .. pero creo en la solidaridad, el respeto , la union , la amistad.
todos tenemos buenas cosas y claro malas . pero es uno quien en verdad decide el cambio..
ojala pudiera retroceder en el tiempo,,
y hacer lo que hacen en donde estudie ,
lo que yo hago ahora es orientar aconsejar a mis hermanos primos amigos. algunos aprenden y reaccionan
otros se callan y se alejan..pero ver mejorar el entorno donde uno vive y ver que las personas se sientan mejor te llena el corazon
muchas gracias por ser ustedes … desde peru les mando todo mi respeto y admiracion..
cuidense
john buitron
cuidense mucho
December 13th, 2010 at 11:15 am
After doing a Next Step this weekend, i am a big sister and a mentor for a young girl, mentor for three other girls:) and an amazing friend to so many others! i took the step to become a mentor, it feels AMAZING!
December 13th, 2010 at 8:48 am
We had a Pie in the Face Fundraiser for a local family what was in a car accident. Both parents were injured and neither will be able to work for a LONG while. We raised $1683, and 3 staff got a pie to the face by 3 students during half time of a Varsity Basketball Game.
December 11th, 2010 at 1:19 am
My name is Hannah! I live in New Zealand and have just seen ‘If you really knew me’ on TV. I had never heard of challenge day. Here in nz there is no one programme like it. I am so moved and excited about what I have seen. I am passionate about anti bullying, and we have a huge issue with it here, as they do everywhere. As of now, I have a new goal/dream. I wanna get this programme to much country! Wish me luck
December 10th, 2010 at 10:27 pm
Hey well i have been doing a project to form a group project in my school but its not working sosadly i gave up. But 2 weeks ago our science teacher said we have to do a reserach project over something so i choose challenge day. I really want to make a difference in my school to show every student thats we all go through the same stuff. That we are not better then one another. People judge people by the way the look and talked and its not right . The compart image to image rather then heart to heart as challenge day putes it . But i just wish i could make a difference. so if you have any advise please look me up on facebook for chelsea dragon and my pic says if you really knew me . and add me and ill add you and just give me advise on what to do or if you just need to talk im there so thanks for giving me the time to write here bye
December 9th, 2010 at 3:59 pm
Hi, I have always loved this show. I have actually cried during some of the episodes, because it really amazes me that out of all the selfish people in the world, the nicest ones came out and decided to do something about bullying. Minooka Junior Highschool is anti-bullying. Our school has sold t-shirts, and candy, set up assemblies, ect. just to spread the word that Bullying is not an option. It would be an honor for If You Really Knew Me to come to Minooka Junior High, because just spreading the word wont cure the cruel things, if someone came to work with us, the school would be bullying free.Some of the students at Minooka Jr. High have planned their own “Challenge Day” but it would be even better if you could come to help and support us Thankyou (:
December 9th, 2010 at 3:05 pm
I love the show me and my friends at school (MINOOKA JUNIOR HUGHT SCHOOL) are going to do a show just like IF you really new we but its going to be called IF you really knew Minooka. We made a bullying club and its so far really good. Me woulld love if you guys came to our school. You have no idea how muchdrama their is in our school, theirs people ettting bullied, drama, rumors, people family memebers dieing, people say they want to kill there omn selfs just because of all the Drama that goes around our school i know you guys dont know me but it would be a great Experencie to have some change our own lives please contract me at http://www.facebook.com/#!/lauren.d.peaden
December 8th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
By the way a big shout out to Chris and Jennifer for being amazing and inspirational leaders.
December 8th, 2010 at 8:33 pm
Challenge day has encouraged me to open up to people in a way that I never would have before. I Love what Challenge Day did/does/ and is still doing.
December 6th, 2010 at 1:03 pm
Today I had Challenge Day at my school, Wolfson. Jen & Chris were so great. I think this experience really changed me and every one in the “family”. People that looked like thugs and like they were too good to do any of this really opened up and told they’re story. Teachers opened up and really made me realize that they go through hard times too. SO, thank you Jennifer and Chris for coming to Wolfson, and thank you for being the change
I am now a Ninja or love, and my Love-O-Meter is full of love.
December 3rd, 2010 at 10:42 am
If you really knew me you would know that I am in awe of all of our Challenge Day volunteers from Williams Lake. What an amazing community! The support, love and commitment that all of them have for the youth in our community was evident in the hugs, love and tears that I witnessed over the past four days. Thank you so much for being there!
December 3rd, 2010 at 7:35 am
We had challenge day at our school on Wednesday. We had Pam and Schan come. Me and Schan could relate in our lives. If you really knew me you would know that my mom has Multiple Sclerosis(MS). Me and my mom get into fights sometimes before or after school. I am only 14 and I feel like I am the adult now. I have to take care of my mom sometimes, like get her a glass of water or wash clothes something like that. I go to school and people make fun of me because of the way I dress(skinny jeans, band teeshirt) some of the kids don’t like the way I dress. But that changed when Pam and Schan came to Woodbury Highschool. People actually understand me now and I understand other people.
December 2nd, 2010 at 8:49 am
As a result of Challenge Day last year we created a snaller committee of students at our school (Euclid High School) Euclid, ohio that meets regularly as a Stand Up AgainstnViolence anti bullying initiative. One of the student , Kevon Smith who challenged other students at Challenge Day to do something was recognized at aEuclid city council meeting and Euclid doard level for his resolution to change his community. The group creates rallies at the High school and middle school andworks with Mediation and Culture Club hand in hand. We made T shirts to sell as well. We now have a Stand Up banner hanging outside our school building.
December 1st, 2010 at 4:36 pm
Challenge Day for all the students at Southwestern Middle School was selected as one of only 1000 ideas on the Pepsi Refresheverything.com site. The winners are chosen by how many votes the project earns during the month. Pepsi funds the top 10 projects in each of the categories. Southwestern Middle School’s project is under the 25k category. People can vote for a project once a day (in effect 31 times for this project!). The link ishttp://www.refresheverything.com/smschallengeday . You can vote a second time each day by texting 104301 to the number 73774. Also, if you feel inclined to forward the link to others, I’d greatly appreciate it. The Challenge Day program promotes self esteem; reduces teasing, racism, bullying; shifts peer pressure to positive peer support and inspires students to be the change they wish to see at their school. The more people that vote on a daily basis, the greater the chances are to bring this program to Southwestern Middle School. Thank you in advance for your consideration and support.
December 1st, 2010 at 12:56 pm
I love you guyz!!! <3 We’ve changed me for the better!!!! I see life now as a open door to making people feel better about their own lives.
November 30th, 2010 at 8:54 pm
I have always noticed how great it feels to receive a complement so ever since my first challenge day in 2006 i have made a point to give complements daily. My friends laugh at me and say i have no filter and tend to call em embarrassing but i don’t care. Every time a thought pops into my head like the girl in front of me has a great smile or the clerk at the bank is always exceptionally helpful or maybe even the girl i’m passing on the street has a great pair of boots, i say it. i will walk boldly across a parking lot to someone i don’t know to simply give them a complement. To me there is nothing better then the smile on someones face after receiving a complement and you know what people seem to love having me a round and I’m told i always brighten peoples days so i think i must be doing something right.
November 30th, 2010 at 7:45 pm
Some times you feel self doubt
Even though you just want to shout
Let go, show how you feel
So you can show them that you are the real deal
But everyone feels that way
Some times they don’t know what to say
don’t know what to think
Their mind goes blank and sinks
So the person that you might hate will feel the same
Even if you hate hearing their name
Step in their shoes
See that at one time they feel blue
See what I see
If you really knew me
November 29th, 2010 at 11:20 pm
We just had challenge day today at my school. It is the most powerful thing i have experience in my life and it opened my eyes to people who are struggling more then me. Who are going through more then me and it makes my problems seem so much smaller compared to theirs. You bond over something that you never would have know if you didn’t get to know this person and you get to feeling something more powerful than human kind it’s self. It make you realize that being yourself is great. And as long as it is good enough for you then it should and has to be good enough for everyone else and they have to learn to except that.
November 29th, 2010 at 10:23 pm
I think that this is an amazing website and i am doing a project in english class and i am sooooooooooooo, pumped about it. There are so many things that i want to change but i always think that i cant im just a kid but actually i can and this project and website shows me i can thank- you so very much to this website creator.
November 28th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
I just discovered what the Challenge Day did for people. It’s unbelivable…It helps so much people! I live in France and there, there is absolutly not thing like this for us. The way that people is treated, considered in France is so much more different from the USA because in France (in high school/university/firmes) the education really doesn’t care about what you feel inside you, if you are happy, feel lonely or whatever you want because the only thing that matters is the result of your work (like marks if you are at school, etc), if you are productif, and the rest is insignificant. This mentality affect a lot of people, believe me. That’s why we need this kind of organisation to help people, to make them more open-minded, and to change the french education at school which is really not based on the personality development contrary to the usa. So i would really like to do at my university the action that the Challenge Day did, but i dont know how because people would think that it’s useless and ridiculous. I would like very much that you bring your mentality, and the way that you help people in France!! So do you have advice that you could give to me to apply at my university like what the Challenge Day did ? I hope that this way of considering people will change the mentality of peaple in France.
November 27th, 2010 at 8:34 pm
Challenge day is absolutely amazing nothing compares to it!! It is the type of inspiration everyone needs nowadays, and it is the type of inspiration I as a writer hope to spread to as many people as possible. It is right for us to get to know one another and vanquish out any and all hate. I truly believe there is good in all of us. we just have to dig deep and find it
November 24th, 2010 at 9:19 pm
My act of change is trying to be there for anyone who needs someone to listen to them because I know what it is feeling like no one in the world can understand what you’re going through. I’d like to take the risk through this website and leave my e-mail so if anyone wants someone to listen to them they can reach me even though I live far away from the US. My e-mail is: helen_lover94@hotmail.com
November 22nd, 2010 at 8:30 am
I volunteered to participate at Terry Parker High School. WOW, what an incredible program this is and I can only hope that one day all high school students will have the opportunity to attend. This truly was a once in a lifetime experience and was something I will never forget. Keep up the awesome work.
November 21st, 2010 at 5:57 am
The way i made a change is i told everyone i hang with to cut off with there swearing and try use less inappropriate language then i told them to think of a place they wanna be and take one person the dont no there then i told them to talk to someone see if they wanna hang then i noticed our friends group was getting larger and larger
November 19th, 2010 at 1:22 pm
Challenge Day came to East Elgin Secondary School in Aylmer, Ontario, Canada and had a great impact on our students. In order to have them come back next year, we need to raise some funds. An easy way you can help is by clicking on the link http://www.refresheverything.ca/eastelginchallengeday and voting everyday from now until Dec. 31st. Thanks in advance!
November 19th, 2010 at 9:12 am
Hey, I’m the United Kingdom,England and the other day I stumbled upon ‘If You Really Knew Me’ on MTV.
When I was watching it, i just started crying, I wasn’t even there yet I was emotional. Hearing the stories and experiences that I have experienced too! I think just watching that alone made me change and now I try and not judge people and I try and listen to people and realised people are just the same.
I would really love it if challenge day was in England because I think it would make a huge difference
Thank you
xx
November 18th, 2010 at 11:24 am
we were inspired by the website and decided to make our own challenge day. It will be hard but we are committing to being selfless and kind to everyone here at our school. hopefully it will make a change. Thanks again, TVCS teens Clarissa Tessa and Debbie ♥
November 16th, 2010 at 7:43 pm
i am *trying my best to get if you really knew me at my high school. CHARTIERS VALLEY HIGH SCHOOL is in desperate need of a change, and this would help us to start on the path to becoming a much more healthy and pleasant place.
November 16th, 2010 at 2:51 pm
I WOULD JUST LIKE TO SAY THANK YOU TO RANDY AND KATIE FOR COMING TO MY SCHOOL(terry parker hs)TODAY,they helped me get through alott today from emotional stress to even greater aspects i never knew i would actually realize,i feel better as a person and towards myself,after leaving school today i felt more refreshed than ever and felt as if i turned over a new leaf(so to speak).i also would like to thank them for also sharing experiences that they have been through instead of just telling us to speak about things we’ve been through and just be done,there were things i was able to relate too with everyone. Thank you again and i hope to see you guys in the future as well.come back please !!!!!!!!!!!!
randy:keep dancing,the little glide you did was tight
November 16th, 2010 at 6:20 am
Our Country is a role model in order to make a change we must insist for peace on earth, stop war, as long as we have war, fighting, racism, discrimination,crime, dysfunctional ways of percieving life and not wanting to change, we will suffer devastating consequences. It is a difficult task to bring change but where there is hope there is a way……someday we will have world peace.
November 13th, 2010 at 5:29 pm
Schools aren’t really doing anything about bullying and it’s sad. It’s lead to many suicide attempts and suicides. I love that this program tries to change that. I wish they would come back later and show that it really did help the school/community. The only criticism that I have is that they stereotype the children on the show. Don’t put them into categories. I deem that there should be shows like this at universities and workplaces, so it can amalgamate people–instead of making them feel inferior for how they dress, talk, and act.
November 12th, 2010 at 6:19 pm
The Pass It Forward Movement is in the process of creating 140,000 safer schools and we believe we can get corporate sponsors to help us get Challenge Day into the schools! Here is an example of a website that the kids that were involved in a Challenge Day will receive for free by a grant from We, The World to help promote safer schools - http://www.trunity.net/challenge
November 10th, 2010 at 4:54 pm
Today, 11/10/10, was one of the most eye-opening days of my life. It truely changed my perspective. I noticed that I’m not alone in my problems. I noticed that there are harsher consequences to bulllying then i thought. I saw that many of the things in my life, were about to change. I saw almost every single one of my friends cry, and I realized, everyone has a heart, everyone CAN change. Thank you Jyoti and Schan for leading our Challenge Day. I had a blast. It was life changing.
November 10th, 2010 at 1:22 am
Hi, My name’s Chelsea. And I can’t find out how too directly contact anyone of challenge day, or anything like that. My story is about my little brother. He’s 12 years old, and the biggest sweetheart you will ever meet. He stays too him self, and doesn’t really bother anybody. He has bipolar,add,anziety, and A lot more. We recently moved too a new place, and he is now attending a new school. He is BULLIED severly. Kids make fun of him constanstly, they beat him up, throw him out of his own seat at lunch and say “that’s my table”. They say very hurtful things too him, something no kid at that age wants too expierence! He comes home almost everyday crying, asking why no one likes him, why they have too be so mean. He asks my mom and dad all the time, “can you please take me out of school”. It’s getting too the point where he is threatning suicide. My mom and dad have went too the school numerous times, and they haven’t done a single thing. All they can say is, “well, we’ll talk too the students.” Have they? No. Where are the parents? It’s horrible. There is so much bullying going on, it’s really bad. I think that something needs too be done, There need’s too be a stop put too this. We need to get the message out that bullying is wrong, and there is no reason for it all. Thank you for taking you’re time too hear my story.
November 9th, 2010 at 5:25 pm
Hello, My name is Dakota and I’m a Junior at Midd-West High School. We live in a small little town but combinding several different school. Currently our school is dealing with a suicide case. He did it to stop bullying but yet it still exist. Now I am asking, more like begging for challenge day to come to my school. Often I have watch the show, If You Really Knew Me, and wonder if it would make the difference in my school.
November 6th, 2010 at 8:02 am
The other day, my best friend was being bullied in the hallway and I stood up for him and told the guy to take it somewhere else…I wish Challenge da would come to Central Catholic High School
November 4th, 2010 at 6:43 pm
Challenge Day was one of the most amazing things to experiance and I am so glad I got the chance to participate in it. The leaders, Pam and Evert were truly amazing and inspirational. I am so glad they were there because their stories were so inspiring and amazing. Thank you so much Pam and Evert for a great day that will stay with me forever.
November 4th, 2010 at 2:18 pm
Hello all! I just found this blog on the page and have been reading through the posts. Our school, Riverside High, was featured on “If You Really Knew Me” on MTV. The response in our area was unfortunately mixed and fell into two categories. One group says we are idiots for telling everyone our stories, that it is shameful. The other half thought it was wonderful. I didn’t tell any of my friends about it, and I was flooded with facebook messages and texts all week when it aired with support and love. My friends wanted to know how all the kids reacted and if it was real. It is real. It was not staged for TV. It did make a difference. As the club sponsor, we are going to start small this year with “love notes” (nice things to hand out to students) and hopefully work our way up to another Challenge Day. After participating in two myself, I honestly couldn’t ask for a better way to open hearts and minds. Keep up the great work Challenge Day! For those of you who are uncomfortable in your schools, talk to your Board of Education members, your County Superintendents, Principals, Guidance Counselors, and local businesses who may be willing to sponsor the Challenge Day experience for your school. You can get the team there, and it will make a difference.
Best Wishes to you all!
PS…Britney and Rachel are both active in the club and spread good things on a regular basis! They rock!
November 4th, 2010 at 10:59 am
I go to a little school in the middle of no where Missouri. Life out here hasn’t always been the same. This year it’ll be differnt. I’m Bethaney Booth and I’m banning bullying at Odessa High School. I’m having presentations in our homeroom class for all the class grades. High school shouldnt be like this. Students should have the bravery to look up to the world and know that there are opportunties out there for them. This will be a change! I will be the change in Odessa High School.
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:16 pm
I have behaved better in class and tried to pay more attention. I have also been more respectful of the people around me including teachers and students. When I am about to make a rude comment to someone I stop for a second and think about it. Most importantly I have not yelled or attempted to argue with my mother or father in s long time.
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:14 pm
My friends and I were sitting where we normally do at lunch when an old friend of ours asked if she could sit with us. Of course I said sure. Two minutes later, my friends had to go talk to a teacher about a club they wanted to start and I really wanted to go to but our friend wasn’t done her lunch. My friends insisted on us going right away but my other friend stayed up stairs. I felt so bad that after we talk to the teacher about the club I went back upstairs to see my friend as fast as I could even though my other friends went somewhere else. I then hung out with my other friend until she had to leave.
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:14 pm
my act of change is i have less arguments with my mother and im alot nicer at school than before my life is still on a bumpy road but atleast im straightening it out.
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:13 pm
Tomorow I’m going to help my grandfather split and stack wood. I’m glad that I’m going to help because my grandfather has a bad leg and I can pit some hours on my active living calinder for gym.
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:12 pm
this saturday, when I got up early for hockey, I started the fire in the main cabin so when my baby half brother came in it would be warm enough that he would not cry
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:11 pm
My act of change is that I made dinner twice this week and cleaned up after myself. I also cleaned the house entirely.
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:10 pm
This week when my sister had o goto violin I cleaned up her half of the kitchen without being asked.
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:10 pm
We were making 3D objects in math class and there was scraps of paper all of over the floor. When it was time to clean up I cleaned a mess that wasnt mine.
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:09 pm
so…. we’re supposed to blog our act of change in principal’s mash up at my school, it was kindof our homework to do an act of change, and now we are supposed to blog it. so my act of change wasnt a big thing, it was actually quite a miniscule one…. but i know my parents liked it, i simply cleaned my room without being asked and without having my friends/liturature/tv/computer/phone taken away. tah dah?
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:09 pm
I feed our 18 dogs without anyone asking
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:08 pm
do the dishes
November 3rd, 2010 at 2:07 pm
i went around the house randomly tidying up items
November 2nd, 2010 at 6:32 pm
I go to a community college and I have a speech class that was assigned. The speech is a persuasive speech. I would like to inspire everyone in my class to notice, choose, and act. I would like to persuade them to make our campus a smaller place by doing some of the exercises that I see on If you really knew me.
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:17 pm
i helped my mom put the kids to bed
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:17 pm
Go to your local recycling center(if you don’t have one, your act should be to get one in your town/city!) Find things that you could reuse, for example I have chickens, I went to my recycling center and found some egg cartons that we now use to contain our eggs in which we sell to customers.
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:17 pm
I gave a hobo or a person that didn’t look too wealthy a box of tasty fruit and a sandwich because maybe he was hungry and couldn’t afford healthy food because it is kinda expensive and cheap unhealthy stuff is cheap
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:14 pm
Challenge day really opened my eyes and showed me that i wasn’t being very nice to my dad. One night after Challenge day, my Dad came back home and he was really tired so Ihelped him make supper. He was very surprised and it was worth it.
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:14 pm
I helped my friend with her homework
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:13 pm
my act of change was when a gr. 9 made fun of my friends i told he to stop
and he didn’t so i got a teacher
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:12 pm
I helped set up a halloween party!!! I also helped clean up afterwards..There were decorations and food!!
I aloso told my friends to stop saying”thats so gay”, to other people..
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:11 pm
I was a leader for my ski groups halloween party on saturday!
I also helped cleaned up after the lunch.
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:11 pm
When my freinds say something like “thats so gay” i always tell them to stop and correct themselfs.
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:08 pm
i sorted out the recycling for 5 hours on the weekend
November 2nd, 2010 at 2:08 pm
if you really knew me has helped to to remember that i’m not alone in this world, i have many others that have gone through the same stuff or even worse. but i just want to thank “if you really knew me” because no one really cared about what was being said about the minoritys that live this world to but with the help that this show is giving i feel a change and i am willing to “be the change” so i hope you all are willing to do the same.
thank you so much for getting this stuff out there to show how much words really do hurt.
October 30th, 2010 at 10:00 am
Hello, one of my acts of chnge is something that im doing with my middle school. I am actually bringing challnge day to my school. I am using my dean as one of the hosters since we could not rack up the money to actually bring the hosters to our school.
October 29th, 2010 at 1:25 pm
we decided to make our own
share the love 
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pKIspbx0YtY
October 27th, 2010 at 11:30 pm
“If you really knew me, you’d know I am a nearly-25 ear old who hasn’t been able to keep a full-time job, is terrified to move out and away from her daddy, who spends most of her free time on a bathroom floor crying and shaking, and who is slightly shamed by the fact that it seems some kids still in high school have their lives more together then I do now.”
Tuesday, October 22nd I spent the day in a church gymnasium with over 100 grade 9 Centennial CVI students, student mentors, and adult volunteers taking part in a program I’ve grown to know and be thankful for.
Challenge Day has always been tougher to explain to those who haven’t experienced it. It helps that now I can just tell people to go to MTV.ca and watch an episode of If You Really Knew Me, but back when I was in high school, it seemed easiest just to tell people that it’s a therapy day with tons of crying!’. I mean, it kind of is.
More so, though, Challenge Day is about breaking down walls, stepping out of boxes, and allowing the REAL us to come out and be embraced. Challenge Day is about dismantling the things that separate us and instead discovering the honest and deep ways in which we can ALL connect.
So I didn’t meet anyone in the group with Acute Panic Disorder who is terrified of diarrhea and is completely unable of spontaneous action. I DID however meet a whole heck of a lot of other people who are now, or used to be, scared of SOMETHING on a regular basis. I DID meet others who at one point considered that taking their own lives would be way easier then dealing with what they’ve been dealt. I even met someone who’s petrified that they may never accomplish anything great, because so much is holding them back.
Who did I meet the most, though? Brave people.
It’s takes a brave person, after all, to bare through a parents divorce, or depression, bullying, body image issues and self-doubt! I was surrounded by over 100 people who, despite their circumstances, were still standing.
When I was first diagnosed with APD, I talked to the teacher at my high school who’s in charge of the Challenge Day program. By the time actual Challenge Day came around this year, I wanted to be this big, inspiring person who’d conquered her illness and moved on to great things! I wanted these grade 9 kids to see how great and successful one could be after surviving high school. However, I’m a nearly-25 ear old who hasn’t been able to keep a full-time job, is terrified to move out and away from my daddy, who spends most of her free time on a bathroom floor crying and shaking! And in fact, I was the one who became inspired.
The most inspiring story was one that one of our Challenge Day hosts shared with us. He’d lost his mother at a very young age, his father had given up on him, and he was constantly told that he’d never make anything of himself or his passion for music. Skip a few chapters, and one day he’s producing Vanilla Ice, and TuPac calls him up.
(FOR REALS!)
Yes, it’s an inspiring story because I want big important and famous people to call ME up to tap my talents and potential. I mean seriously, John Mayer could make some gorgeous music out of my poetry, no?!
Besides the Hollywood side of his story though, is the fact that he never gave up. It may not have been the Anxiety Monster bustin down his door every night, but he faced his own monsters, and now he’s 50 with a beautiful and happy family, and dreams that have come true. And now he’s flying around the world letting people like me know, if we’re brave enough to be brave, we can survive anything, and do anything.
I have good days, and bad days. On good days I can run errands and go to work, and feel sexy with my boyfriend without ever thinking about Ativan or Gravol or Imodium or Advil. On bad days, I worry that I will never be able to get better, and never reach a point where I can venture out and make a real life for myself.
And on those bad days, now I can think of the man who now knows Snoop Dawgg, or the boy who’s succeeding on the track team despite the lack of love he gets from his mom and stepdad, or the girl who found the courage to apologize to someone she’d hurt, even though many have hurt her. I can think of girl with the perfect eyebrows who’s smiling finally after months of teasing and exclusion, or the girl who’s clearly going to save the lives of many young school mates despite the lack of those who helped save her, or the woman raising a child even though she knows it’s what her best friend should be able to do instead.
I always wanted this blog to find someone who was suffering like I do, and let them know they’re not alone. I’ve never gone out and looked for people to help ME feel as though I’m not alone, though. But sitting on the bathroom floor tonight, I am reminded that there ARE others, and if they can be brave then I can be brave. And if we can be brave together, there will come a day when we are all living in our own dreams, our own happiness, and our own true lives.
See you there
October 26th, 2010 at 2:06 pm
” If You Really Knew Me ” takes my breath away everytime I watch it. Before that I did take other peoples feelings and what they were going through into consideration, but not how I do now. Thank You, you have changed my life.
October 22nd, 2010 at 5:50 pm
I have made an oath that I will not used the word, “Gay,” as a substitute for the word, “Stupid,” It makes me look highly unintellegent and hurts others around me who either have a family member who is gay, or they are gay themselves. If others around me are using the word, I make sure they realize how it makes people feel and that their are plenty of other words that can use to express how they feel.
I also would love if Challenge Day came to Clovis High School in Clovis, California. I think it would be a wonderful activity for the students of CHS to come together.
Love, Mathis
Be the change.
October 22nd, 2010 at 10:57 am
My name is Senovia Byndon, I’m a Motivational Youth Speaker and Founder of A&S Youth Productions(A Child Is Waiting)…Here in Cincinnati,Oh and I have spoken to several youths of today and it is hard out there but remember that the things that you are going though is very important to your parents as well as myself as the adults in your lives….Communication is the key…Start talking with your parents, start off small and work your way to the highest mountain you will find that by doing this, this will be the greatest gift of all and the love and support you find out weights the saddness and pain….Trust me I’ve been there and feel your pain…Love yourself and GOD will show you all the love you thought didn’t exist…it will be a beautiful rainbow, and all the bright colors will shine within you……Smile
October 22nd, 2010 at 3:49 am
The world become worst than yesterday…we cannot all blame this world facing calamity to our leaders! to the government and rich people, If we just want to make even a little changes in our lives style if we observe that we are participating to those activities that help our mother earth more polluted, even a piece of paper or candy wrapper, by putting it in a right place or trash can, is a simple act of ,making our world change! a self discipline.. and positive response to the call of our friendly environment!
October 21st, 2010 at 4:19 pm
If you really knew me has had major impact on my life because i have thought the many things the show offers and its just mind blowing how one day can the lives of many teens omg this program should be paid for so that all the school can experience it.
October 21st, 2010 at 10:10 am
I feel society and media pressures telling women they need to be thin, flawless, and exposing themselves to feel worthy needs to change! I have started the “I am not perfect I am REAL Beautiful” campaign to bring awareness and healing to women of all ages. I will continue to spread my message so that change happens, healing happens and stronger women who embrace their own greatness and make the world a better place happens!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VfcF_kmdZ34
http://www.successfulminds@rogers.com
http://iamnotperfectiamrealbeautiful.blogspot.com
Keep staying REAL Beautiful!
October 20th, 2010 at 5:55 pm
Just read a great book, Before I Fall by Lauren Oliver, that I thought really echoed the idea of how hard things can be when no one will lower their water line. The main character barely knows herself or her closest friends. When she opens her eyes by redoing the same day, everyone’s life changes. I highly recommend it if you need a little Challenge booster shot. Challenge Days were just at Torrey Pines High School for our fourth year! Now the teens have a Be the Change club that meets once a month to keep the change going. I’ve been a parent helper 2x now and really recommend finding the time off of work to support the program in your school.
October 19th, 2010 at 8:03 pm
I was recently asked to volunteer for Challenge Day as an adult helper. It was an amazing experience for all. Watching all those kids commit to making changes around their families and peers inspired me to do the same. Today a woman reached out. She felt lonely, sad and lost. I sent some love and light her way and told her that nobody should ever feel alone. We all deserve to be loved and heard and I’m thankful for my day with the Challenge Day program as it gave me the courage to reach out to a stranger. It made her day and in turn made mine.
October 18th, 2010 at 9:27 am
I was so inspired byt the show that i started a group at my school…Now we are approching the date of OUR own challegne…i am so excited to see how everybody will react and hopefully it is successful…
October 14th, 2010 at 10:45 am
i wish mt school northern cambria highschool would have a challenge day so thAT people can live peacefull life
October 14th, 2010 at 10:01 am
ever since i watched challenge day on if your really knew me. i was thinking that would be cool to have at my school. so we can all be friends with eachother at school. please! come to my school.
October 13th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
Well, this isn’t really on subject of change. But, if I could… I would have a Challenge Day at my school. I contacted my principal about it, I told him that the first thing I would say would be “If you really knew me, you wouldn’t bully, tease, or push me around”
October 13th, 2010 at 7:07 pm
I have started support group with overcomebullying.org and I plan to go to all the high schools in the Charlotte, NC area and post flyers. This support group is attended outside of school hours, but could be a great supplement for a Challenge Day at a school in Charlotte, NC. We all have to unite together to make a difference regarding bullying and stereotypes at school. The issue of bullying is a huge country wide problem and if we all just change our perceptions, even just a little, we can make a huge difference nationwide for schools. Let’s all unite and stand up against bullying in schools!
October 8th, 2010 at 10:42 pm
if you really knew me changed my life, i would love to have this at Murrieta valley High School. we have so much going on that i think the school needs to be closer, me and other people are tired of hearing people get talked on and much more, if you have tips or whatever i would greatly appreciate it. Thank you
October 8th, 2010 at 7:33 pm
also the leaders bereniece and kharie were cool i loved bereniece story she is really cool
October 8th, 2010 at 7:18 pm
challenge day came to my school….and it was great i loved it i showed me alot about people and not to judge them also i cried but i needed it to i feel great and im glad i did it and i will never forget it
October 8th, 2010 at 6:27 am
I know that it cost so much in order to get this program at the school. River View high school in coshocton is the worse drama filled high schools besides the big city schools in coshocton. I am one that gets bullied and i wish that our principals would help and get this program because i think that it will help out our issues and solve problems and help our clicks seperate and not be so judgemental of people how they dress i wish that our school could afford this.please help our school!!!!please respond
October 6th, 2010 at 12:59 pm
Knowing each other leads to respecting each other. The blue ball with the international connection symbol & with several virtues paint on it. I throw the ball to people and ask: where lies your left thumb? For instance: respect. What would change in the world if everyone would show respect? What will happen? How do you show respect? Or loyalty. What will change if everyone would act with loyalty? Would be helpfull? Act with compassion? Act in justice? Etc. The blue ball brings first joy and ‘fysically’eye connection. Speaking about it brings real contact within a minute. The virtues bridges values with norms so the base of behaviour get clear and behaviour can change.
October 6th, 2010 at 9:50 am
Watching this show is an awesome experience! I am inspired by this!
October 5th, 2010 at 9:58 pm
What is the wost thing is we go to school to learn and go to find out that the only thing we learn is how and try to survive our years in highschool. I graduated this year as a junior mainly because I don’t like school. The drama, the hurt! But now that I’m dome with it I realize that our education is being ruind by school bullies and I think there needs to be a change! I have one example only one I will share too you.. My mom has a friend a very sweet and dependable friend who had a son I’n highschool. I knew him just a little but he was truly a sweet sweet boy. The sweetist boy I know last week found dead because he couldn’t handle the stress and hurtfull things and just terrible things a person should never go throgh just because people picked on him cause he was starting to come out. Yes I mean bisexual. now… My school never had this problem before. I had may friends bisexual and gay, but this broke not just my heart but the families and my own. How am I sapposed to have my children I have someday go to school in the world like this. It shouldn’t matter who you are.. This boy was so young but sooo talented. An artist in my eyes and he will be in my prayers forever and I hope in yours too. But mainly just to STOP! Stop the violence and bulling! Because you never know how it feels untill… Untill it happens to you! RIP to anyone who has had anything like this happen. And god bless there family and friends… Now.. Let’s all make the change i can’t do it alone.
October 5th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
I have never had challenge day, i ahve only seen the show. It inspired me alot. So here is my blog: What do i do for change? I try to do alot. At my school, everyone is judged and you have to be friends with someone to talk to them. I go through a whole bunch, and i never know how to show it. It’s harder then anyone could ever thing, but i never let it show. I make friends with just about everyone, and talk to just about everyone. I love to laugh and i love to talk. All i can say, is hold your head high, and never judge a book by its cover. Gooodnight challenge day. Write you soon to let you know what nice things i have done tomorrow.
October 5th, 2010 at 10:39 am
i want to make a change at my school(EastHartford High School). i wasnt to make my school a better learning place. and have all the kids to be treated with respect and not feel diowned or rejeced.
October 4th, 2010 at 7:47 pm
I would like to say my school Mandarin HS has many prejudices, stereotypes and i have been a victim of that everyday. Due to being in and out of a wheelchair having little or no hair being very pale and missing a lot of school. When this program came today it made me realize people just didn’t know and acted how others did in an attempt to be ‘cool’. I now know i have many supporters and people willing to be my friends and not judge me. I put a smile on everyday and be the best person i can be and i am going to improve that by making it my goal everyday to talk to two people either i don’t know or know but don’t talk to. I will BE THE CHANGE at my school. My school is already a great school but it will be even better with less or no bullying, teasing, put downs or prejudices. Thank You challenge day for helping me Notice, Choose and ACT!
October 2nd, 2010 at 4:15 pm
I am too old to atend a Challenge Day event. I just spread the news of this wonderful organization whenever,wherever I can. I work with at least 5 people who have children who are being bullied. I have sent e mails to our local school system : Iowa City IA nearly begging them to invite CD to put on the program. Nothing yet. Nest I will send a message to the Parent Teachers Organization ! Keep spreading the good message of acceptance to all
September 30th, 2010 at 2:35 pm
“If You Really Knew Me” is one of the most inspiring reality shows on TV…because it is REAL! The compassion that students have for each other at the end of the show brings tears to my eyes. I’m 54 and still remember the teasing and taunting that made my small-town southern high school a miserable experience for me. Like some of the kids on the show, I thought it would have been easier to commit suicide than go into my senior year. One thing kids don’t realize is that for the rest of your life you will never forget how people treated you in high school. It truly has that much of an impact. It wasn’t until I left the town that I realized how much of an extravert I was (who knew), learned to love myself and let me instead of others, define who I was, and have had an incredible life since. I applaude the kids who grow from participation in the Challenge Day experience. If you let it be your new baseline, it will consistantly reward you throughout your entire life. My only wish is that more schools participate in Challenge Day.
September 30th, 2010 at 7:30 am
TO CHRIS AND BERNICE:
My school and I would love to just Thank you for all the things that you did. I know that it was only a day long event but what you guys did for us and talked to us, It will last a LIFETIME. And we owe it all to you! It means more to us than you know, We Will Be The Change. And we owe it all to you. THANK YOU CHRIS AND BERNICE (: THANK YOU.
From the students of Breckinridge County High School. (:
September 29th, 2010 at 8:44 pm
Hey BTC,
I’m obsessed with ‘if you really knew me’. I’m 24 years old and I wish that we had a challenge day when I was in school. There were so many cliques, I feel like our senior class could’ve been so much closer if we had this expierence. I know you guys have been to my alma mater but I wanted to know how can I get involved with helping out or being a Challenge Day leader. I’m all about embracing that 90% under the water. How can I get involved.. Let me know!!
September 29th, 2010 at 3:18 pm
Challenge day was a big thing for me because it allowed me to tackle my emotions and personal scars I had bottled up inside. The biggest message I got out of it is that it’s okay to be me and no matter what, there is always going to be that person to catch you when you fall. You’re never a bad person and you’re never alone. Thank you so much for coming to our school we are all truly thankful!!!
September 29th, 2010 at 2:19 pm
I had challenge day at my old school..I moved to a little town and we are country..just today we had 8 fights and gangs started to “represent” and we lost more than half of our funding because of count day.. I really wish the be the be the change team would come and help is..we are very close to being shut down please come and help us…
September 29th, 2010 at 7:47 am
As i watched the show last night on TV, i realized it could impact many people at my school. Personally I think that talking to everybody, listening to everybody, is really important in a community. It is really important to be close to your friends and your school, so that we can avoid any problem at school. Challenge Day, along with getting close to everybody that participates, it helps improve your school culture and it brightens up the entire atmosphere at your school. I think this day should come to our school. Los Angeles School of Global Studies in downtown los angeles is a new tech high school, that is a small school in the Miguel Contreras Complex. We are a school that needs to grow closer and i am positive that this could really be the way to do it. BRING IT TO LA!!!! BRING IT TO LA!!! i believe that in LA, especially with the majority being the minority, it can really help everybody know your strugggles and become family. BRING TO LA! BRING TO LA! All the schools in our district are important as well. Los Angeles Unified School District should be included in ChallengeDay!!! Awesome experience!!!
September 28th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
I’m seeking how I’m going to get this at my school, I’m not doing it to get on T.V. I just wish people at my school who say hi to me everyday in the hallways or say bad stuff about me or anyone else, knows what that person is going through. My school Of Fayetteville Terry Sanford in Fayetteville North Carolina needs this, we’re so divided, even in classrooms the African Americans sit on one side of the class and the whites on the other. I just think our school needs this really bad. I’m going to make an appointment with my principle and see what we can accomplish.
I just hope I can make a difference.
September 27th, 2010 at 8:00 pm
Jon and Ray Ray, Thank you for the incredible gift you brought to Red Lion! It was amazing to see kids change through out the day as they became more real. It was awesome to see the kids that came back to seek you out each morning and afternoon because what you shared through Challenge Day impacted them. Thank you and keep the energy rolling! You do amazing work! HUGS!!!!!!
September 23rd, 2010 at 12:56 pm
Last year, my school got to bring challenge day to my school for the first time. It was a new thing and was absolutely life changing. I have done what I can to change all because of Vinny and Devon. Today my little sister had the chance to do challenge day also. She loved it. You have changed her life also. Thank you so much for what you do.
September 21st, 2010 at 5:35 pm
every day at my school i see people being picked on because of what the chose to do in life or what the were i feel like we all are people we all need to act as one. one day this girl who was pregnant was being picked on i like took a step back and thought what if i was in this situation how would i react. i promise from this day on i will not judge people for what they look like or what they do and i promise to my family that i will be the first or second person with my last name to graduate collage get out of my town to do some thing with my life and to my friends i will always love you guys for who you are and not what you were you guys are amazing
September 21st, 2010 at 1:48 pm
I’ve watched every episode of if you reall knew me. It’s such an insperational thing to see. I really think my school needs it. We’ve recently had a suicide attemp and we’re still trying to cope with this. Plus, Freshmen get treated like they’re from a different planet or something. Everyone judges people out of their outer look, but won’t try to see everything inside. It’s sad really. Challenge day is the best thing I’ve ever seen. I love it!
September 20th, 2010 at 12:11 pm
wow khraee and angela!!!..i can say ur amazing nd challenge day was amazing!!!!! our school of indian lake high school really needed this!!! i hope the people that was involved with this today takes wat we learned today and uses it for other people and teaches people to speak out!!!!….i kno i will and today has impacted my life extremely!!!!!! thank you both
September 18th, 2010 at 2:39 pm
I think my school really needs challenge day. as a school we are cocstantly judging one another its like we have no privacy and every one’s innermost secrets have to be shared. on sports teams there is a constant divide we cant even work together because winning and pride gets in the way of having fun and pushing your teammates. orville platt h.s. in meriden ct needs challenge to help give us a brighter future with encouraging people.
September 17th, 2010 at 4:51 pm
Gina and Kekoa,
Challenge Day has officially change my life. I now feel so much better about myself and I now have the confidence to talk to my mom about what happened. I am doing it every year from now on! I encourage everyone to do it!!!
September 16th, 2010 at 8:27 am
I’ve been blessed to watch this organization grow and change over the last 3 and a half years and I’m amazed at what is happening for the organization. Challenge Day and all it teaches changes lives. Watching the show has reminded me of why I do what I do. I can’t wait to be working in the school system and have an easier time bringing this organization into my own community.
September 15th, 2010 at 3:19 pm
I will commit to makin my skwl a betta place to be….everytime i wlk in there i have to worry wt otha people will think or do…bt i dnt have to anymore….challenge day ws hard emotionail and fun….i ws thinkin tht people would judge me for crozzin the line or cryin to much bt thy dnt no me like tht….bt challenge day ws awsomest…..SHOUT OUT TO ANGALA AND JAKE!!!!LUV U GUYZ!!!!!!…
September 14th, 2010 at 9:33 pm
I watch this show, and I see the impact it has on the students that go through Challenge Day. I listen intently to all of their stories, all of their lives, all of their hurt, love, and hatred, and I feel for all of them. I understand how some of them feel, like one guy from Neenah High School. Not everyone is as accepting as some would like, but we have to just keep going, and not dwell on the hurtful things people say and do. It is hard at first, but after you climb that first mountain, it’s clear sailing!
To everyone else who has cried as much as me watching this show, you see how much of a change it can make, to learn about another person, things you never knew, and it brings you closer together, and you can be there for other people.
Next time you are in a bad mood, angry, or down, think of the people who make you smile, make you happy, and love you for you, and don’t think about anything bad, just know you always have someone there for you, someone to give you advice, talk to you, cry with you, and make you feel better!
And to anyone who talks people down sometimes, go that extra mile to say hi, to give someone a hug, a smile, and high-five, or just a “what’s up” nod. YOU can always make a difference.
“Be the change you wish to see in the world.”
-Ghandi
September 14th, 2010 at 8:48 pm
If Only you would come to our school! LWTHS. We would love to have you at our school ! Challenge day would encourage our school to be a better community. There’s so many people with different skin color,the way they dress,the way they talk is a bad example for being at school. Our school has to be a BETTER COMMUNITY. NOT being judged just cause your GAY & BLACK OR EVEN HISPANIC BEING CALLED IMMIGRANT. OUR COMMUNITY NEEDS YOOUR ENCOURAGEMENT TO MOVE ALONG. Hopefully ” If You Really Knew Me” would come to our city. Naples Florida
September 14th, 2010 at 8:28 pm
hey. me and my friends love yur show on mtv. its very moving. i just wanta know if it cost’s anything to have the show come to my school or how do i get it to come to my school, i think my school needs it. A lot. i think if challenge day came to my school everything would be sooo different, i dnt goto a really big school. theres prolly 500 people total. small. lol but i believe we NEED challenge day.
September 10th, 2010 at 11:22 am
Crhis and Gina-
Challenge Day was awesome I LOVED IT!!! it was sooo much fun even if we did cry we still had a lot of laughs and i just really loved it thanks for coming to our school and helping us with our drama!! I think it will really help!! THANKS
September 10th, 2010 at 11:20 am
gina and chris
challenge day was soo fun! thanks so much for comming out to our school. i think evryone had fun with it. i think it helped people.it was very emotional. i had lots of fun. thanks again!
I love you guys!
September 10th, 2010 at 11:18 am
dear chris and guna thank you for coming to otsego middle school so i am wrighting to you to say thank you!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:):):):):):):)::>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>thank you:>:>:>:>:>:>:>:>
September 10th, 2010 at 11:17 am
Chris and Gina. challenge day came yesterday and improved our outlook on school and our feelings. i stood up on the mic and said my mind and so far my idea is working. i know that other people stood up to and that was very courageous of them. all of the ideas that were pronounced that day are in the lane for working, but not have fully come yet.
September 10th, 2010 at 11:14 am
Chris and Gina,I though Challenge Day was an amazing expierence. I loved how people weren’t afraid to cry and talk. I couldn’t believe the reaction of people! I think everyone could express themselves and that was great. The games were fun too and Chris and Gina were great. They helped make the whole thing what it was! I hope this makes our school better. Thanks Chris and Gina!(:
September 10th, 2010 at 11:13 am
Dear chris and gina,
wow, i didnt think challenge day was gona be like that, i thought it would be kinda boring but good thing i still went cuz it turns out to be exactly the oppisite of what i thought, i cried so much, and the crossing game was really emotional for many ppl, me included, me, juan and darius were prolly the ones who cried the most, im glad we did this cuz i feel like i have more friend and are more open minded about themselves, thank you Gina and Chris for commin to our school and teaching us how to be ourselves. dameon out!
September 10th, 2010 at 11:12 am
i really loved challenged dayyy! It was a good way for all of us to express our hidden feelings. And i loved how everyone wasnt afraid to cry and express their true feelings.The hardest part was the cross the line.I think it has changed our school and brought us closer together. It was very emotional and almost everyone cried but it was funn. Thank u gina and chris soo muchhh! u guys r greattt!(:
September 10th, 2010 at 11:07 am
Gina and Chris,
I wanted to cry. Well i did cry 
that really hellped me and others alot. today we switched around our seats at lunch and we met alot of new people. I am glad that they came to our school. I loved when we played games and even ended up sitting on peoples laps on that one game. Your stories were verry touching and it made me sad. That is my paragraph about challange day. 
I <3 you all
I really liked that challenge day thing at school. At times it was really imotional. It was alot of fun though. the most touching part was when they said cross the line if you were a child and cross the line if you were told that you couldn’t go to college. some of my friends and people i love crossed for those two and it made me feel bad.
September 10th, 2010 at 11:04 am
Chris and Gina,
I liked challenge day alot because it really opened my eyes. I was crying alot when we the cross the line thing. It was so sad but its what everyone at are school needed. I really liked it when we went into the family groups i felt like i really got to know my group.
September 10th, 2010 at 11:02 am
chirs and gina heyyyy chalenge day was beastie. i love how peolpe jst expressed themselves duringthe thing. i saw alot of people jst bawl which was great. it means your strong inside. any ways challenge day was awesome. see ya later
September 10th, 2010 at 9:10 am
challenge day was a good day i would of rather done that then school. Also i learn a lot of things like to be nice to all and that there are a lot of peopl;e in are school that have problems and it is scarey and sad to her about all these things. But it was fun and i enjoyed my self a lot! I LOVE CHALLENGE DAY LONG TIME
September 10th, 2010 at 9:04 am
hey Gina and Chris its me again i didnt say much in the first blog so i wanted to say a little more. Gina and Chris you guys are the coolest and nicest people i have ever met and what you guys are doing is a great thing and im so happy you got to share that with us:) i cant wait to do this again in a couple of years hopefully we get you guys again.
September 10th, 2010 at 9:01 am
Challenge Day was amazing.It was a great experience for everyone.It let everyone learn more about themselves and others. Gina and chris were so cool! I cried so much! I think ever school should have Challenge Day!!!!
September 10th, 2010 at 9:00 am
Chris and Gina, I thought Challenge Day was a good experience for everyone. It really let people express them selves, i think it really brought everyone closer to one another. I believe it could change our school for the better.
September 10th, 2010 at 8:55 am
Chris and gina Challenge day has taught me about others and about my self.Challenge day has helped me with my life and now I know what peaple’s lives are like.I learnd that peaple have had tarible this have happioned to them and Challenge day helps.
September 10th, 2010 at 8:53 am
Chris and Gina,
Yesterday, we had challenge day. Challenge day is were all of the 8th graders get together and talk about their feelings and the stuff they dont normally share. 2 people came in to talk to us about how their lives were and they helped our school alot! Their names are Gina, and Chris. Our school is going to be so much better because of them. I’m glad they came in. Thank you.
September 10th, 2010 at 8:50 am
Dear Chris and Gina, Ok, challenge day was amazeing. So many people cried I couldn’t believe how it touched everybody. I’m glad we got to have it and I hope we get it again.
September 10th, 2010 at 8:46 am
Fri, Sep 10, 2010
josie:) said: CHRIS and GINA plus challege day= the best day of my life!! i loved how everyone wasnt afraid to show that they can cry and arent as tough as they seem. In the end i think everything turned out the way it was planned.And thankyou Chris and Gina for comming to our school.:)
September 10th, 2010 at 8:45 am
Dear,
Gina & Chris
alrighty challenge day was fun & tear jerking it involved alot of emotions:) i hope every1 get’s a memory out of challenge day i know i will have that memory forever i sat by people i didn’t rlly know tht well at all like one kid i didn’t even know his name. butt i got to know the people i sat by. and i plan on getting to know them better.
September 10th, 2010 at 8:44 am
Challeng day was really cool it help me express my feelings that I kept up in my ballon. My water level has drop 25% now and im glad that Chris and Gina were are leaders through the program. Thank you.
September 10th, 2010 at 8:42 am
Hey, Chris and Gina, ohhhh good old Challenge Day! It was an awesome day! Better than school anyway. It was a great time to settle everything out and make everyone realize who you are, and a few hugs here and there.:)
September 10th, 2010 at 5:35 am
dear chrse we had a good and bad times at challge day yesterday . it was good i fand out i was not the ouly one who as a rafe life to.and I wood like to say thack u for all that u did to help us
September 10th, 2010 at 5:33 am
yesterday was a good experentce.It was fun in the morning it was sad to learn about peoples life.The volleyball game was fun.I ment new people.thanks chris and gina.
September 10th, 2010 at 5:32 am
Dear Chris and Gina, wow! i feel so alive.I feel so much better and so accepted by my school. Everyone has so many things that they don’t want people to know about but 10% of them. now i know whats really going on in their life and they know who i am and it makes me feel good that people went through the same thing as me. it’s good to know that people that i never knew have my back and now how i feel and can open up to as a family. Thank you for showing that i can open up to people and no one will knock me down or do anything to hurt my feelings. I hope everyone can get along like you helped Otsego middle school open our hearts and accept people for their 100%. Thank you thank you thank you a bunch and know i know i have hurt a bunch of people too and I can say I’m sorry and they can accept my sorry because they know I never meant to hurt anyone.
September 10th, 2010 at 5:32 am
i learned alot at challenge day, i learned that we should treat all people the same and dont treat people the way you have been treated.and i became friends with people that i would not even say antthing to.
September 10th, 2010 at 5:31 am
Wow, yesterday was emotional.Chris, Gina, and alot of other people almost had every guy crying in the bathroom. It was good for yourself because if you are having personal problems you talked about them with about 4 or 5 other people. It made you feel good because it relieved any stress you mave have had. It also made you see that maybe your friends are going through some things that maybe you are going through yourself. If you asked me, it’s a long, planned, well thought out, well organized, therapy session. Oh, and before I forget, it was also a chance to apologize to anyone you may have picked on all your life and start all over with them. Also, you had a chance to say “If you really knew me you would know…” overall it was a very good day for everyone there.
September 10th, 2010 at 5:28 am
hey chris and gina challange day was fun but alot of people cryed at it and i didnt so it was very sad for most of the class. The thing the got to most of my class is the line game. i think most of the class had fun when we play vollyball it was so funny but coco puffs won lol katlyn think the other team won but i dont think so cuz coco puffs won it. there are more things that people cryed over is the groups we talked about are past and it got to alot of people my group only the girls cryed then about the last time we got in the groups a few boys cryed and it was very sad. but we got to dance and it was very fun lol thats alot of fun but i really cant dance so i didnt really dance. thanks chris and gina
September 10th, 2010 at 5:28 am
yesterday was so much fun and i open up on suff that i would never say i love the volleyball game because our team won!!!!!! i meat a lot of new people that i would of never talk to and we have a lot in common.
September 10th, 2010 at 5:23 am
What up Gina and Chirs, Challenge Day was fun and exciting. Like when we got to play games and lesioning to music. I enjoy you guys coming to your school. And hope to see you agian.
September 10th, 2010 at 5:23 am
dear, chris and gina
i thought challenge day way fun. the reason why i thought challenge day was fun is we go to tell all the sad things that happen in are life. also we played games and had luch and danced with are freinds and we tryied to see how many hugs we could get in a minute. challenge day we got to hear how hard peoples life were and what there dealing with. at the end we got to write cards to the people we miss or write to the people we are sorry to that weve been mean to and to the people we love.
September 10th, 2010 at 5:21 am
from otsego jr.high i’m proud to say otsego 8th graders are all change thx cris and gina
September 10th, 2010 at 5:20 am
Hey Chris and Gina,
I had such a good time yesterday at Challenge Day.
I learned so much about the people in my small family group. And of course we learned alot about poeple when we played the croos the line game, I didn’t know that I had so much in common with people that I don’t hang out with. And Chris and Gina, you two were nice and understanding. I felt like I really knew you after you told us your story. I think about the whole 8th grade cried that day. It was very emotional, but still fun at the same time. :)P.S-I loved playing volleyball with that giant beach ball!(Coco Puffs Totally won.)
-Thanks for everything Challenge Day.
September 10th, 2010 at 5:18 am
thank you cris and gina u helped alot
September 10th, 2010 at 5:18 am
Dude, i didn’t realize how affective challenge day was. i didn’t know how i made others feel for now on everyone gets treated the same!!!!
September 9th, 2010 at 8:19 am
Believe or not, watching Be The Change in action on “If You Really Knew Me” impacted me enough to completely change the focus of a preteen/teen club I was creating. http://www.whitzend.com/aboutus.html credits this program for its inspiration. My Friday/Saturday night hangout for 10-16 year old kids is now not only smoke, drug, and alcohol-free, but BULLY and LABEL-free, as well. I wish this movement would have been around when I was in high school. I am proud to be part of this incredible vision.
September 8th, 2010 at 5:54 pm
Ok so… yes i’m just a middle schooler… i saw the show it made me wanna me want to cry. But at the same time i wish that would happen to our school. In my school we all dont pick on people … well maybe some do.. were well tight. But its a new year students and even me want a day to show, express, and let our other class mates know whats going on with us. Basically when i want to talk to the counsler out our school she doesnt have time… never have time for mes… and there are alot of students feeling alone, and some of those students are more comfterable expressing how they feel with there friends. I think this would benifit my school.. i mean were all happy people friends and all… but we do have some things that we would like to get out of our chests. But like allways my idea’s get shot down alot by anyone and anytime. soo i dont know how im going to get my school to atlest try…
September 8th, 2010 at 12:31 pm
Im from holland and there have been one challenge day. In Amsterdam. At my school we watched it to learn from eatch other. we have 23 children in my class and almoste every one started to cry. I realy do have a lot of respect for the people who lead those days that they give themselfs away.
You are strong and I respect you \../-
September 8th, 2010 at 11:03 am
I am a school adjustment counselor in a high school. I am also the cheerleading coach. I am constantly fighting depression, self-esteem issues and bullying with my students. I am starting with my cheerleaders today. They are going to be given a “task’ of noticing, choosing and/or acting. We can start small…But we will be the change.
September 8th, 2010 at 10:00 am
Awareness in the community is the key to having the ability to change. I am committed to bringing awareness to our young adults to change the cycle of violence through education and positive influence, leading by example.
September 7th, 2010 at 7:52 pm
I will stop making fun of people, I want to treat everyone with respect and equality. I will no longer hurt peoples feeling intensionally, and I refuse to listen or partake in any putting down and I also will not allow myself to hear it and not say anything! I will change, I hope that I am not the only one that is willing! Together we can make this world amazing!
September 5th, 2010 at 9:55 am
Seeing If you really knew me on tv I thought that it was another dumb show about adults trying to get kids to get along. But when I watched the first episode I balled my eyes out because most of the stories I heard from the kids sort of sounded like what im going through right now as a teenager. At my school there are drugs bullying & racism I felt that my school was much worse because we have all three. I want Challenge day to happen at my school. I feel that it will relieve all the racial tension & make everybody realize ” oh yeah well im not gonna bully them anymore, because they really do got it bad” or “oh man i never knew that hurt their feelings that much”. They really need to come to my school !
September 1st, 2010 at 2:45 pm
I have recently watched the show “If you really Knew me” and it really touches me. I wish when I was in high school we did this because things were always hard. It was difficult to fit in. We never really had the cliques we just had a lot of people who just judged everyone for no reason. To this day my old high school is the same way. My cousin is a senior and she doesn’t even want to finish her last year of high school. It was the same way I felt. My act of change will be to get out of my comfort zone of keeping things bottled up. I have learned how not to lose my temper and to open up more. One of my biggest act of change is to make new friends and get to know them for who they are. Everyone is unique and deserves to have a friend no matter how you meet them.
August 31st, 2010 at 9:17 pm
I have never heard of this but i was watching tv and i was crying really ad thinking this is what needs to happen in my school and i see some people have started to talk to me and they don’t know that in the past i had turned to drugs because i felt that was the only thing i was good for and i found out it wasn’t a girl came up to me and hugged me and said that i can do better with myself and that she thought i looked like a cool person ever since we have been besties
August 30th, 2010 at 7:28 am
hello, there is a lot of bullying, racism and other hurtful acts at my school. The administration does not do anything to stop it and it has gotten out of control. My act is being nice to everyone and standing up for who i can. This has caused me to be bullied more intensly. I could use all the help i can get and would love it if you came to my school. It is in Hyde Park, NY and is called Franklin Delinor Roosevelt High school. It is actually in the area where F.D.R lived. please help
August 29th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
Simply put…
I smile. I smile big. I smile strong. I smile proud. I smile when I’m happy and even when I’m sad. My goal for the day is accomplished by making just one other person smile. Because maybe that smile will spread
August 27th, 2010 at 9:31 am
I have noticed the need for change in my community’s schools as I watch my two jr high aged daughters strugge with bullies and cliques every day. I am committed to being the change by campaigning to bring Challenge Day to our schools. Too many tragedies have resulted from kids not opening up to their peers and getting the help and support they need. Maybe Challenge Day will open the lines of communication between students and create a safer enviornment for all of our kids.
August 23rd, 2010 at 10:34 pm
I’m 17 myself and I got through this everyday at school. Seeing people being pushed around laughed at made fun of. And I’m one of them it can be hard I wish my school really new me
August 23rd, 2010 at 8:15 pm
My school doesn’t have this program and probably wont. It needs it though, two years ago someone got stabbed on the first day in the parking lot. People sit around and Judge each other and call each other names, and im tired of it. I Watched the show “If You Really knew me.” for the first time today, and it made me think of what they could do to my school. This Show makes me want to be a better person and to help people who are bullied and hurt by comments. It made me really think “What would i say if i were to describe who i really am?”. What came to my mind terrifies me, but im glad i saw this, because it helps to see who people really are underneath. I admire All those who participated in this.
August 23rd, 2010 at 4:54 pm
i watch this show all the time and it is one of the best shows i have ever watched. it makes me want to go to school now even tho at my school im not like the others but i have learned that its okay to be yourself but i really do think this show needs to come to our school because it would help us out alot!!!!
August 22nd, 2010 at 11:24 am
I have been watching this series (If you really knew Me) with my 12 year old daugther and she wants so bad for this program to come to her Jr. and Sr. High Schools. She starts 7th grade this year and is so not looking forward to it and it breaks my heart because she is such an awesome person and I want her to enjoy her school years and have great memories but she doesn’t and it’s just heartbreaking. I hope this program can come to our part of Pennsylvania and help our schools and kids.
August 22nd, 2010 at 6:21 am
I live in a fairly affluent midwestern university town. Although this community is known for its acceptance of diversity, this seems be selective acceptance of particular groups. And oh, yes, the reasons for this come flowing easily…. I have sent messages to the new Superintendent of schools making the suggestion our program be put on annually. I feel very strongly your wonderful program will help kids recognize just how much they are ALIKE. I am posting information about Challenge Day at my place of work. I do not have kids, I just care about their future, about our future. Last night I wrote a thank you to a gentleman who is a barber in town. This year for the 4th year in a row he volunteered his time and energy for an entire weekend to give haircuts to boys and girls ( at a local hair styling school) so those children might start the year off looking their best. As a poor African American boy, his Mom did not have money to get his hair cut, so he did it himself. What a good guy John Day is !!!! Change, one person at a time ! I hope and pray our school system sees the importance of your program and sees how raising the funds for your program will yield a better, broader result than focusing on reprimands. My school system is Iowa City Schools Iowa City IA Thank you for your continued work.
August 21st, 2010 at 7:22 pm
I remember when we had challenge day at our school. It was such an amazing and heart-felt day. I’ll always remember that day. So many of my friends think that our school should actually have it for every grade or even just more then once out of the 4 years of high school. This day changed a lot of people even if they actually didnt admit it. So many of my friends thought a little more about people around them. And so many friends were made. This event will always be something to remember and something to know is real. The whole day was completly real and i think thats what scared so many but at the same time opened so many eyes.
August 21st, 2010 at 2:16 pm
I’ve watched the first episode of “if you really knew me” and I broke down and cried. I’ve had a tough time through out school with teachers and peers and depression. I’ve survived verbal and emotional abuse and I want to send love out to anyone who is suffering from the same. I want to make a difference by doing what I can to love everyone whom I meet in my life, present and future. I want to be thankful for every positive experience I have had. I will commit to paying every good deed forward to a person in need!
August 21st, 2010 at 6:56 am
i have not particpate in this program but i watch it on tv everytime its on. it make me want to cry knowing that people go throgh the same thing as you do or even worst. i would love my school to be in this program eveyday you see people get bully. i think that if my school did this program that it will change!!!
August 19th, 2010 at 12:24 pm
Wow; I love this show. It really has made me open my eyes & changed my life for the better. Watching this show makes me cry. I’ve relized that some of the problems that these teens are going through are the things that im going through. Most people don’t take the time to get to know others, they just start to judge them from the first time they see them without even meeting them. I wish this show would come to our school, I think that it would help a lot with all the bullying & the put downs on others. Yes I admit that I was always rude to people & I would say mean things to people. But ever since I’ve seen this show I’ve told everyone that I was rude to & stuff that I was sorry. The other day this girl that was my bestfriend about 4 | 5 months ago texted me & I gave her another chance to be my friend again because she relized that I was being seriouse that it was the last chance after like 2 already; but she decided to take advantage & betray our friendship all because of a boy. But now were working on being friends & maybe one day i’ll be able to forgive her. Because of this show I actually let her back into my life & Now I don’t have any problems with anybody, Except this one girl who I’ll be honste I don’t care to be her friend just because of the fact she talks to much about people. But we’re not friends cause of the same boy like with the other girl. But because of this show I don’t talk about her or anything. THis show is one of my all time favorite shows. Thank you for changing my life as well as other people that watch this show.
August 18th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
I hope Challenge Day comes to our school
August 17th, 2010 at 11:59 pm
I was watching the show and i was thinking what if they came to my high school i would be a mess.
I live i issaquah washington and my high school really needs this so if they came that would take alot of prsure and what not off my chest. my friends wish they would ome because we need this!!
My high school issaquah high school is a mess help if you really knew me then u would know i was taken away from my mom at the age of 7 and i had to live with my ant and uncle for a year and a half and 4 years later my ant died of beast cancer and i havent gotten over it!
Please Help my School!!!
August 17th, 2010 at 3:55 pm
hi i m only in middle school but i think also that challenge day should go to middle schoolers because even if were young you know that we still have to go through so many bad days and i would like it if challenge day came to us because in my school its if your rich which i m not really i m not poor or rich but they call me a loner i m not i m actually a big talker but no one knows i keep all my emotions bottled up just because your still only 12 years old dont mean we dont go thoruhg anything we go throuhg way more my friend told me she wanted to commit sucide but me and my one other friend talked her out but i dont know if she would ever dop it again please think about bringing challenge day to my school please please!!!!!!!!!!
August 15th, 2010 at 4:25 pm
My school needs this program. I feel alone when i’m at school, and maybe wondering who are my real friends? I never knew this many feel the way I do. Every school should have challenge day! It’s a positive and great thing. Well, to answer the the question. Notice: I notice people being afraid to be themselves. Choose: I can be MYSELF and try to help others be themselves. Act: The friend act.. Being a friend. Loving your friends. & let them know you are there. Thank You people of challenge day! & MTV for putting on this amazing show! BRING CHALLENGE DAY TO ALL THE SCHOOLS! IT’S AMZAING! & I think Middle Schools need challenge days also!
August 14th, 2010 at 5:59 pm
Hi, I am from The Netherlands (42 years old, I was bullied in school and now my son, 8 years old, lives the same thing) and I was informed about the documentary on Challenge Day which took place in a school in Amsterdam, by someone who is also working on ‘Being The Change’. I was so touched and moved by the documentary, I could not stop crying in the end. My time at school in The Netherlands has never been really enjoyable, until we moved over to the USA for a year and a half (I was about 9 years old) and I found out that school could also be fun and mean having friends who liked me. My US school was in California, Stanford (Escondido Elementary School; it still exists!) and it was very positive minded and had a great and positive atmosphere which boosted my confidence. Now having seen the documentary and its effects, I would love to work with the concept in The Netherlands, just like Marije wrote before. I wonder if it is only for kids in High School or if it can also take place in Elementary school (maybe in an adapted form)? I think it would be great also for young(er) kids. I have been working as a personal coach for 3 years now, mostly with adults, but I am looking for a change and want to start working with kids - they are our now and future! Challenge Day would be an enormous asset for our Dutch youth, who seem to have more and more behavioral problems every day. In my opinion, this has to do with just that one thing which Challenge Day emphasizes: we need to get to know each other, feel for and reach out for each other, and see how much alike we are in what we need and search for in life - LOVE! And it is just this one thing we miss so much in our schools (and society): love for a kid as he or she is, love for that kid’s talents, capabilities - in other words: love for oneself and eachother. We want our kids too much to be like we want them to be, instead of letting them be(come) who they are and supporting them on their way, growing up. I would very much like to get contact with Marije and other people from The Netherlands who are seeking to work with this concept. Maybe we can support eachother and find out how to bring this about!
Thank you for doing this, for taking Challenge Day to The Netherlands and having made this Documentary in one of our Dutch schools, it means a lot to me.
Love, Hanneke
August 14th, 2010 at 9:41 am
i am really wanting to be a part of this movement does anyone know how to do that
August 13th, 2010 at 1:51 pm
i really like this tv show and the whole idea in general. now, i dont know how to vote for a school or whatever but my high school could really use it. i graduated last year but i know nothing has changed. Carroll High School in fort wayne IN is FULLLL of ‘cliques’ and everyone is sooo judgemental. i would love to see you guys go there. it would be awesome!
August 12th, 2010 at 9:21 am
I periodically give blood so that other people may have a second chance at life. Little things like this can change & save countless lives. I’m proud of the “little things” I do.
August 11th, 2010 at 9:05 pm
I have not had a challenge day at my school although we desperately need one, as do all schools. I saw “If You Really Knew Me” on television and it really touched me and made me want to make a change in my school. I recently heard about someone wanting to commit suicide because she was getting teased about her weight and it really struck me hard to hear that a person made her feel so bad that she didn’t want to live anymore. I have posted a note on facebook telling everyone about how I am willing to attempt to stop the bullying in my school. I am ready to step up to the bullies and stick up for the people that are getting bullied. I really hope people in my school will help me with my mission.
August 11th, 2010 at 4:32 pm
After seeing challenge day i actually started to cry. i have been though most of the things that the people in that show have been through which is why i choose to be nice to everyone and not judge befor i get to know them, but i would love to have challenge day at my school because i see people getting picked on everyday because of the color of their skin or because they arent rich enough to go to that school or they dress poorly and differently or because their alittle over weight and most of the kids think its a joke and that it doesnt hurt them but… if you really knew them you would see that they cry about it everyday
August 11th, 2010 at 4:21 pm
I have not participated is this program, though my high school did do something similar to it. I was a senior when my school thought that it would do some good for the students to participate in. Unfortunatly they did not have enough money left to send the seniors.I think the program would have helped, if they knew who to contact for this type of program and how to put this type of program on for us. And I personally would have like to have partake in this program.
August 11th, 2010 at 4:41 am
I have not been in a challenge day program but I have watched it on tv. It makes me cry to see how many kids that I don’t even know are just like me, hurting in the inside. Our school is diverse quiet a bit. After I watched the very first episode I thought, I wonder how many kids are out there in my school, kids I hang out with that are hurting everyday. I started this on facebook, as my status. I told everybody my If you really knew me story and I have 11 people like it and I have tons of people getting out their If you really knew me story. After I posted my story I had a friend of mine chat me and started talking to me about me loosing a friend to suicide. Its the hardest thing I have to go through. We talked and she told me that she lost a friend also and I never really knew how close they really were to each other. She told me she knows exactly how I feel. Lost, nobody to talk to thats how I felt in one month and now it just keeps going down hill but things are getting better. This show really, really, REALLY inspired me.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:56 pm
I want to ask the be the change to come to the new school im going to because this is the most unsocial school i have ever be to. I think it would open eyes and hearts to show that people that you don’t hang out with might be going through the problems that you might be going through.
August 8th, 2010 at 9:47 pm
i want to try to change what people think about others. the reason that I want to do this is that i’ve been bullied, abused, and worse of all i am a ghost in my family. so all I trying to do is ask people to stop judging and putting others down just because you have better things. For example looks, money, family, and the number one thing is life. Just because someone has those things don’t make them any better then the rest of their peers.
August 5th, 2010 at 12:51 am
I haven’t participated in a Challenge Day but I’ve decided to take it upon myself to organize having one at my school.I’ll get right on it as soon as it’s a decent hour to call people. I’ve been involved with some other organizations that encourage Youth Leadership so it doesn’t feel odd at all to me to be the spearhead in trying to get this to happen at my school. I’ve known since I was six that I’d never be really accepted by the majority of people that I met in life but I’ve also known that I wanted to help people wholly and genuinely. Being a teen Atheist people assume I’m a bad person but I want to prove to them but mostly to myself that I’m someone that cares for those around me despite whatever differences we may have. I want to commit my life to being a part of the solution to whatever problems we as beings in the Universe have and I think that starts by me and those around me taking action as soon as I/we can. Oh, and I love the show, though longer follow ups with the students would be nice. Maybe a Youtube page where they do it themselves? That’d be awesome.
August 4th, 2010 at 10:06 pm
I have been watching if you really knew me a lot lately and everytime I bawl because I know that these schools are just like mine. I have heard kids at my schools problems and I’m always there for anyone it’s just I don’t know how to get people to trust me. Come to streamwood, il!
August 4th, 2010 at 10:02 pm
I participated in challenge day in my high school as a junior almost three years ago. I can’t thank the crew who hosted it enough. This challenge day has affected me in a huge way. Just imagining losing a loved one without telling them how much I really love them before they leave, has given me a whole new attitude towards life. For the last two years I’ve lived to try and be the best person to my loved ones as possible. I never leave my family without saying I love you, and honestly every time I’ve gotten off the phone or left to go somewhere for the last two years I say I love you to my family. I wrote this in this blog so that whoever thought this Challenge Day up and all who participate in this, I want to tell you thank you so very much you’ve given my life such a positive outlook and if I could, I’d give you all a huge hug right now.
Thank you so much and I love you all,
Colby Landin
August 4th, 2010 at 1:56 pm
Ive watched the show several times and have been brought to tears every time. It amazes me and fills me with hope that people are still capable of showing such compassion for enemies or people they don’t know well. I’m well out of high school but feel I would love to become a part of this program. does anyone know who I would contact to see about joining the team leaders of challenge day? thanks for the feedback! and keep on challenging!
August 4th, 2010 at 1:21 pm
in my community i want stop all the drug sell and every body around my way 2find a job and stop be on the coner all the time’s any way i want stop all the fight in my community and change the world all over but for me i want help my community and make a better places so who ever with me let me know now
August 4th, 2010 at 12:02 pm
i seriously love be the change! when you guys came to my school everything changed for the better people became nicer and realized what other people have gone threw. i love the show if you really knew me because everytime i watch it, it makes me think back to the day i had challenge day and how much better and closer our school was… I LOVE YOU GUYS
August 3rd, 2010 at 10:49 pm
After seeing part of an episode of If You Really Knew Me on MTV.com, I was inspired to gather information on volunteering opportunities near me. Across my whole state, there is only one Challenge Day program on the calendar in the next YEAR and some change! It looks like I’ll be spreading the word for awhile and gathering a team who wants to have this impact in a nearby community. If as many people as possible learn about Be The Change and Challenge Day, life would be a lot easier and happier for everyone!
August 1st, 2010 at 4:58 pm
“WoW” today I watched a show on MTV named “If you only knew me” and let me just say it touched me so deeply to the very core. I am so happy to know that this is taking place and moving foward, with our youth these days it is truely needed. What a blessing to all those who are taking part in this and helping. I promise today to help make the change in what ever way I can.
July 30th, 2010 at 12:21 pm
Hello my name is kristin,I live in New York City.My parents broke up when I was a toddler.My grandmother died when I was in 4th grade.In my school we judge people.We dont have groups or anything like that.All my life I’ve been bullied.I also bullied others.I have been in a lot of fights in my life.I feel alone.Even though I hurt others I know how they feel.I would like to chage how people see others and try to bring people together.As I watch this program I see that others are like me.I would love to see how life would chage if my school knew how others live and what they’ve been through in life.If people really knew me they would see that I’m the kind of girl who wants people to get along with each other and just be friends.I’m willing to change what people view in others.
July 30th, 2010 at 11:08 am
This is a note to Dennis about his song—GREAT! Loved it–I could understand the words, feel the beat, and hear the change. I am planning an event for teachers soon and would like to use songs to encourage and display the ideas that I am working with–Maybe your song will fit too.
Thank you! Challenge Day is new to me but I am very excited about the potential.
July 29th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
Challenge day has got to be one of the most greatest things that can happen at a school!But usually it only lasts a week at my school and challenge day usually comes at the end of the year. So this year starting from the first day of school im going to make a change!(Make challenge day last a whole school year!) Trying to make spirit groups so teens can do activities with people they dont usually hang out with,but get get to know them better!And try to make people remember everyone has a story!And i am going to be doing a whole bunch of things to change this school! Cause even some kids are changing schools cause of all these rumors and what not! But the only thing is thats its going to be hard! 1 of me 300 of them(students)!!! Lets hope this works!
July 28th, 2010 at 9:09 am
Incredibly moving show. This should start even before high school. What a difference this will make in so many kids lives. I was made fun of and I also made fun of people. It is one of my biggest regrets in life. I am 56 and it still haunts me.
July 27th, 2010 at 10:45 pm
I am sitting in my bed watching “If you really knew me” on TV and I think that challenge day is one of the smartest, most positive, influential ideas I have ever heard of. I just graduated high school, but I wish that I could have still been in school in order to experience challenge day. That is the exact thing I think everybody needs during those four years of their lives. I know that for me, this could have changed my life. I think that this program breaks down walls that need to be broken down and I believe that this sort of “intervention” could improve teens lives incredibly. I was alone alot through my last years of high school and desperately needed something like this. I think the name of the show is brilliant because all I wanted in high school was for people to know the real me. I never felt like I could share that with anybody because I was afraid of what they might think. I remember a time in my sophomore year when I had to give a speech in class about how I had experienced the school year and how I wanted to change for the following year and I broke down to my class crying and yelling and just screaming everything I felt in my heart about how alone and scared and sad I was. I wish I could have had a chance to sit down and talk with my classmates about how i felt and I think challenge day would have provided that. For years I thought something was wrong with me, but after seeing this show I realize that every one feels the same way I do and that my pain is shared among others. I now, more than ever, want to give people a second chance. I want to break down my wall and help break down others as well. I will look at people and see myself in them and realize that behind every person there is a story and that I can’t really know them until they open up and tell their story to me. I hope that this movement travels to as many schools as possible and helps as many people as possible because I truly believe this is an amazing movement that will sweep the nation.
July 27th, 2010 at 10:28 pm
We need you at our school. It’s not just cyber-bullying. It’s like fights 10 in two weeks. We’re a violent school. People don’t care if they hurt others. We really need you! Please help us!!! I’m so inspired by the show, I want that change for our school!
July 27th, 2010 at 10:15 pm
Finally someone is saying what needs to be said, challenging what needs to be challenged. “Saving” youth and adults alike that feel “stuck” in the patterns of their own lives and minds that they always have an option. Positive Rebellion? I made it through without a challenge day, but how many kids will not? I want and need to help! This blog is half gratitude for the inspiration/ half please start accepting applications again/and a quarter its three a.m and ‘If you really knew me’ is on back to back. Book the east coast?
July 27th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
I organized at junior high school a day dedicated to accepting yourself, preventing bullying and understanding media influences. This day impacted so many students and I want to carry this on into my new school next year. I want to help teens see we can change things, believe in themselves and move forward in their community. I can’t wait to get started.
July 27th, 2010 at 10:29 am
my senior year (09-10) i participated in challenge day. i was always a mean person always putting other girls down, taking away the guys they liked. i didn’t like many girls around my school and the ones i was friends with, i changed them to be like almost my personality. i would get all the guys and make people think i was the most amazing person ever. i put guys and partying before my friends and basically forced people to listen to me. challenge day taught me to be respectful of m friends and stop putting non important things before them.
July 24th, 2010 at 2:04 am
I was so inspired by the new television show on MTV - If You Really Knew Me… And I really wanted to help out in some way. The best way I could think of was to be a friend to everyone. I figure, everyone needs a friend, some one to talk to, or to listen to them, give them advice, tell them they’re important to the world. This is why I started this website on Myspace. To be a friend to those who want one.
Check it out! - http://www.myspace.com/543753789
July 23rd, 2010 at 7:40 am
If you really knew me is a really great show…I love it. I can relate how they feel. I also didnt have a really good past. I never really talk about it. But I was thinking maybe you guys should travel around the world. Make a difffences.
July 22nd, 2010 at 8:24 pm
Our school is a hard school… everyone think they are tough and when we had challenge day came, everyone who thought they were tough cryed and i couldnt believe that they had the same problems as me… I live in Hawaii the island of Oahu on the west side of the island… My schools name is Waianae High School… we have a bad reputation for our fighting… and if MTV was to come to our school and film us then they would know how come oyr reputation is and how people are changing
July 22nd, 2010 at 12:36 am
i changed my school by starting an acting group, promoting peace, and changing a community from bottom to top
July 21st, 2010 at 9:45 pm
The change I made was one I noticed in my friend. My friend had been bullied by some girls for a while. I had heard, but I didn’t say anything, because I didn’t know these girls. One day I was walking with my friend, when one of her friends started talking about how the bullies were good people, and that even though they made fun of my friend, that she should get over it. I stood up for my friend, asking the girl why she said that. The girl did the awkward laugh, and I said that it wasn’t funny. A few weeks later my friend decided if that girl couldn’t be nice, she wasn’t gonna put herself through any pains for her. She said it was all thanks to me, I’m happy I made a change.
July 21st, 2010 at 8:43 pm
My school did something just like challenge day where they put random groups of people in a classroom for the whole day together. Gave us activities to do all day and we did the activity where u open up and do the if you really knew me activity. We also participated in the cross the line activity too. During that activity our last question was if you have feel like you never had a child hood cross the line. I proceeded to cross the line, but when i looked back i stood completely alone. I started crying and all my friends that were on the other side came up to console me even people that I barely ever talk to consoled me too. That is the point i realized i wanted to give back. I knew exactly why and what i needed to do to help others who possibly felt the same way as i did. When I was younger I was sexually assaulted by a family member. Since I had experienced that I had blocked out most of my childhood memories, because it was too difficult to deal with at such a young age. When I was in high school I was a cutter and not very many people knew that about me. I also was sexually assault in high school by a guy friend. Because of these experiences I am who I am and I am a strong person now and can handle everything. So I knew after that experience i want to help others get through what they are going through to get to the point that i am at. So my senior year I went to my vice principal and our motivational speaker n told them i wanted to give an assemly i told them my story and we set up everything. We kept it a secret and surprised everyone. I walked up in front of my entire high school and gave a full speech on what I had been through in my life and how I dealt with it. I had so many people come up to me after the assembly and tell me thank you for doing that because it gave them hope for their future. I seen people crying in the audience while i was giving my speech and i know i touched my school that day and I am happy to say I want to continue to touch people for the rest of my life and help them heal.
July 21st, 2010 at 7:13 pm
please, if someone or your friends start labeling and making fun of people by there looks, tell them TO STOP!!!!!
July 21st, 2010 at 6:00 pm
Dennis Grandt- great song!!! i wish you luck in your music! (can spell givin the heads up)
To everyone else! I wish that i knew about this program for my high school. sadly when i go back to drop my brother off i can still see the cuiquks and can tell whos in what cliquk. but im greatfull for this program tuching other high schools. and maybe i can convice the principal of my alama marder to get invalved!!:)
If you really knew me im a new found christion who ust to cut and be really depressed. thanks for my new and old friends and strangers on the streat im not alone. i can hold my head held high give out tones of smiles and heys to everyone. thanks to all who are helping out in and out of the program. god bless!!!
July 21st, 2010 at 12:49 pm
I’m currently in High School and i wish we could have this kind of program at my school or have this program come to my school. When i become an adult this is what i want to do, i want to travel around and help teens in there struggles starting from middle school becouse the choices start when you become a teen. I still have two more years of high school and i must find something to motivate me and this is helping me. I n my community the gangs and ethnicity racials need to be put to a stop! I will help out by not participating in those things and stop others when i can.
July 21st, 2010 at 7:17 am
I watched Challenge Day at Freedom High last night on MTV… Keep in mind I am a 45 year old mom of a 26 and 22 year old. All I can say is WOW. I was brought to tears. In the 80’s school was rough enough. I experienced so many of the issues that the kids walked across the line for. But today it is so intensified. The world only seems to be getting harder to survive in. Notice I said survive…… If you are reading this I challenge you to take every experience you have and make it a challenge. Find every possible way you can to learn from it; to grow and mature. There is a reason you are going through the experience. I have always found that my reason is so that when I meet someone who might be experiencing something I can have empathy, compassion and mercy. This always allows me to not pass judgment, which is the most important gift you can give. Pass the LOVE around, pay it forward and it will return to you. You will reap what you sow……… If you sow judgment you will reap it, if you sow hate you will reap it, if you sow LOVE and kindness … You will reap that !! I have always believed and stated as an adult there is A LOT we can learn from our kids. If you are a parent it’s time to put away your self preconceived notions and listen to our next generation………… THEY ARE ALL AWESOME !!!!! We were all created with talents, gifts and a purpose. WE WERE ALL CREATED TO LOVE AND WE ALL DESERVE TO BE LOVED !!!
July 21st, 2010 at 12:52 am
I have a friend who is a high school teacher in Las Vegas. I’m going to ask him to talk to his administration about bringing challenge day into his school, and hopefully he’ll be sucessful and I’ll be able to participate.
July 21st, 2010 at 12:30 am
Well, i just graduated high school i wish someone will have done a challenge day at my school… i been called lesbian, and pregnant behind my back by people i didnt really know. I have always felt inferior to my sisters, they are the pretty ones, the ones with all the boyfriends and friends. At first it was easy to ignore it but then more people start noticing it and everyone always talk about me behind my back.. i didnt know who to trust.. I was watchign today MTV’s If you really knew me.. and i wish that would have happen at my high school when i was there.. maybe everyone would have realize everythign they called me to my face or behind my back truly hurt… Im happy someone out there is making a difference in many students life…
July 21st, 2010 at 12:25 am
Hey my name is hope!! I saw this show and I thought wow our school is just like that and I want to make a diffrence. And I don’t know how I can do that. I want to change this school and make my senior year the best year. I also have my own story and it’s hard and when some of those kids on that show open up like that was amazing. And I want to open up more to more people that make fun of me or that look down on me. And I wanna say to them look at me now. And I just wanna bring the program to the school and I need help with that. Thank you and have a great day
July 20th, 2010 at 10:54 pm
I thought i have been through so much in my short 16 years of life and i really have but nothing compared to some of these young kids that are my age on the tv show if you really knew me. This has really touched me beyond what anyone could possibly know. My heart feels for everyone that has gone through anything challenging in there lifes. I would really love to bring this program to my school. It would be something i know that my school could really use. I know every school could use this but i know that wouldnt be able to happen. But if you have any info on how to get this to my school or even town let me know. Thanks : )
July 20th, 2010 at 10:39 pm
I’m a sophomore at Robinson High School in Texas and being judged is a big issue. I’m Gay and i get picked on and bullied all the time so i know how it feel. I would like to make a big change in the school by just being more open to meeting people. I would like to show people tht people are different than who they seem to be. I myself hide who I am bcuz im afraid of getting jidged and getting hurt. I just really would like to show ppl tht it hurts and tht deep inside everyone can relate to problems. its really inspiaring to me. thank you so much.
July 20th, 2010 at 8:46 pm
I am so ready to go back to school just to change. Like usually people dread change and they avoid it. But I am so excited to change.
This has really made my day.
July 16th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
I just wanted to say i seen the mtv show n i love this i truly hope it keeps going … this challenge day is possibly the best thing to ever happen in high schools.. love it i wanna watch n see more maybe even be involved …. this really inspired me to do better for other people…
Thanks
K@thy
July 11th, 2010 at 1:39 am
When I saw the great work Challenge Day does, I was so moved, I instantly decided I want to join the concept one way or another. And so I will be volunteering on October 15th in NY, the Bronx, making an overseas trip from the Netherlands, but it will be worth it.
Also I like to share with you a little clip I made about smiles….because a smile makes everybody happy….
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cw1Wu2YD2WI
July 6th, 2010 at 4:09 pm
Ray-Ray and Jyoti were my challange day leaders and they were amazing! They were all about love, happiness,peace, and being the change . Everyone had an positive attitude and no negitive energy, I told them how my dreams of being a tatto artist and owning my own shop, Think Ink, hopefully when I have it there I’ll see RayRay show up needing a new tattoo:] -&Thanks for bringing the bestfriend and I back together:] and mom says hi!!!! email us sometime!
July 5th, 2010 at 11:31 am
well i still spread the good news about challenge day and i am very thankful becuase times b4 challenge day we had fights at our school people wasnt getting alone it was just wierd now at my school people feel safe and comftable and i like challenge day i did it two years straight and would love to do it again for my senior yr i wish i can get it for my church becuase we have some little kids that really need challenge day like i always try and talk to them and let them know about it or just tell them to be more positive it does not work majority of the time
July 3rd, 2010 at 6:39 pm
I have not participated in this program, but I was watching T.V. the other day and it made me wanna cry, because this is so much of what I wanted to see in my high school. Now I see people making a difference and it makes me so excited inside. I personally went through so much stuff as a teen, and nothing like drugs or anything crazy or drastic reflecting on the outside, but I went through things on the inside and it was horrible. Luckly God has placed people in my life that helped me with those things and now I’m on a ministry team in Decatur, AL called Masters Commission and I have this opportunity to do this and help people and travel and its amazing. Thank you whoever started this program….. It makes me wanna do more, I love this stuff.
June 11th, 2010 at 11:46 am
Ray-Ray and Jennifer were my leaders for Challenge Day. They had me rap on the mic in front of everyone it was amazing. I wanted to let u guys know that im still working on my music and i wrote a song for Challenge Day called “Let Your Beat Play” here is the link (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l-Jim4sdNEo) Challenge Day inspired me to write this so tell me what u think.
June 9th, 2010 at 1:09 pm
I am donating a kidney anonymously after my husbands uncle passed away while waiting. The more research I did, the more I realized that this is something that I absolutely can do without fear, full of love. I am going to be the change! I’ll have my surgery date this week. Can’t wait!
June 7th, 2010 at 10:51 am
I have a challenge for all blogger:
For a week i challenge you to give a lest 5 person you see alone a smile, and at lest 10 hugs a day.
Go out and be the change!! i love you all!!!
June 7th, 2010 at 10:47 am
I was with my mom and great-grandma in an Albertsons parking lot. All the handy cap spots were taken and my grandma couldn’t walk far and needed a close spot. Well, getting at close spot in the city is near impossible. When a little old lady started to put her bags in her car. She was in a handy-cap spot so my mom said to just get out and take her cart for her. I was more then happy to but she started have problems buckling up So a asked if she needed a hand. I never met this lady before, but the look on her face at my offer was reward enough. Her eyes lite up as she thanked me, and took my offer. After buckling her into her car she thanked me again. Smiling she drove off, and i smiling went to wave my family in, but they had already found a spot close to the doors. I laughed and ran over to them. My mom asked me why I’d nearly climbed into a strangers car, and i simply replied “I was being the change, and helping that lady buckle up.” My mom looked at me and said “Your one of a kind you know that?” Just that small act made me feel pride for myself, and let me tell you the feelings addicting. With every chance i get I’m doing something for someone else, weather it’s physically working or sitting and listening letting a friend talk, even if i have to get pulled out of class for them.
June 5th, 2010 at 9:50 pm
I was picked as one of the people that are going to be on the show for MTV, and honestly, Challenge Day was the biggest kind of step I’ve ever taken in my life. I had no idea it was going to be this inspirational and life-changing. There are no right words to describe my situation, but after that day, the way I looked at everyone and everything has changed. So thank you, Challenge Day and everyone involved <3
June 2nd, 2010 at 2:18 pm
I saw the documentary about challenge in Amsterdam. it touched me in many ways, i was happy, sad and impressed. I’m also willing, als Lilianne wrote before me on this blog, to work with the concept in my own country. Right now i’m searching for people here in Holland, to form a group to get this done. Meanwhile, in my own private and proffesional life, i spread love, care en honesty, i when i don’t, i work with myself to clear my mind and get back on track.
thank you for doing this, love, Marije
May 29th, 2010 at 8:06 am
I just learned about challenge day from a television broadcast about challenge day in Amsterdam. I am really amazed and touched by the courage of all participants to open up and see one another. I hope to work with the concept in the future in my own surroundings on Iceland as a teacher. Thank you for your love and inspiration. You make a huge difference!!!
with love Lilianne
May 27th, 2010 at 1:20 am
I dont know how many times i crossed that line on my high school gym floor..it was almost every time… how many times i opened up..How many hugs ive given to people id never think i’d come close too. I spilled my guts. Im so glad i did.. Im so Glad i experienced everything within those two days that it was… its been like two years since then but im so happy i got the chance to experience it. it has changed everything.
May 26th, 2010 at 3:40 pm
Working on an amazing mobile app for Challenge Day!
May 6th, 2010 at 9:03 pm
After having our Challenge Day in Feb. the Core Team at OHS went to a local elementary school and did a mini-Challenge Day for the 5th graders, who had been having a problem with teasing & bullying. The day was incredible for all involved. The 5th graders got a life-changing experience, and the Core Team members both recconected as a group, and has an unexpectedly impactful day as well. It was so epic.
May 2nd, 2010 at 3:29 pm
Join me in my effort to mobilized NYC to run to help the Women in the Congo. Visit runforcongowomen.org to learn more or email me to help with the NY effort!
May 1st, 2010 at 11:17 pm
omg!i got an email frm mr.loren saying theres gonna be another challenge day on may 15 i cnt wait im so excited for that.I missed all the good timmes in challenge day i hope this challenge day is awsome!remember evry1 be the change.
love always,lizzie
April 24th, 2010 at 2:40 pm
i should have commented on this a very long time ago since ive been to 2 challenge days. i thought i wouldnt be as moved the second time as i was the first but low and behold i was. this day takes a HUGE load off my shoulders. each time i felt a whole lot more confortable going to school and facing people i had had troubles with. Darlene and Linette i love you guys for working so hard for bringing this program in. never hessitated to ask me to help bring it back over and over again!!!
April 22nd, 2010 at 10:49 am
I live in a suburb an hour off of New York City. Here the community is not so diverse. Many people come to live in Monroe and find themselves isolated and feeling disconnected. I often think about the girls in my community ages 10 - 17 who may be going through identiy issues. Questioning their purpose and self worth. My goal is to provide a club for girls where they will be able to learn about themselves by serving others. I believe that true happiness happens when one serves others.
April 13th, 2010 at 12:47 pm
Well yesterday we had our challengge day and it was amzing to see everyone open and to show who they really are in the inside. Their were tears,laughs, and just a whole lot of un and dancing but, one thing I did learn is it’s ok to zjust b Kiona and I can make a change and b the change. so I just hope that everyone really took this in and didn’t just do it yesterdsy but use it in theor every day lives.I truely do believe we are some powerful young people who can really make a change. So I really have challenge day will happen again next year.
April 8th, 2010 at 10:21 am
April 8th, 2010 at 10:17 am
challenge day has changed my life in so many ways it was fun and emotional i felt so comfertable in my small family groups and i felt like i could tell anybody what i felt like i could talk about anything i gave them what i thought about myself and my family that was the best day of my life thanks to mzima and randy p.s that sideways moon walk was awsome pss you rock mzima i want you to come back becuse you rock
April 8th, 2010 at 10:16 am
challenge day has changed my life in so many ways it was fun and emotional i felt so comfertable in my small family groups and i felt like i could tell anybody what i felt like i could talk about anything i gave them what i thought about myself and my family that was the best day of my life thanks to mzima and randy p.s that sideways moon walk was awsome
April 8th, 2010 at 10:12 am
it was vary fun
April 8th, 2010 at 10:08 am
thank you it was vary fun
April 8th, 2010 at 10:06 am
no more bullying in pine river middle school
April 8th, 2010 at 10:05 am
no more bullying in the schools
April 8th, 2010 at 10:04 am
thanks for coming mzima and randy thank you alot
April 8th, 2010 at 10:01 am
I had fun with mzima and randy at pine river school and I would like to have another one some time.
April 5th, 2010 at 8:42 pm
Flower Power in the Yukon
Our Circle of Change was looking for an idea for spring. As a group, we decided to order daffodils from the Canadian Cancer Society and we gave them out to people all over Main Street in Whitehorse. We gave double the flowers, some to keep, and some to Pay It Forward to some one else. It had just snowed and the scene was beautiful…all white and yellow from the daffodils.
April 1st, 2010 at 3:59 pm
BE THE CHANGES 4LIFE
March 31st, 2010 at 1:58 pm
I sent out a picture text with the I Love You sign and a note that said “I hear you. I see you. I am here for you. I LOVE YOU!” to a bunch of my family and friends!
March 31st, 2010 at 6:05 am
Hey!!! its me i came to Challengeday about two months ago, and i LOVED it!! i wanted to say that it was a very emotinal exsperance for me. i had told what i was going threw and what i had been put threw . i came there with the tude “i’ve got my own problems and i don’t need to hear other peoples, its a day out of school” if it was up to me i would make it a class at school . (PENN HIGH) i never really wanted to open up to people i didnt know…but..i did. i felt so much lighter after talking about it and sometimes im in school and i think about that day and i get teary eyed …you two were the only people who would listen to me . i had thought of suicide two days befor and when that day came i had like a new meaning to live (i got three months till im 18, thats my Q to do my own life ,make something) its sad to think a 5 yr old girl had to grow up so fast never had a chance to tell my feelings ..I THANK YOU GUYS SOOOOOO MUCH. you are all sent from above ,Truly
i had wrote Oprah and told her how great it really was .im waitin on a responce. i love you all ..thanks again hope to see u soon .
March 29th, 2010 at 7:19 am
Recently moved and donated teacher, administrative filing systems to a local school as gifts for PTA raffles or silent auctions. Included the BTC card with a thank you note and 1 request: To Pay It Forward! Hopefully, this may encourage the school to find our more info on Challenge Day.
March 25th, 2010 at 3:56 pm
this be the change was amazing they came to our high school and mead every one fell like were not alone i was moved up this and love it…………….p.s lots of the mean girls at my school should have gone but was not chosen they need this to see how they are acting to other people and see how they are hurting people.
March 25th, 2010 at 6:55 am
I went to challenge day on tuesday march 23 2010 and i didnt really know what would go on but i had alot of fun and i relized that even though someone says im stupid that they are wrong because im a smart independent woman
March 24th, 2010 at 12:07 pm
I responded to a request to hug someone and just hold them, and rocked them as they cried.
March 24th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
A friend of mine who was grieveing at the loss of wife. They were married for 59 years and he had been gone for barely a month. He shared that he was still so sad and was crying all the time. It ws uncomfortable for other family members to see him so sad and he was trying to stop it, but the hurt was so huge. I told him that a love like that can’t be easily forgotten. I invited him to celebrate the love that he has for his wife and to write love letters to her. “Pour out to her the depths of your love and longing. Our faith compells us to believe that we will see each other again, so let’s act as if we believe it. Write to her, pour out your love. and when you two are joined together again, that journal of love letters will stand as a testiment of your great love for her, even after death.” did get a tablet and writes her letters daily. Yes, at times he cries when he writes, but the burden of having to keep it hidden is not there anymore.
March 24th, 2010 at 6:59 am
I am trying to help people now. after yesterday when i crossed the line that so many others didnt i looked back and seen the sign for i love you and i support you and i knew i had people that cared and i will keep it going the best i can. thank you so much
BE THE CHANGE I LOVE YOU AND I SUPPORT YOU!!!!!
March 23rd, 2010 at 12:13 pm
challenge day changed my life it helped me realize that i love talking to people and helping then through things, yet its something people would of never guessed about me, who ever want to talk hit me up at http://www.myspace.com/DxRED
March 16th, 2010 at 3:24 pm
We received the blessing of Rich and Yvonne for the weekend of March 12-14, 2010. The seminar filled teachers, students, and volunteers in the Houma, Louisiana area with love, acceptance, forgiveness, strength, and hope. I am grateful for Rich’s and Yvonne’s gifts, experience, and tireless efforts. I am proud to e a member of the Challenge Day and Be the Hero family!!
Tracy Schwab
March 16th, 2010 at 12:17 pm
I had the privileged of participating in a Next Step Program in Houma, La with my 17 yr old daughter. During one of the exercises my daughter stood up and spoke about her experience of being the child of divorced parents. I was able to, with coaching from Yvonne, hear my Daughter and to communicate back to her that I heard and understood her. In that moment, I learned that I could just listen to her. That I did not have to take ownership of her pain. That moment was a changing point in our relationship. Today, my daughter, she called me to go to lunch with her. This is a first and I see this happening much more. Thanks Yvonne for teaching me this incredible tool/gift. I commit to using it on others as often as I can.
March 16th, 2010 at 6:49 am
For the last several years I’ve been buying a small bouquet of flowers when I’m at the grocery store and presenting it to the person behind me in line (as long as it’s a woman… wouldn’t want a man to take it the wrong way). Over the years, I’ve given flowers to several hundred people and the responses have been varied and extremely rewarding. This is a “small thing” but has a huge impact on people. I’ve received comments like “you have no idea what you’ve just done…” meaning…. this was a BIG deal to that person. We can make a big difference just by reaching out and letting people know they are not invisible. We are connected! Quite a number of times, people have told me they planned on “paying it forward”. This regular act of kindness has become one of the best things I’ve done in my life and EVERY time, I feel so blessed to have gotten the idea to do it!
March 14th, 2010 at 5:03 pm
I went into a coffee shop one morning and after ordering my food told the cashier I’d like to pay for the next person’s breakfast. I had on my ‘Be the Change’ t-shirt. She held up a gift card and said someone wearng the same shirt had come in a few minutes earlier, paid for the card, and said to give it to the next person (that person being me). She then smiled and said, “I guess you’d like to pass this on” to which I replied Yes. We’re everywhere!
March 6th, 2010 at 2:55 pm
I continue to desire to come from a place of love, connection and grace at all times. I’m successful most of the time.
I’m being gentle with my “noticing”, choosing to “look for the gold”. I am successful most of the time.
March 2nd, 2010 at 7:37 pm
If you want something give it to someone else becausr they need it more. You will be rewarded in some way.
If you wish to experience peace, provide peace for another.
March 2nd, 2010 at 3:34 pm
100% a positive, eye opening and life changing experience!!! Out facilitators were ABSOLUTELY amazing. Challenge Day is what E.D. White Catholic High School needed. Made many students realize what was going on. Teachers, students, and parents all realized where we needed improvement and made those changes!!! Thanks so much Mr. Randy and Ms. Angela, FABULOUS job. Keep it up!!!!
February 20th, 2010 at 2:21 am
Workshops On the Shop Floor is for more respect and a good behaviour. No roomers, no bulling, start by your own. What can you do better in your company for a better and warmer athmosphere in your company. Stop prejudice and look in the mirror. This is my instrument that i like use as Counsellor in Company’s in little teams. I ‘am a registered therapist in europe. http://www.hennyvandenberg.eu
February 18th, 2010 at 11:45 am
I’ve decided to dedicate the next year of my life to becoming the change in my community, and hopefully leading to a bigger level as I prepare to apply to become a Challenge Day leader! If I want others to be the change, I have to do it first
February 18th, 2010 at 10:23 am
Simple things such as texting words of encouragement and love to young people I know this week helped me lift my spirits as well. I have a Challenge Day card full of gratitudes to send to my little brother. He won’t know what hugged him when he opens that one up.
The Snohomish County Circle of Change is planning their Spring / Summer fund raising splash with monthly car washes and another auction.
February 18th, 2010 at 7:56 am
My vocation in life is to teach children, through their creativity, to be the change that they wish to see in the world. We participate in several service projects during art classes in my home studio. The Global Art Project for Peace matches artists and/or groups of artists with partners for an exchange of art work which has a theme of the artist’s vision of peace. Participants are from all over the world, all seven continents. We have learned about other cultures and made friends with people from Cameroon, Singapore, Taiwan, Romania and Tucson, AZ!
The Houston Holocaust Museum will have an exhibit in 2012 of 1,500,000 butterflys created by artists of all ages and abilities. The exhibit remembers, with an artistically created butterfly, each child that died during the Holocaust. My young artists each made a butterfly for the exhibit, and one for themselves as a memento of the project. Hopefully, they will learn to stand up for what is right, and to be kind, because of this project. (A great book to read is Patricia Polacco’s “The Butterfly”)
Our next project will be spoke guards, painted and decorated for the wheelchairs at Connecticut Children’s Medical Center. This will be our third contribution to the hospital to brighten the wheelchairs for the young patients there. When we deliver the whimsical and colorful spokeguards to CCMC, I can see the pride and satisfaction in my students, who know that they have made the hospital a little brighter and happier for everyone who sees their wonderful work.
February 16th, 2010 at 11:52 pm
hey,im from alaska northpole high school and i just wanted to say that this program has changed my life. thank you.
February 12th, 2010 at 2:24 pm
You know you have made an impact on your community when:
I had a truck following closely behind me this morning, I thought, “oh I should move over because he will want to pass” (I was in the left lane), so just as I put on my signal light, he did as well and went around me on the right hand side. I thought oh great, he’s going to be upset, because I didn’t move over in in to the right lane and let him pass. As he drove past me, I turned to look at him and he was giving me the Challenge Day I love you sign….!!!! It was awesome!!! (I have the Be The Change bumper sticker in my back window, so he must have been familiar with Challenge Day!) It felt wonderful! Then yesterday, I saw someone had written “Be the Change” on the back of van. (in the dirt on the window). I smiled all the way home.
February 12th, 2010 at 1:37 pm
I haven’t made this act of change yet, but I’m looking into speaking about suicide prevention here in Nebraska, and again in Michigan this summer when I go back home. I want all people to know their not alone, and that they can speak out and get help before its too late. I want to speak about my story and hopefully give others the courage to reach out too.
February 4th, 2010 at 7:12 pm
Since I saw the clip of this movement in my Teen Health class last year, I had (literally) prayed that they would come to my school. Unfortunately I was not selected to participate in this event when it came, but I think it is amazing how many people came back so much nicer. The people who went who have judged me, stereotyped against me, and made nasty remarks about me behind my back have stopped almost completely. School is much easier without that problem. I hope it stays this way.
January 31st, 2010 at 11:20 am
Rich and Yvonne shared an idea from Stratford ON which we took and enhanced. Local stores donated shovels and windshield scrapers on which we wrote: You have just received an act of change, please pay it forward. We then got busy scraping windsheilds and shovelling driveways, leaving our tools behind, hoping that the deed would be paid forward. The local press jumped on this story and the commmunity became very excited. So many people wanted to play, that we had to go back and ask for more shovels and scrapers. The cool thing is that at this very moment, someone might be scraping or shovelling! The love never stops.
January 30th, 2010 at 6:32 pm
when people crossed the line and the people that did not cross the line for that caterogry saw the people that did cross the line and they saw that everybody is not the same in many different ways and thngs that they do for different reasons and that all i have to say for now thanks a agian for everything thanks………………………………………..!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
January 27th, 2010 at 4:39 pm
I sent all my friends and family good morning texts, with different inspirational quotes in each one.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:33 pm
I switched to “green” bath products! All of my shampoo, conditioner, and soap are free of animal products and testing, all natural, and biodegradable.
January 26th, 2010 at 12:12 am
I really wanted to do something more original, but I decided to get started by paying the toll for the person behind me for the Oakland Bay Bridge on my way to the airport. The lady toll taker was pretty much on auto pilot as I handed her the money and the card with the request. She kind of perked up and smiled as she handed me my change and I watched in the rear view mirror as the car pulled up to her and then continued. I felt such exhilaration imagining the pleasant shock the person behind me had received and it seemed to me that creating heaven on earth could be so easy if we all spent some time each day thinking about little inexpensive things we could give or do for each other!
January 25th, 2010 at 12:05 pm
I used an ‘I statement’ to ask a friend for what I truly needed from him, rather then being angry with him, resenting him, or simply holding it in. He graciously agreed and congratulated me for setting the boundary that I needed for myself.
January 23rd, 2010 at 2:06 pm
A fellow at the mall was sitting there with jumper cables and i watched as 5 cars went around him so when it was my turn i pulled over and helped him out:)
January 23rd, 2010 at 12:28 pm
my act of change will be able to help some of the kids at my skl who feel alone and seeing this movie help me to realize i felt alone in my days i did some things until someone told me they were there for me now i wanna be there for other people.
January 21st, 2010 at 7:27 pm
be the change is designed to inspire, peace from the inside out and to create hope while challengings individals to find their passion on for all people.
the be the change movement inspires people to noticewhat’s happening in the world aroud them, to choose actions that create postive, change , and act as a living example of thr power of cantribution and compassion.
i think and my friend i think challenge was amazing and always be amazing.
January 21st, 2010 at 7:09 pm
during challenge day i gave almost every teacher and helper , friends huges….
January 21st, 2010 at 6:59 pm
when we got those cards that we had to write on … here’s what i wrote dear mom i hope some time during this summer i will be to come and spend a couple of days with you and your husband. i miss you and love you mommy. from your bay bryan abraham
January 20th, 2010 at 8:59 pm
Yesterday I helped an elderly lady from my town up the stairs, into the bank, and back out to her car. She greeted me with the biggest smile, and hug telling me: “there needs to be more young ladies like you out there.” I think I made her day, and she made mine
January 20th, 2010 at 1:02 pm
you gues rock and it helps
January 20th, 2010 at 1:00 pm
my act of change is helping me and my family get along a lot better and it make life a lot eaiser for my mom and my dad, brother ,sister ,and me as well…..
January 20th, 2010 at 10:13 am
whats up peeps i think that what you talk about will change the school boone grove middle school
January 19th, 2010 at 3:45 pm
I was in Challenge day today. And I’ll be honest with you, when I was about to go to Challenge Day, I was talking to my friend, Joan. I told him that I was NOT going to cry today, yet, odd, I criedand cried and cried every time I crossed that line. It actually made me feel great in the end of it all!
January 18th, 2010 at 3:17 pm
I had a conversation with my neighbor. After that we meet up at the ski hill and went on a bunch of runs together.
January 18th, 2010 at 3:16 pm
I said hi to a random person at my school, who looked at me blankly before walking on.
January 18th, 2010 at 3:14 pm
My act of change was helping my sister with her chores when she was busy with homework.
January 18th, 2010 at 3:10 pm
I cleaned the entire house without being asked
January 15th, 2010 at 6:48 pm
I went out of my way to ask a man who was visiting a next step training who he was and what makes him happy in life - His answer blew me away - he said seeing people love one another - He was surely in the right place
January 15th, 2010 at 6:46 pm
Today I paid for the groceries of a single mother who didn’t have enough food stamps - It was an amazing experience to see her and her child light up with appreciation
January 15th, 2010 at 3:15 pm
heyy i help my auntie with baking and cleaning up lol hahaha funn
January 15th, 2010 at 3:12 pm
My act of change is that when I went to turn the car on like I do everyday and I scraped the windshield which I don’t usually do.
January 15th, 2010 at 2:17 pm
I have graduated and been in the working world for 8 years and I am still impacted by Challenge Day. It changed my life in the most postive way.
January 12th, 2010 at 5:27 pm
i loved when chalenge day came to my school (:
January 9th, 2010 at 7:19 pm
I’m student council vice-president at my high school, and I’ve realized that people listen to what I have to say. I’m going to organize a TADD(Teens Against Drunk Driving)rally at my high school. If I have the attention of my teachers and peers, why not tell them something that’s worth hearing. I don’t know if it’ll save lives… But if doing this means someone I love will think twice before driving inebriated or getting into a car with a drunk driver, I’ve acheived my goal.
January 8th, 2010 at 7:30 pm
I just want to say that Challenge Day truely helped me more than imaginable. Only 2 weeks prior to Challenge Day I had been begging my parents to allow me to home school. I thought that leaving would be the only way to feel safe at school. I was getting verbal abuse everyday, and now, I feel like I have a family standing behind me! If it wasn’t for Challenge Day at my school, I would never have known the feeling of love and compassion from my fellow classmates, that I feel now. Thank you soooo much for all that you have done for me and my school! I promised Pam and Ray Ray that I would hug anyone feeling lonely in the halls, or the class rooms, or any where! I plan to keep my promise and BE THE CHANGE!
Once again thank you!
LOVE always and FOR EVER,
Alexa
Argyle HS
January 8th, 2010 at 5:23 pm
khayree i saw ur album! this waz a fun program! loved it. be the change!!!
January 8th, 2010 at 5:21 pm
this waz soooo fun and great!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!thxx
December 22nd, 2009 at 11:54 am
Today I made a point to hug students and let them know I love them! <3
December 16th, 2009 at 3:57 pm
Today was Challenge Dayy at Mott hall V and I had a blast! Although I have been through it already last year, this year was a fantastic time too. I learned that you need to be the change of what you want the world to be. I cried this year which made me feel a lot stronger…but last year i cried the most..that i had to use a whole tissue box too! Challenge day helped me feel stronger and notice that i am not alone when something bad happens because i now know that others might have also gone through it before or even going through it right now. I have changed and now i know that to never doubt a person on the way they act because there might be a big reason y they act the way they do. Plus, after challenge day i veiwed the world differently and thought before i acted to situations. Even though I have gone through it so much i wish that i can go through it again next year because it just makes me feel live again knowing that there are people there for me always! I will pass this day on to others by telling them about it and how challenge Day has changed my life! Notice, Choose, Act!!
December 16th, 2009 at 8:07 am
hi, we just had challenge day at our school yesterday and it was life changing for us. some many of the students in our grade were smiling, and then at other times the were laughing, or crying, but by the end of the day we had so much more fun then we thought we would. thank you angela and chris for coming all the way to jersey to do this activity. i,austin,our classmates, and our teachers had sooo much fun thank you! BE THE CHANGE YOU WANT TO BE!
December 7th, 2009 at 9:22 pm
Every Sunday,my friends and I treat anyone who needs it,to a nice hot lunch-soup,buns and treats.
Recently we were joined by another group of folks and, now our lunch guests get sandwiches and
hot chocolate too!
This all started when one woman and her daughter noticed a need in our community and decided to do something about it:)
December 7th, 2009 at 4:53 pm
i know i probally didnt stand out to them in their day to day school visits but they changed my life and i will always remember this day.
December 7th, 2009 at 2:33 pm
Once again, we have had an amazing Challenge Day experience here in Williams Lake! If you really knew me you would know that I LOVE CHALLLENGE DAY!!!!!
Thanks to Randy and Angela, two beautiful, amazing and wonderful Challenge Day leaders, whose genuine love and compassion for those in our community was evident on their faces and in their hugs. Williams Lake, really is Being The Change we wish to see in the world!
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:57 pm
i helped my mom at work today and i helped my neighbors kids with there homework
November 23rd, 2009 at 10:15 am
My community participated in a two day “Challenge Day” event recently. We had the joy of meeting Jyoti and Rich. I was so amazed and describe what happened in my community on those two days, as a miracle. I had the opportunity to meet and “drop the waterline” with people I never would have bothered to get to know in my own community, it was such a transformative ultra-special two days. I was so tired, but energized with such hope and purpose that I am involved in organizing our first “Be the Change” group this evening, we hope to continue and nurture the movement in others and those that were involved in the two days. It is up to us to continue with the good teachings shared with us by the “Challenge Day” folks. I am so impressed by the way in which things moved on those days. Miigwech (Thank-You) Jyoti and Rich for coming to our beautiful island. We love you.
November 21st, 2009 at 9:37 pm
When i was in challenge day i learned that im not the only with problems and at the end of the day you realize many people go through the same problems like you do.I have to say that challenge day really changed my life ,like i dont judge people anymore.Challenge day was an amazing inspiration. Thank You!!!
November 18th, 2009 at 5:25 pm
The challenge day team can to our school today to talk to the grade 10’s. I really enjoyed your program and found it empowering and inspiring. So many people are going through things and it made the world of difference to be able to talk about it. When we “crossed the line” it made me realize that we are not in this alone. There is always someone we can turn and talk to - as long as their willing to listen. Additionally, the challenges and stories put out to everyone by people were extremely eye-opening and emotional. People that I had previously made fun of or talked about, were brought into a whole new light and what they are going through is unbelievable - I should have never judged them the way I did. Thanks for coming to our school, I think you have started something that will last for a long time to come!
November 18th, 2009 at 1:38 pm
We will stop checking, playing, making fun of other kids,and putting each other down.
November 12th, 2009 at 7:08 pm
OK, there are lots of people on facebook and myspace that might need help. My friend lives in florida and is having harding life, people pick on her alot, barly has any friends. I think You should have challenge day online because it wouldnt be just one or two places at a time, it will be global. I know this will work for lots of people, it did for me. I have opened up stuff for so long till challenge day was at my school. (note to self, im really bad at typing letters and spelling,lol) i dont know how to sent Emails that great,lol
November 10th, 2009 at 7:40 pm
I just recently attended a challenge day at my high school. Before I went, I had no idea what to expect and thought it was going to be “cheesy” and a waste of time. By the time I left at the end of the day, I had cried several times, just from hearing about what my friends and peers were going through - some things that I have experienced myself and know that no one should go through alone. Challenge day really made me gain a sense of community in my school, which I never felt before. I’m so thankful that our school was able to have a challenge day and give everyone the chance to share what they are feeling, and get support from their teachers and friends. I especially enjoyed the energy of our hosts Katie and Jake, who shared their life stories with us and (at least for me) really bonded with the group. I wish that all schools would get the change to take part in a challenge day, and that one day I will be able to help out others, through challenge day or another organization, the way that you guys have helped me and my friends.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I finally told me sister that i love her.
November 10th, 2009 at 9:36 am
I do not really talk to my sister. And when i do i am rude to her. Friday, Saturday, and Sunday(11/6-11/8) i went to the Next Step Worskshop. I realized what i was doing was so wrong. I was hurting my sister
November 9th, 2009 at 9:34 am
Our school here in Provo, Utah released over 200 red balloons last week. As we let them go we played Challenge Day Song “Love and Remember” Each of us made a pledge as they floated off to be the change and make a difference by being drug free. We each vowed to stand for healing the pain caused by drug usage by our friends and loved ones. It was powerful.
November 8th, 2009 at 6:37 pm
that was a great chioce for me to go to chalenge day because if i didnt go i would be a the person but i did change from that day…. thank you for coming to my school……
November 6th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
Today I called and texted several family members who live in Montana, Virginia, Kansas, Hawaii, Washington and California to tell them that I love thema and how special they are to me and to the family. Why wait to tell people that you love them? Why not spread to good stuff around more generously? ;o) I also hugged myself for being a good sister and a great cousin. ;o)
November 5th, 2009 at 5:33 pm
Thank you guys so much to come to our school and teache us that we all have stuff in common and we dont realese it tell people starts opening up to you and i think its great EVERY SCHOOL SHOULD HAVE CHALLENGE DAY so you can talk to people that you really never talk to in school i had challenge day yeserday and i been sitting with people that i dont really known that are sitting by there self and i talk to them and eat with them I LOVE CHALLENGE DAY THANK YOU GUYS.
November 5th, 2009 at 5:21 pm
I wrote a Thank you letter to the gentleman who made my most recent vacation turn out wonderful and included a gift card for Starbucks. (I was stuck in Miami with no passport and unable to board the cruise) He had gone above and beyond in giving me a sense of peace and made me feel taken care of. I also took the time to write the manager of the Inter-Continental Hotel to share my expierence and to state what a treasure they had in that employee!
November 5th, 2009 at 3:20 pm
A couple of days ago, I received a ‘homeplay’ from my teacher; do at least one act of change during the next two days. Once you get an assignment, you start to see how many things you could change. It’s easy to say hi to a stranger while walking to a optometrist, or hold the door for a heavy-burdened stranger. Telling your family you love them always cheers you up, especially if they say ‘I love you’ back. Recycling and Composting are great for the environment.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
I was at Star bucks garbing a hot chocolate and as I was there was a lady that had a little kid holding on to her left hand and 3 coffees in the other, so I went over and held the door for her. She smiled and left happily.
November 5th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
I filled up the furnace room with wood with out being asked to help my dad.
November 4th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
So today my sister, Christina was helping kids out for challenge day in her school. WHen she got home she told me she had fun and told me everything that happend. She said they played games and listen to what people had to say about there lives,Some not as bad as others but,everyone in her group at one time she’d a tear today. My sister said as she sat around the cirlce looking at all the younger kids that had it worse then her she couldnt help but give everyone a hug, and smile at the kids who shared there storys. When It was my sister’s Time to share her story she didnt realy talk about herself but my other sister and I. She told everyone How her father was strict when we where younger to the point we couldnt even talk to boys, then she told them about are older sister who is 19 and has a baby girl.She also talked about me having a baby on the way. I guess at the end of this whole thing they all had to write a note to someone. My sister picked me witched touched me alot. She said in this note that she could never explain to me how muchh she loves me and how much she looks up to me. She said I was the strongest person she noes.Skipping through some of it I read this”Although you are pregnant and I thought at first you were realy dumb I realized how much its affected you and has made you the sister im proud to have today” That is what hit me. She could write to anyone at all. Anyone it didnt even have to be me.But, she wrote to me. My sister today made my day alot better to live and my future to come very happy. I just hope you all know that Challenge day isnt just about istting in a circle and tlaking about your promblems with others but, making a difrence in others lifes. thanks for reading this:)
November 4th, 2009 at 10:42 am
hay im glad i found this site because it helps people change there lives and me 2 love u all cus ur changein lives
November 3rd, 2009 at 3:32 pm
I wish there was a simple solution to end poverty..although indubitably it will be difficult, it CAN be done.
let’s join together and try, try to help those communities that are struggling to put food on the table.
let’s join forces and make change, change to benefit not only those around us, but those whom look at us, so they can know that we are the best nation because politics don’t come first, the people do.
November 2nd, 2009 at 6:01 pm
Dakota ridge has completely become a new panorama for me, Angela and Tony changed the perspective of things and gave a new point of view i’d never thought i’d see. They made even the most stubborn let a tear out, and that was strange, because in Dakota Ridge there are a lot of prejudicial people, never realizing what others have in their balloon or so called. I’m a junior in high school and I’ve gone to Challenge day all three years, I look forward to it because its like a refreshing day were i get to start anew, because my nice self gets a little rusty at the end of the year… But still I’ve learned a lot and hope to continue learning through my last year of high school next year, because those values I’m sure will never go away and have made me think i want to be part of the crew when i grow up and help even the most emotionally in need… It’s a day to never forget.
November 2nd, 2009 at 1:20 am
I was talking to a young Mom while attending a baby shower. Got to talking about spiritual things and I sensed a need for connection and family. I invited her to come to visit my church and she ewas very grateful for the invitation. She even Facebooked my daughter about it and I believe she will be attending next week.
I’ll let you all know OK.
October 29th, 2009 at 3:55 pm
Thank thank u thank u thank u for coming to fletcher high school it was fun exciting and very loving . in that room was how i wanted the world to be loving caring kind and funny of course. ray ray was my favorite but jenifer was real i love u both and thank u for showing me how to show my love towards people today 2 days after challenge day i’ve been giving people who need a hug a hug and getting 12 hugs a day.once again thank u and god bless u love charlandra.i would love to get emails so my email is duvaltruesoldier@yahoo.com .
October 29th, 2009 at 6:34 am
Yesterday as I rushed to “Panera” to grab a quick & healthy lunch before my next home visit as I parked I saw a little cat ( white with collar no #) looking scared , hungry & dirty… I started to talk to him : ” It is Ok love, it is ok… you are ok… so gently I picked him up and put him in my car. I did not know what to do. I was hungry & could only think of getting something to eat before heading to my next appointment.I called a good friend that rescue lots of cats and asked for the shelter’s# …The more I looked @ the little felow I could not bring myself to the shelter… I would not have the time to drive there. So i called another friend and she said, bring it here, go to your appointment & come back, so I did. Long story short “Marshmallow” (my daughter Gabriela named him)is an albino cat around 10 months old is was exhausted, hungry & frightened… he did not eat, or drink yesterday. Today i checked on him @ 4 am & he was eating and lay down wanting me to pat him. New addition to our family <3 <3 <3
October 28th, 2009 at 6:56 pm
when i went to challenge day the other day going in it thought it would be boring and pointless but when i came out of it im a way different person. challenge day mad me realize im not alone and there are many people just like me and i felt i was able to express how i feel without being judged and i was listend to for once. knowing people go through the same things i go through and the troubles i go through changed me as a person.i highly recomend if you ever have the chance to participate in challenge day. do it its saved my life and has changed me as a person. and its truley one of the best experiences of my life.
October 28th, 2009 at 5:08 pm
I real like your club i hope to see you again thank you for all the love today.
October 28th, 2009 at 2:47 pm
I try to make a change every day of my life, whether it is by smiling at a stranger, holding a door open for another or thanking someone who doesn’t expect it. I do this to hopefully promote others to pay it forward and also for my children to learn to respect others.
This world is scary right now and we need all those that have kind, open hearts to spread the good. The bad is taking over.
October 26th, 2009 at 2:52 pm
Today katie and chris cam to paris high in paris texas and talked to 100 of our 8th grade and it was really emotional and i learned alot of things i didnt know about other people it really helped me to get out of my comfort zone i mean im 13 year old boy and i cried so it dosent mean since your a boy you shouldnt crie they helped me to not be scared to speak and speak from my heart and also helped me to not be so scared about whats gonna happen next i would like to thank them for that much love
October 26th, 2009 at 2:16 pm
My school had Challenge Day today, and I have to say it was the best day of my life. The excitement, the cheerful people, the tears, the hugs…everything today was absolutely amazing to me. Without doing the activities that we did today, I think it is almost impossible for us to realize what kinds of things everyone goes through every single day of their lives, kids and adults alike.
October 26th, 2009 at 5:59 am
Emma - Challenge day was the first day to the rest of my life. I truly learned to love others as much as i love myself. its almost like the wind, you can’t see it. But you sure can feel it. And boy did i feel it that day. My future is now as bright as the sun, and as special as the kids of the future. Amen.
Libby-Challenge day was an ahh-mazingg experince for me it showed me that everyone has problems and strugles to deal with everyday.and that everyone is the same on the inside.When i look at people i will think about them and there life befor i make it that more complicated for them.
October 26th, 2009 at 2:45 am
I opened up the web page and a wave of emotion immediately rushed over me as I was reminded about my own experience. I participated in a Challenge Day 6 years ago!!! and to this day it is still one of my most memorable experiences. As dramatic as it may seem, the “line crossing activity” my dad, my brother, and I participated in completely changed my life. By the end of it all three of us were in tears and unbelievably emotional, not only re-experiencing some of our own difficulties/tragedies, but watching others enduring memories and parts of their lives as well. My dad was especially moved by the experience and has brought it to multiple high schools in our suburban Michigan area. I feared that many of the kids in our surrounding high schools, even some of my own friends, would not be open and accepting to the experience, but I cannot even explain how pleased (and how proud of my dad)I was to hear my big,macho,tough guy friends tell me how amazing the experience was. As I said, its not been six years since my last challenge day and it is something I feel the need to tell so many people about. I now live in Los Angeles, California and I would love to be a part of bringing it to schools in this area. Challenge Day is amazing and I just want to thanks for being such a positive organization.
October 25th, 2009 at 6:33 pm
Keep recycling for everything.
October 25th, 2009 at 7:18 am
I’m an 18 year old participant of Katimavik in New Brunswick. I’ve been here for a month, and yesterday I participated for the first time in the 4th annual Gulu Walk in Fredericton. It gave me an immense feeling of pride and happiness that I could be part of such an amazing organization. What the Gulu Walk does is raise money and awareness for/about Northern Uganda and the tragedies that have been going on there. It is in strong support of the children between the ages of 7 and 17 who are forced into being soldiers, sex slaves, spies, etc.. The majority of the population in Uganda are children to the age of 17.
Last weekend I built my own cardboard shelter and slept in it for 12 hours in support of the homeless here in Fredericton and all over the world.
As I mentioned, I am very proud and happy to have the opportunity to learn of such things as these and become an active “global citizen”. Thank you Katimavik.
http://www.guluwalk.com/
October 24th, 2009 at 6:24 pm
I am practicing honest, trust, and openness is EVERY relationship.
October 23rd, 2009 at 1:41 pm
I perticipated in challenge day freshman year. It truly let me open up to others and was the begining of confidence in myself. Before i knew it, i had become a member of the Be The Change club. I’m so excited to be a part of this club and further celebrate and support our community. There is so much planned, and i can’t wait to share my happieness with everybody else. ^u^
a thanks to challenge day,
Amanda
October 22nd, 2009 at 9:31 am
this is katherine williams and I was a former student of everett high school and attended be the change at everett high I think there the most amazing school that has brought alot of change to there peers
October 22nd, 2009 at 4:59 am
ray.ray and mzima came to lafayette jeferson high school and showed me how to starte a new life and i have iv stoped bullying in my school and i have stoped put downs….i plan on continuing this habit..thank you for changeing my life
October 21st, 2009 at 1:07 pm
I had Challenge Day at my school yesterday. It was the best experience of my life. It mad me realize that it is not a good idea to bottle up all my feelings inside. Its ok to let yourself cry when you feel like it. I also had a fun time, the dancing was soo much fun. I think now my perspective of life has changed and that it is going to just keep gatting better and better. At my school people form cliques to keep things to certain people. The people with money soometimes think they run the school. Going into the gym i wasn’t sure how the day was going to go I didn’t know what to expect. the speakers introduces theirselves. Aunty Nola and Chris were quite the characters to be around. They are at my school for three days. Many tears have and are going to be shed. A lot of hugs are going around. The activities had everyone invovled. I will never forget this day.
Thank You with all my heart,
Taylar Price, a sophomore at Beloit Memorial High School
October 20th, 2009 at 9:39 pm
Challenge day was today and i assumed some things about it but i was totally wrong and i learned not to judge. Are community needs to learn to love and appreciate people not just put people down.
I learned to speak out and let my voice be heard or else i’ll never get it out there and people won’t know what im going through. I already knew people had the same problems as me but to here them face to face was good for me to share. Challenge Day truthfully changed me. much RESPECT…
October 20th, 2009 at 5:50 pm
I would like to say this changed my life, I just went to it today. I believe the Kids and Adults who attend this program will surly feel changed by it.
October 20th, 2009 at 5:18 pm
today my school had the first ever challenge day nd at first i didnt know what to think but when they said to go around and find sombody you dont knoe and give them a hug i was kind a scared cause i dont really talk to people that i dont know so am like uhh i dont think so but then as the day went on i felt more comfortable with my surroundings nd it turned out that i had a blast with aunty nola nd chris lol love you guys lol
October 20th, 2009 at 1:30 pm
Wow! You guys are great, Vinny and Jon came to South Huron District High School today, and they were simply amazing. What they do, is really great. And Vinny and Jon are so cute. ^^ Thanks guys for everything.
I will be the change I want to see in the world. <3.
October 19th, 2009 at 7:03 pm
thank you for the challenge day leaders that came to our school!
(WHOOOOO!)
It was an amazing experience. It was the most inspirational day of my life, and i am ready to be part of the CHANGE!
it’s exactly what our country, our WORLD needs! Change! we DO have the power to make peace. to build happiness, and love towards one another instead of putting each other down with nasty insults and accusutions. you know, why is it that we can’t be ourselves anymore? why is that so wrong? isn’t that who we are supposed to be? our selves? my middle schools leaders for the day, tony, and pam, (i think) they told us that we are like icebergs. we only let our image show above the suface. and thats only 10%. what happens to the other 90%? ITS HIDDEN. because right now, we live in fear. and fear is exactly whats holding us back from standing up for ourselves. BEING US!!!
from now on, i am promising to make the change. and i’m pretty sure our whole school is up for it too. when grow up, i want to be exactly like the people in this foundation.
THANK YOU!
October 19th, 2009 at 5:23 pm
Pam and Tony came to my school for challenge day today, and I LOVED IT! Thank you so much for coming! I was completely changed, and I learned things about some of my closest friends that I would have never thought about before. Challenge Day completely changed my look on the school and my friends, and I am so grateful for that. Now there will be no more bullying, teasing, fighting, or gossiping. I feel like I dont have to worry about any of that anymore and that I can just be myself and not care what other people think. I feel so much closer to my friends and people that I never would have talked to before. I met new people and I am so happy that they came and did this with us. Thank you!
October 16th, 2009 at 6:21 pm
today i actually listened to my mom and did what she told me.it feels so good to be on her good side.now no one is mad.
October 15th, 2009 at 3:58 pm
We had it today,a nd it changed me so much i feel like a brand new person and i just wanted to hug all of my friends. I felt soo connected to my friends it was a great experience overall.:) thanx to jenn and jake
October 15th, 2009 at 12:50 pm
For Kalida High School, for each issue that the teens go through, helping them being mature, responsible teens that they are Jeremiah 29:11 for they will have a future & Hope
kalidak12.oh.us
October 14th, 2009 at 4:59 pm
Notice-To many youths and adults are doing drugs and parents need to get involved with the community to help these people recover and live a normal life. Choose-I have chose to help these people with their additions. Act-I will save one person at a time and will mentor them to stay clean.
October 12th, 2009 at 1:54 pm
<3 you Bernice and Ray-Ray! It was weird because some people in my group, whose lives I thought were so perfect, really weren’t… It was an amazing chance to share my shared battles with my best friend.
October 10th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Thank you so much to Tony and Jyoti for taking time out of your lives to come help us be the change at Perry County Middle School in Missouri on October 7th and 8th. You have really helped us out and you guys have brought the whole seventh grade together and we all have closer bonds with each other. Challenge Day for myself and others was a fun and emotional experience that I know I will remember for a long time. Tony and Jyoti, you have helped us all “drop the waterline” and get real with ourselves and others around us. If you saw the ways others are treating others now you would be proud because we have broke the forcefield around the cliques and the drama and I just wanted to thank you so much for all of your hard work at our school. I hope that you can help other schools like you have greatly helped ours.
P.S- Tony and Jyoti, if you ever have the time i would appreciate it if you guys would comment back to me
October 8th, 2009 at 11:05 am
I went to Challenge Day last year as a Sophomore and I am so excited to go again as a student facileter this year for my school. I believe that Challenge Day brought my class closer together we are a better class because of Challenge Day. Challenge Day also brought me out of my shell and made me realize that you don’t always to worry about what people think about you. The people who care about the real you is all that matters. I hear about schools where the kids there are so rude to each other and do horrible things to people and I’m glad that my school isn’t like that the only thing I wish for my school is that kids here didn’t seperate and judge just because of what a person looks like or their beliefs. Most of this is done by girls but also done by boys, I never understood how you could belittle someone just because their different or their not the popular kid. I always try to make everyone feel comfortable and nice to them, I don’t see the point anymore of being mean to someone. I use to be the mean girl but Challenge Day changed me and made me realize that if your the mean girl your not going to get very far and you might lose your real friends because of your actions. And I think since Challenge Day people think of me differently and they don’t see the mean girl that makes fun of them anymore they see the girl that smiles at them and stops to talk to them in the hallway. Well thanks guys!
October 7th, 2009 at 8:17 pm
I would like to thank Auntie Nola and Randy of the Challenge Day program for coming to my school to talk to my fellow 8th graders and I earlier today and showed us a different way of life and others. This program is amazing. I am a shy, not popular person at my school. When i took the time to talk to a popular person, i learned we have more in common than I thought. I had so much fun and i really showed my emotions ( I cried wayyyyyy too much).
Thank You Auntie Nola, Randy, and the entire Challenge Day Program for helping us here in Virginia to respect one another and to have the couage to tell others of the terrible things that have happened in our lives.
BE THE CHANGE!! SHARE THE LOVE!!
Sincerely,
Alyssa Morris
8th grader
Simpson MS, Virginia
[date of challenge day: Sept 7th, 2009]
October 7th, 2009 at 10:16 am
Challenge day was fun but it told me that im not the only one who has issues. it was emotinal but now other people know an i that were not alone and that we could talk to more people about our issues.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:01 am
Challenge day made me realize that there are a lot of other people who have to go through some of the same situations as i do, and that i can go and talk to any of them. I realized that I’m not alone. Challenge day also made me realize what other people are going through. It was a lot of fun, and very emotional. I think challenge day helped a lot of people, and I’m glad you came.
October 7th, 2009 at 8:00 am
I had really fun yesterday, it made me feel really wide open when I cried a lot. Thank you and I will make a change in the world. {:-)
October 7th, 2009 at 7:59 am
Challenge day changed me alot, I see many people differnet now and I shall treat them better than I used to. now if I see any act of bullying I shall attemp to stop it and not just watch.
October 7th, 2009 at 7:18 am
Since Challenge Day came to our school, I feel that everyone is getting along better. I feel a lot better and I made more friends.
Thank you.
October 7th, 2009 at 7:17 am
I love cahllenge day. It change my whole life. It is so much fun. CHALLENGE DAY ROCKS!
I like the part were we have to run really quick to get a seat at the other side and the last person that doesn’t get a seat has say something
October 5th, 2009 at 11:38 am
What an emotional roller coaster it was to participate in Challenge Days. I’ve been in inspired to reach out to more new people within my school and also make sure I recognize the people that I admire and keep them encouraged. I hope other students take this day to heart and help in the effort of instilling change … and not going back. Big thanks to our Challenge Day Leaders, Katie and Kakoa!! We love you guys and you will always be remembered.
September 30th, 2009 at 8:30 pm
We had challenge today and as student leader the program is truly inspirational and eye opeinging to me and I know countless others.
Thank you
Tony and Joti
September 30th, 2009 at 8:24 pm
I had Challenge Day come to my school today. I am so fortunate to have this come to my school. I felt like all the walls and barriers came tumbling down today. I went up to the microphone and said the following words, “Last year, I went to a school where I was not aloud to wear what I wanted, act how I wanted, be bisexual, or be myself and I am so grateful to go to a school where people ARE aloud to wear what they want and act how they want and be weird and it doesn’t matter! Thank you!” I go to an arts magnet school and I am extreamly grateful to be there. When I said those words, I got a stand ovation and people were crying and they all came forward and hugged me and said, “We love you Charlotte!”. I am so happy to have finnaly been heard and cared for, for what I think and want to say. Thank you!
I will be the change I wish to see in the world.
September 25th, 2009 at 12:03 pm
I think that scince the program “Challeng Day” came i have been such a change in how i feel about other people and how i treat others. I think that i can for sure give a recomendation of how other should go to the “Challenge Day”
September 24th, 2009 at 10:38 am
I was entering a drive thru to pick up coffee and a snack and I allowed a car coming from the wrong direction in the line ahead of me. When I got to the window to pay for my order the car that I let in had already paid for it! I was amazed and it felt so good I intend to pay it forward soon!
September 21st, 2009 at 2:35 pm
My act of change today was to volunteer for parent patrol at the Middle School.
It was fun connecting with and meeting new kids!
September 19th, 2009 at 5:43 am
Challenge Day was the opportunity for me to share about my pending divorce. A girl in my small family has a father serving in Afganistan. And although she thought everything at home was “ok” without him there, I shared the pain that a father experiences not having his children close to him. The joy of doing things spontaneously, saying prayers at night, cooking or enjoying a meal, supporting his childrens’ goals, helping with homework, to wake up to their smiling faces, going to church…the list goes on of things that a father misses out on when separated from his children. Following the Power Shuffle, this girl released her tears, shared from her heart about missing her father and then eased back in her chair and looked at me saying, “This day is sooooooo bizarre.” I agreed. We connected. It was my favorite moment of Challenge Day. Thanks Ray Ray and Jennifer for sharing yourselves with us for two very powerful days.
September 18th, 2009 at 5:56 pm
today for the first time Northwood Middle school in northwood ohio had their 2009 8th graders participate in challenge day. it was a great experiance and helped everyone get to know eachother. we shared our emotions even the ones that hurt the most. it was a very toughtful and emotional day. everyone shared secrets and expressed themselfs. i would love to do challenge day again. i could say that it helped me a lot. i hope all the change will stay the same. Thankyou Katie and Sean for coming to help us with the changes in our school. everyone always remember Notice::::Choose::::Act! Three most important words. Challenge day has change my life. i learned how to be respectfull to others and most importantly MYSELF. Thankyou Kaite and Sean for your support.
September 18th, 2009 at 5:53 pm
I started a huge vegetable garden with a few friends. We produced so much food that we were able to give 98 pounds to the local food bank.
September 17th, 2009 at 5:03 pm
I have recently had a challenge day at my school and I am very grateful that they chose my school to enjoy this experiment. I went on September 14, 2009. The staff that was given to our school was Sela & Kekoa. And i wouldnt have wanted any other leaders to have done this challenge day for us. We had four days that were dedicated to challenge day. And on the fourth day we had a big assembly for the entire school. And although i heard the stories before and i knew what to expect everything still brought emotion to me. This experience brought so much change to our school is unbelievable. I am so thankful for what Sela & Kekoa did for our school no amount of words can even explain. They brought some children out of the dark and allowed them to speak without being afraid. I really enjoyed them at my school and I would love for them to come back. Kekoa’s story really touched my heart. Sela & Kekoa are two people in my life that i will never forget. Sela & Kekoa if you ever read this MAHALO. You have no idea what you have done for me. P.S if you guys get this comment please write back i would love to hear from you guys.Love you guys… Talk To You Guys Later.. (;
Thank You Sela & Kekoa
Love always,
Fuschia
Waianae HI,96792
September 16th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
I donated to my friend’s 3 day walk for breast cancer cause.
September 15th, 2009 at 5:11 pm
We had Challenge Day this week. I noticed when students were avoiding challenge day . . . I invited them to come again and again, and finally succeeded. The reluctant ones are my favorite. They have to most to learn and gain and I love them dearly:)
September 15th, 2009 at 4:56 pm
dear angela and chris,(; thank you for coming to our school evergreen junior high. me and my frineds really appreciate it everybody thaught that it was so cool what you guys(angela and chris)did. I wish that you two would come to evergreen more often than just once a year. I also wish that they had room for more than just the 150-200 people to go to the challenge day thanks for all that you guys did for me and my friends. when ever you guys had told us to write a letter to someone that we had loved or knew I had wrote it to my mom and when ever i gave it to her she had liked it and she had gave me a really big super hug. I think that was like you guys should do more than just challenge day stuff i think that yall guys should go to many schools and do many things like: have a fun day or just go there to just have a great and silly time with the other students. I had just wanted to say thank you for all you guys and mrs. amedee did for us guys at evergreen junior high school. so yeah thnx u gys(; <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 <3 yeah!
September 15th, 2009 at 11:07 am
I have been an adult facilitator with Fortuna Union High School Challenge Days for the past three years now and the following story shows how Challenge Days really does help ALL members of our community not just students. I was in the doctor’s office with my husband and he was wearing a Be the Change shirt that I had gotten as an adult facilitator during Challenge Days with Fortuna Union High School. One of the nurses stopped us and nearly shouted, “Where did you get that?”, we explained I had gotten it when I participated earlier that year. She proceeded to tell us a story of how her family had always been relatively tight nit and they were generally very happy, until her son became a freshman in high school. He started coming home from school very unhappy and began detaching himself, emotionally, from their family unit. They considered themselves to have strong Christian values but she said that didn’t seem to be helping. Her son attended a Challenge Day and she said one of his main tormentors had apologized and vowed to “Be the Change”. Her son was so excited when he came home that day and his life really was changed as was their entire families. This was several months after that, the bully had kept his promise, and she said her son was actually becoming friends with the boy who had previously been bullying him and he even joined our “Be the Change” team. By the end of her story she was in tears and so was I, I believed in the power of Challenge Days before this but I now see that the effects go far beyond that day and out into our community and for that I thank everyone who has helped make Challenge Days happen at our school and all over!!!!!! I hope that everyone, adult or child, gets a chance to be involved with Challenge Days at some point in their life. Please keep up the good work.
September 14th, 2009 at 1:23 pm
I would like to thank everyone at Challenge Day. It was my first Challenge Day today and I really enjoyed it. I can’t even describe how amazing it was. It was THAT cool. I really enjoyed it. Thanks for such a wonderful program. ;D
Houma, LA, heck yeah. We learned so much. It was the greatest experience ever. Thanks Ms. Angie and Mr. Chris. Yall have inspired me in more ways than I can express.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:09 pm
I noticed an elderly woman searching for her car in a parking lot. I asked her if she needed some help and she told me she was disoriented. I asked her what make and model her car was and asked her for the keys and together we went up the rows until we found it. She gave me a hug and said “God bless you.”
September 11th, 2009 at 4:06 pm
While checking out at my local grocery store I noticed that the cashier had beautiful eyes. I told her I thought her eyes were beautiful and she told me that she had been having a terrible day and I had just made it better and she really appreciated the connection. It was more about the connection than it was about the fact that I thought her eyes were beautiful.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:05 pm
Every September 11th I take cakes decorated with flags to the local fire stations to show appreciation for all that they give to their communites and in rememberence of 9/11. They are always touched, appreciative and surprised. It feels great.
September 11th, 2009 at 4:03 pm
I was walking into a restaurant and noticed two women exiting, one was on a walker and the other woman was trying to hold and help her. She was struggling with the heavy door. I ran to hold the door open so they could safely leave and the woman assisting the woman on the walker said “Oh, there are good people out there” and I said “yeah, and don’t ever doubt it.” It was a joy to see what nothing more than holding a door open created.
September 11th, 2009 at 12:17 pm
After experiencing Challenge Day we have been thinking a lot about how we can change our school and be a benefit to the community. We have been putting up posters around our school and meeting with our counselor weekly with ideas on Acts of Change. We want to thank Chris and Auntie Nola for their time,effort, and their love for students. We are truly trying to make a difference.
September 7th, 2009 at 3:28 pm
I go to East Cobb Middle School. I went to Challenge Day in the 7th grade. My leaders were Mzima and Chris. I had the time of my life. It was amazing. Through the tears and smiles. It really made you think. I may become a leader. I hope this year the 7th graders will feel the same. The effect didnt last long but while it did it was amazing. THANK YOU FOR THE AMAZING EXPERIENCE!!!!
September 4th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
I spent eight weeks this summer volunteering in rural Nicaragua with Amigos de las Americas!
September 4th, 2009 at 8:35 am
I partcipated in Challenge Day this week for the second time. This program has changed my life. I am overwhelmed with emotion while writing this blog. I wish every school and every student could experience this awesome program. I see so many sad, anger, and confused faces at school. I see kids getting bullied and it just breaks my heart. I truely believe after challenge Day our school will be a different place. I just WISH every young person could have the experience I did.
September 3rd, 2009 at 4:27 pm
I loved Challenge Day. It was very emotional but a great time. I just wish I could go back so I would have had enough courage to speak in front of everyone. I know what to say, but I just felt like I would mess up. I do have to say my first thoughts about the program was negative. I was thinking it was just a therapy session, but once I got there I realized it was so much more than that. I think it is one of those events that you didn’t want to end or something you can do again. Challenge Day has been one of the best experiences of my life. So if you are trying decide whether or not to go, It is great and something everyone should experience.
September 3rd, 2009 at 12:00 am
Only a day after I told my friend I don’t ever think that I could ever be a parent…
and the same day of me reading a book of how to raise confident kids ( A prize that I won from the radio God only knows why…)That’s when she rang my door… a bruised and hurting teen in need of a home.
Now I am so inspired to make a change!!! I need prayers and some huge support … with God anything is possible! P.S I would love to volenteer and bring this to Canada! Love ya all.
August 29th, 2009 at 9:57 am
Hello Everybody, My Name Is Tracey. Just This Week We Had Our Challenge Day. This Is My Second Year Attending. Ray Ray And Mzima, Our School Putnam City Origanal Would Like To Thank You For Coming And Getting Real And Keeping It Real With Us. It Has Not Been That Long, But Our School Is Really Turning Around.You Guys Have Made A Big Diffrence In Our School, And Touched So Many Of Our Lives. Auntie Lola, We Haven’t Forgot About You. Well Thank You Again For Your Kindness And Your Dedactaion 2 Make The World A Better Place And Our School Systems Around The World. HOPE TO SEE YOU NEXT YEAR!!!!!! PCO!!!!
August 27th, 2009 at 7:35 am
Jennifer and Chris who lead challenge day here at Vandebilt Catholic in Houma,Louisiana were absolutely AMAZING! I’ve been involved in retreats for the past ten years and have never seen kids so locked in and focused! Hearts were changed and I’m very inspired as a teacher and coach to continue to spread the message. It really has helped my students to link the message of Love through Jesus Christ and what took place yesterday! Thank you Jennifer and Chris! You were a blessing to our school!!! God Bless, Coach David Constant
August 25th, 2009 at 7:07 am
Im commiting to being a part of my Challenge Day leadership goup. We can’t wait for the Challenge Days and might be making warm fuzzies to pass out because, seriously, what better way to make everyone feel safe, loved, and celebrated than warm fuzzies?? Be the Change!
August 21st, 2009 at 9:01 am
CD blessed our staff w/ the AMAZING gift of hanging together having fun at Discovery Kingdom last week Friday and an ACT OF CHANGE (SEVERAL) were done to me so I want to share.
Richie Rich blessed Letalia (My Puka) w/ an electric Guitar that he (JG) won playing hoops at Discovery Kingdom. TOTAL Act of Change I didn’t even see that coming! THANKS Richie!
ANNNNND then… not only did Letalia get an electric Guitar, MAMA E blessed Letalia once again by paying for her VERY FIRST guitar lesson. I mean DANNNG!!!! Didn’t see that coming either! Thanks Mama E…
I LOVE the way you two LOVE and teach me how I can do it bigger and better. Thanks Mama E and Richie for believing in my baby!
August 16th, 2009 at 8:41 pm
I gifted a little boy with a toy dog
August 1st, 2009 at 10:26 pm
I have been fortunate enough to be an adult facilitator at four Challenge Days. Each was a unique, positive, growing, cathartic experience. Perhaps, if I’m lucky enough to participate a few more times, I will get to “cross the line” rather than remain on the side of the room when asked if I’ve never had the chance to be a child. That one gets my tears gushing each and every time, and each and every time I help facilitate a Challenge Day, I get the miraculous opportunity for a “do over” and be a child for a portion of the day. THANK YOU CHALLENGE DAY!!! XOXOXOXO
August 1st, 2009 at 6:33 am
Last night I was mildly bored and started to go through my phone after seeing all my contacts I felt I talked to most people on it enough. Though I felt there were people who I only put on my phone to ignore them later on. Still not feeling up to talking to them I talked to my friend who I usually talk to she talked to me about something bad that was going on so ?I decided the good thing to do was to keep talking to her so I canceled all my plans for the night expecting I would probably end up going to her house or talking on the phone for a long time. After calming her down she said thank you and I wished her a good night. After realizing I till had many hours to my night I decided to text a few people who I usually ignore. At first 2 of them texted me back.
heir names were Ben and Emily. Ben told me his life wasn’t going to great he tried to commit suicide before and he was thinking of it again. Emily told me that her dog died and she was really sad. I felt this was merely coincidence that the time I decided to talk to people something bad is happening. So feeling in the mood I talked to them both and Ben decided perhaps he will get some help I heard joy in his tone so I felt I helped him. Emily left the conversation smiling and said, “thank you for the good time.”
Ben texted me this morning that I had changed his life and he talked to his parents about help.
Emily has already told me that things really doing good until I talked to her so I changed her summer.
If you were wondering the other people responded and all are doing ok.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:59 am
Greetings to all from everyone here in Raleigh, N.C.!
I’m just starting to post flyers for a “Be the Change” Club here at East Wake Middle School. While I feel myself getting really excited about the potential, self-doubt/uncertainty/anxiety always seem to creep up…Regardless- I’m committed to bringing a positive change to our school and community! Any advice from those of you that have started a club or circle?
Many thanks-
R. Lewis
July 30th, 2009 at 11:09 am
Am organizing a drive for hygiene products for a local battered women’s shelter for Domestic Violence Awareness Month in October. My circle is going to begin collecting donations to help with this effort.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:08 am
Took my mom’s car to get washed without telling her what I was doing or why. She was sooo excited to have a clean car. She’s been putting that off.
July 30th, 2009 at 11:07 am
Have been communicating with a coordinator for Challenge Day in a local school, helping her come up with fundraising ideas.
July 29th, 2009 at 1:08 pm
I was getting some fajitas for lunch(i was hungry). As I was ordering I say a man that looked like he was hungry too…probably alot more hungry than I was. When asked if I wanted it for here or to go, I automatically said here, but quickly changed my ansewer to go. I asked for 2 forks and extra tortillas. I walked across the street and sat next to him. At first he looked at me like he had invaded my space and that he should get up. I quickly smiled and said,” would you like to share my fajitas?” he looked at me like I was an alien. I then lifted the two forks out of the bag and said “i have an extra fork and extra tortilla’s.” he then sat down and looked at me as he pulled his hood off and said with a smile” do you have sour cream?” I said”you bettcha!” we then shared a lunch and talked about things like his love of baseball and how he could have been pro is he didn’t get injured and got addicted to pain meds. I talked about my mother and family that have struggled with sddiction and told him that for some reason everything happens for a reason, even things that seem to suck. She laughed and said “well if I was pro I probably wouldn’t be having fajitas right now.” that made me giggle.
July 27th, 2009 at 3:14 pm
Since my mom is out of town I went over to her house and ironed all of my dads clothes. Just like he likes them. I also sent an email to my mom so she know dad is being well taken care of.
July 27th, 2009 at 3:12 pm
While taking my afternoon walk around my neighborhood I helped my elderly neighbor carry her groceries to her house. If you really knew me… you would know that I have lived in the same building for 3 years and have attempted to befriend her a number of times with no success. Thursday, I made an extra effort to be super nice and made a friend out of it.
July 24th, 2009 at 9:51 pm
Our challenge Day on campus was broken into 3 days. I was on a friday right before the weekend. I thought Challenge Day would be some repeat of some councilor telling us “its ok”. But after going, my life has changed drastically. I’ve made new friends, which I see as family now. Even when I fell to my knees crying, people where all around me to help me. This for sure is one of my greatest days I’ve lived. I send a warm thank you to everyone who has helped Challenge Day become such an amazing thing.
July 23rd, 2009 at 1:16 pm
Today during my staff meeting I got very vulnerable and talked about my financial situation and had a mini session. The act of change is that I had open space to feel my feelings, to cry, to be mad, to be angry, to be ashamed and to be embarrassed about that stress.
July 22nd, 2009 at 8:31 am
This morning as I was on my daily mission to fuel my inner-caffeine beast, a man asked me if I could help him out… he was trying to get a transit ticket and needed money. I smiled apologetically and said, “Sorry, I don’t have any cash” – because I didn’t (though, if I’m really being honest, that was convenient since I had a voice of ‘“NO, I don’t want to give you any money” echoing in my head).
As I walked away he smile and said “Ok… thank you…” And then, with a look of concern on his face: “…please don’t tell on me…”
While I’m not sure who he was worried I would tell – it really struck me.
How many times have *I* felt like I didn’t want to be “told on” for doing something. And more so, how often have I felt like I was doing something wrong, or something to be embarrassed about, when I was asking for help?
Inside the coffee shop, as I paid for my coffee with a “buy 5 get 1 free” stamp-card and used my debit card for my $3 muffin… I had a moment to notice how fortunate I am to be able to do just those things, and how I wished everyone was. I then remembered that in my wallet I had an unused transit ticket with $1.50 fare still on it. So, I chose to share my fortunateness.
As I walked out, I acted and I gave the man the transit ticket. His face lit up. He thanked me and thanked me… he told me the ticket would get him to a town 2 transit stops away. He had such gratitude for what seemed like such a short distance to me as I walked across the street to get into my car.
When I got to my car I turned back and saw him smiling in my direction. We caught eyes and he shouted “Thank you!”
July 9th, 2009 at 10:12 pm
the challenge day that i attended was almost three years ago with around 98 people attending.. in my small group there were four of us, a leader and three students. one student i’d known for years and was like a brother to me, the other student i’d gone to elementary with but never had been that close. the leader was a teacher at my school and a leader of many after school programs i was involved with. when we did the “if you really knew me” part of challenge day, the girl i’d gone to elementary with talked and talked and dug deeper and deeper with every word she said, which at the time was annoying since we weren’t doing the exercise correctly, but now is amazing. this girl shared things i’d never even fathomed about her and cried her entire being out in front of us. at that moment, she became a sister to me. we always talked in the hallways and were closer than we’d ever been in the 8 or so years we’d known one another. within the next month, she was killed and this challenge day has impacted me in so SO many ways, to this day. i am so thankful for the opportunity to break down our walls from one another and reveal what life really is for us. if this moment hadn’t happened, the relationship i had with her would be completely different. challenge day worked in me in may different, positive ways, but the fact that she was in MY group on THAT day was a blessing. thank you for the opportunity. thank you for doing all that you do in so many lives every day. God bless you, thank you Chris and Berneice.
July 4th, 2009 at 6:38 am
I’m a teacher. My wife and I are committed to becoming Chalenge Day facilitators. CD gives miricles to so many so quickly. Are there any in Rochester, NY area already? Who can I speak with?
June 29th, 2009 at 5:32 pm
My for Act of Change was to log in my AoC. I have been doing them, but not sharing them. I reconnected with some people that are dear to me, but whom I’ve allowed to be on the “back burner” for too long. I texted them and the conversations that followed we actuallly a gift to myself. What a nice surprise.
June 28th, 2009 at 10:41 am
hi once again im still the way i was after challenge day things changed for me i really am a new person once again thanks chris and jyoti i hope to see you again this year ( if wanna make the world a better place take a look at your self and make a CHANGE) R.I.P MICHEAL JACKSON
June 26th, 2009 at 11:16 am
The Be the change movement has really impacted my lifestyle. I’ve changed the way I behave, my attitude, etc. In fact, it has even inspired me to spread its message by making a blog about it. Please don’t hesitate to visit it, and please visit it often! Visit my blog at http://keepingup-247.blogspot.com.
Thanks!
June 21st, 2009 at 9:18 pm
I recently decided that there was no need for hate to run through my life and that i should elliminate all of what i could. I apologized to this girl I know and learned a few lessons. I feel great now that I did and everything is just falling into place and balancing out in my life lately.
June 21st, 2009 at 9:02 pm
Hi I was an 8th grade mentour at Lokelani and at the end of May the other mentours and myself went to a Challenge Day and helped Loren move the day along. It was amazing and I felt soo wonderful after the day was over. We got everybody to THAT PLACE and we just made a great change. It is one of the best memories I have now.
June 21st, 2009 at 7:38 pm
I am planning on doing a workshop for teens stress
June 12th, 2009 at 3:27 pm
I helped someone into their car outside of Target
June 8th, 2009 at 10:55 am
its so awesome
June 8th, 2009 at 9:03 am
I spent time with my son volunteering and giving at a recent silent auction to raise money for his school to have a Challenge Day. I am grateful for my job, which gives me the priviledge of working with children. I feel very lucky to have a loving family and a safe working environment.
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:53 pm
Amy and I combined to get a student down to San Fransisco twice to compete at the Calif Culinary Institute. This is a young lady that has become homeless during this school year, her senior year. She was unable to practice her recipes for the actual competition, yet came in second out of nine students and won a $5000 scholarship! My husband and I have decided to give two $100 scholarships to students that have gone the extra mile. This girl is getting one of those scholarships.
June 3rd, 2009 at 10:55 am
The day I spent at Challenge Day, someone asked me how my day was….I’d like to share with you my reply: It was remarkable. I almost feel guilty for getting so much out of it,
knowing that it was for the kids.
Allow me to share a little with you:
I have two grown sons. We have really, really good relationships. For
many years as I traveled my own personal growth path I have wondered
sometimes what my gifts are, what I am intrinsically good at…where my
value is. Others told me that I was a great mom. The thing is…I
didn’t know what that meant. I didn’t fully realize how big that was. I
didn’t honor it for being as big a gift as it is. (I wished I could
sing- go figure…)
After being in the room that day I realized just how valuable being a
good parent is. Not everyone’s parents listen, not everyone’s parents
even care, not everyone’s parents love them unconditionally. In short,
it made me realize what a huge gift my kids are to me and me to them.
Standing in that room, with the opportunity to share ‘mother love’ to
some who had not had much was, for me priceless. I was told, “I have
never felt so loved” by a student I had known for only hours. Talk about
validation. Wow. Like I said..it was remarkable. I hope you see that love flows both ways on days like that.
Thank you for allowing me to share my thoughts and feelings with you. I feel very
blessed to have been included in the program that day.
Sincerely,
Sheila Lopipero
June 3rd, 2009 at 9:35 am
I smiled and greeted all people I passed yesterday. I hugged a girl on my daughters softball team who was sad. I let my daughter stay up late to watch the UW womens softball team win the national title.
June 3rd, 2009 at 4:38 am
I volunteered as one of the Adults for Challenge Day for two separate years. Each time I attended the event I learned something about myself and the youth of this day and age, I’m (50) so I learned young people have greater challenges but we all can help one another with LOVE & UNDERSTANDING. The change I have made is to do as many free workshops for youth on assertive and effective communication.
June 1st, 2009 at 6:20 pm
I went and spoke to my old friend, Chief Jimison, yesterday about challenge day. We are a small town with a great, community-minded chief. I am sure he will help us support the program. Besides, I wanted him to be proud that Kenston has the world’s greatest anti-bullying program!
May 31st, 2009 at 12:37 pm
Hi! I was inspired by the Be the Change Movement to make my own blog, which I stared today! Please take a look at it. My blog is at http://keepingup-247.blogspot.com.
May 29th, 2009 at 11:56 am
We had a new neighbor move into the apartment complex and I gave her a warm welcome. She seemed pleased that someone took the time to talk to her and welcome her to her new home.
May 29th, 2009 at 8:15 am
I went to go and visit elderly people that I don’t know in a local nursing home. i sat with an elderly lady while she ate her lunch. We played cards and I listened her to tell me her entire life story. her story fascinated me and it felt good to be there for her so that she wasn’t so lonely.
May 28th, 2009 at 12:00 am
I have been telling EVERYONE about Challenge Day and encouraging them to volunteer to be part of it–especially men. Well, I was sitting next to this guy on the way home from the Next Steps workshop and he was sharing with me about his sons and I of course shared about Next Steps and Challenge Day. He was pretty psyched about it and wanted to volunteer, so I gave him the website. We talked about him relocating to a new state because of a job and when he told me the job, I said, “oh, my best friend works in that field, but Washington is a huge state for tech jobs and she works for a small company.” He said, “just out of curiosity, what’s her name?” I told him and it turns out that he works at the same small company and he just met her last Friday AND it happened to be her birthday that day. So I passed a hug from me to her through him. It was awesome and reminded me of Yvonne saying “what if there are no accidents, and everything happens for a reason?” I am starting to believe that more and look for the possibilities!
May 25th, 2009 at 9:50 am
my name is Gabe Brown challenge day at my school in chino valley i used to be a bully i am no more that person and i have never been happier in my life since that day that is the best program ever.
May 23rd, 2009 at 4:27 pm
I made a donation to a young ex-gang member selling products - He was very grateful
May 22nd, 2009 at 10:32 am
My daughter experienced bullying at her school by her teacher just a few weeks ago. Instead of ignoring it, I went to the teachers and principal and addressed the issue with them. While I also lost my temper ( a bit!), I also could not sit on the side lines and allow this type of behaviour to continue. I noticed, chose and acted on what I felt to be right. When you see behaviour like this, it is important to bring it to the attention of those who are behaving this way, as they may not even be aware that their words hurts as much as they do. Such was the case with this particular teacher. Kudo’s to the teachers out there that actively make a postive contribution to our childrens lives!
May 21st, 2009 at 1:38 pm
2 days ago I had challenge day at my school. Sela and Kekoa were my leaders. Through the excercises i learned many new things about myself and about the people around me. I am so grateful for this oppourtunity.
May 19th, 2009 at 7:25 pm
i have always beem mean to people but ever since challenge day came to whitmer high school it changed me in so many ways thank you.
May 19th, 2009 at 8:50 am
Before we had even had challenge day at our school, I knew that a change needed to be made in our community. Ever since elementary school, people have picked on me for various reasons and it became worse in middle school when I let everyone know that I was a lesbian. I was called harsh names, objects were thrown at me, I was bullied, people hit me, and even my family gave me a little of the cold shoulder. But the day that Challenge Day appeared, I knew I’d be okay. So far, I’ve changed opinions about myself and about my family and friends. And I am so grateful that I, as well as others, could enjoy this experience. One day, I’d like to be apart of the Challenge Day committe.
May 16th, 2009 at 7:55 pm
Hi there :].
My name is Rhiannon, and my school had a challenge day a little while ago (March 16, 2009). After completing Challenge Day, I have noticed that I’m not scared to come to school anymore, because people now say “Hello” instead of “Freak”. The change just isn’t in everyone else, but in myself as well. I had always assumed that some of the “popular” kids had everything they could have ever wanted. With the way they looked down upon me like a fungus, how could I not think such?
We now see one another in a different light. Almost as if we have reached an understanding.
Instead of harsh tones of voice, and terms I’d rather not say, I hear normal voices and my name being called in the hallways now. I don’t think I’ve ever been this happy before. During the entire program, there was a man who had volunteered to do the Challenge Day program at my school who stood near or next to me. I would like to thank him, tell him that he made all the difference in the world, and that he saved my life. I know with the memory I have of him standing next to me during the most painful of times, I have nothing to fear.
Thank you, Randy.
I love you so much. Please don’t ever forget me.
I won’t ever forget you.
May 14th, 2009 at 12:49 am
At Mount Shasta I found 60 plus ber bottles down the hill and decided to clean them up - it felt great!
May 12th, 2009 at 2:43 pm
i had a great time at challange day… i learned alot about other people… and saw things in diffrent perspectives!!! great thing i think rv shouuld keep it!
May 12th, 2009 at 12:43 pm
In its first year as a club as an club, and throughout the school year, they have helped create change in their community and in their school. In October, the club raised awareness of School Violence Awareness Week by creating posters and posting them around the school. In November, the club helped oversee MixIt Up Day. During lunches on this day, students we told to sit with those who had the same birthday as them in an effort to help people meet new people. In December, The Club helped raise awareness of Human Rights and to respect everyone’s rights.
May 12th, 2009 at 12:36 pm
Ambika, along with some other members of teh Be The Chnage CLub passsed out flyers about Being the Change and the Founder’s Day Carnival. These ladies alerted the people of Plainsboro about our club abd helped increase awareness of the club’s message.
May 11th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Wow….is all i can say for Challenge Day…Not only did i see it on T.v but i got to experince it…..TWICE!!!! I’m From Winnipeg Manitoba And i’m 17 years old…I Go to Gordon Bell High School its an inner city school so there are alot of gangs around…Gordon Bell has over 60 languages spoken everyday in the school, we also have neer 1000 students with different cultures and backrounds…not everyone got along untill challenge day…again..WOW!! I Never Knew i could feel sooooo good about myself and not be scared…i didnt know how much me and my friends had in commom..i was evon more surprised when people who i didnt like or who didnt like me crossed the line with me in the final activity…Challenge Day Works….And One Day I’m Going To Be A Challenge Day Leader…I Want Kids To Feel As Good As I Did…Man I Cried So Much That Day…And Even The Kids That I Thought Didnt Care Cried…The Morning Of Challenge Day…I Didnt Want To Go But I Did Anyway…As Other Students Said “Screw This” i had to watch them leave and go have fun…but little did i know the adventures of challenge day…Now I Feel bad for the students who walked away from Challenge Day…They will never understand the atmosphere in Gordon Bell…and they missed out on What is the best day of my life….So Thank You To Eveyone Who Makes Challenge Day What It Is…I Hope Everyone Can One Day Live In A World Free Of Hate And Harm…Love And Tranquility is the world i one day want to live in…<3
May 11th, 2009 at 5:31 am
Yesterday, for Mothers Day, my family went to the Cincinati Reds game. I was finishing up washing my hands and i was getting my paper towels. This elderly lady, with a cane was standing next to me. She didnt have the strength to pull down the lever of the paper dispensor so i did it for her.
it made my day knowing i could help someone else.
May 8th, 2009 at 3:57 am
After the challenge day, it really opend my heart,eyes, and mind. I am ready to be the biger person and help my friends and family and people i do not know. Two big changes was one of the students at my school came up to me and we used to be best friends since 5th grade then stop because she was hurting me and herself. She came up and said sorry for that. Another girl I said sorry too for hurting her for few years because she hurt me by trying to get to my boyfriend who I am still with and still in love with. I said sorry to her for the harsh things I’ve said. I am ready to be more friendly person and forgive even though forgiving is a strong and hardest thing to do. Thank you Berenice Meza-Aguiar and Sean Flikke for everything you have did and thank you for giving us your time to come out here and change our thoughts and act.
May 7th, 2009 at 8:42 am
Recently I’ve noticed how I’ve been seeing things in negative perspectives, but I’m changing how I see things and look at everything more positivly. Over the week that I made this change, I noticed I feel much happier and like things aren’t weighing me down. I feel more energetic and connected to people now. =]
May 7th, 2009 at 6:58 am
I had a heart to heart conversation with someone that I really trust.
May 7th, 2009 at 6:57 am
I’m finishing up a total of 480 volunteer hours at an internship. 180 were completed at a local high school and the other 300 were completed in an adolescent substance abuse therapuetic community. It was more than just a learning experience for me. Every day that I went to my internship I felt like I could do something to make a difference in the lives of adolescents.
May 7th, 2009 at 5:24 am
Challenge Day is such a life changing experience. I learned how to open up to others who seem so different but are so much alike in many ways.Expecially because of the diversity in the school, It gave us a chance to bond and connect not only through our emotions but our life experiences. When I left challenge day, i felt so much better about myself and about others, I consider other peoples feelings and I am more comfortable knowing that I am not alone. Everyone deserves a chance to do this activity and it definatley changes the outlook of peoples minds. I very much appreciated it and i would love to do it again.
May 7th, 2009 at 4:55 am
Challgance Day was the Best day ever i really liked it and it seems like my school is acting better ^^
May 6th, 2009 at 5:29 pm
what a life changing experience this was, i was depressed for a long time and seriously considering ending my life, thankyou to sean and bernice for giving me the gift of challenge day and making me feel happy again.
May 6th, 2009 at 5:05 pm
Be the Change has completely turned me around and made me realize that I may not see my friends and family the next day so I have to treat them nice so that I can remember all the fun times we had together. Be the Change gave me a whole new perspective on life. Be the Change also allowed me to see that there are people out there with the same problems as I have and that makes me feel good to know that I have peers and fellow students that know exactly what I am going through. I will continue to Be the Change!!
May 6th, 2009 at 2:57 pm
At first I was not sure that participating for a second year in a row was going to have the same value that it did last year. My Challenge Day experience this year at Rancocas Valley exceeded my expectations. Thank you to Jennifer and Chris for being the best Challenge Day People ever! I have a daughter that is a freshman at RV and I heard a lot of things from my “family” yesterday at Challenge Day that I know affect my daughter as well and I can only hope that Challenge Day is back in 2010! Our kids deserve it! Many parents could definitely benefit from it as well! Thank you for one of my best days ever! RV and Challenge Day are a perfect combination!
May 5th, 2009 at 9:23 am
I went on the choir and band retreat over the weekend and there was this one kid everyone was making fun of so he was by himself a lot so I stuck up for him when people were being mean. When my friend and I saw him sitting down alone, we went over and talked to him for a bit and invited him to play football with us. He opened up to us about his problems and we sat there listening to him letting him know that we cared. It totally made his weekend to know that someone does care and I was so glad we were there for him.
April 30th, 2009 at 7:58 pm
after challange day our school has made a be the change club…. lots of people came. we got t-shirts and we now have free hug days and a change wall where the students get to say what the belive,want to change and what they are thinking.challange day has been positive at our school and when i grow up i would love to work their………..BE THE CHANGE!!!
April 30th, 2009 at 8:02 am
{YOU HAVE TO WANT HELP TO GET HELP} THANKS YOU EVERY ONE THE WAS AT CHALLENGE DAY EVEN THE STUDENTS AND THE PEOPLE THAT DID CHALLENGE DAY AND {MS.RICE}
April 30th, 2009 at 8:01 am
TODAY YOU SHOULD BE PTOUD OF YOUR SELF YOU SHOULD NOT let anyone bring you down. so smile not frown. laugh not cry. if you have to laugh @your saelf not @ other people because thats not nice
April 30th, 2009 at 7:57 am
AND I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO MS. RICE BECAUSE SHE IS A GOOD LADY SHE HELP PEOPLE NO MATTER WHAT BUT YOU GIT 2 WANT HELP TO GET HELP. THANK YOU TO THE STAFF IN CHALLENGE DAY YALL HELPED ME ALOT. YALL 3 IS GOOD PEOPLE.
April 30th, 2009 at 7:54 am
AND TODAY I HELPED THE HOMELESS AND THE OLD PEOPLE. I FEEL PROUD
April 30th, 2009 at 7:51 am
If you want 2 go 2 challenge day you should go i go to jhon marshall and people always try 2 bring me down but do i let them? no i do not they make me feel good not bad they only talking about me because they is hurting in the inside and need 2 let it out some way but it okay when they do that they start crying and i always make them feel better. People always ask me why do i always try to make people feel better i do it cause they is like my family and i love them like family even if they dont love me i would still love them next year i will be in the 12th grade and i would still help people if they need me or if they just want to talk about their problems i will always help. {REMEMBER GOD LOVES YOU}
April 30th, 2009 at 7:43 am
i am in the 11th went 2 challenge day all i got 2 say is i had a good time. they changed me alot and they helped me changed other people. i loved that i did a good thing to help change people i never knew i could did that but i put my mind 2 it and i did it it was hard but whan i did it i kept goning. i even changed my mother and dad. my dad just got out of jail and was about 2 go back but i changed his mind he was crying and i was 2 because he need to change his life and he need to be in my life because i miss him so much i cry every day cause i cant see him and that really hurted me alot. well thats all i can say. [good bye ] [REMEMBER]YOU CAN BE THE CHANGE just [BELIEVE] in yourself and it would happen. never say never.
April 27th, 2009 at 8:19 pm
I walked by a man hungry for food and bought him an extra sandwich, chips and a drink he was elated
April 25th, 2009 at 4:54 pm
At our middle school in Plainsboro, NJ, we’ve started a “be the change” club. We give the students challenges every day, like giving high fives or giving hugs. Well, one of the days, we gave a challenge saying to put post-it notes on peoples lockers with nice comments. As soon as I step out of the classroom, i see a wonderful world of colored paper :). Some said “I love you”, some said “have a nice day”, and some even boldly said “Luv yo’ hair!” Our students made us proud (*sniff*). And not only that, we even cleaned up the post its so that the custodians wouldn’t have such a big job to do! This was truly a day of positive change.
April 25th, 2009 at 3:44 pm
I ussed to judge others. I feal really bad about that. Thanks to challenge day I will never do that agian.
April 24th, 2009 at 12:29 pm
Thanks Challenge day for everything. You really made a life changing experience for me. I learned alot mostly to appreciate what you have!
Thank you KeaKoa and Kathie
April 23rd, 2009 at 8:21 pm
hi there. my name is keith. i had challenge day today and it was the best day i have ever had. it was the best expierence i could ask for. it changed my whole look on life. im tired of bein told who i am and wat i am. i am me and nobody else. everyone who went learned to drop that water level and be themselves. i’d do it again in a heartbeat if i had the chance. every student should have a chance 2 expierence something like this. yea yea yea men dont cry. actually every man in that room had tears in their eyes. teachers and students had a chance to attend. everyone who went can really say that they had a great time listening 2 everyone. i for one feel alot closer to everyone in that room. challenge day is a day to go and be urself. drop the mask that everyone sees and let them see the real you. i love all of you each in ur own way.
April 23rd, 2009 at 6:30 pm
I went to challenge day Wednesday at Terrebonne high in Houma La. This day was one of the most emotional, but best days of my life. I never felt so open and close to almost absolute strangers. This Day gave me courage that i never thought i had to talk about problems that i fill in to my “balloon”. Our leaders Joyti and Chris were great. I feel like after that day our school is going to try to do so much better in the sense of helping each other despite the color of their skin or the way they look. I am a witness to some of the changes that has been going on in our school since challenge day. The atmosphere is a million times better because people are trying to know each other past that water line….past that image we show on the out side. challenge day is one of the best things I have ever experienced in my life….
April 23rd, 2009 at 3:34 pm
i attended challenge day on April 23 2009 i really loved it i also appreciate Chris an Jyoti coming down to my school to make a major change in my fellow peers i am gladly to thank you once again for the fun day we had an i just want to say i am going to change i notice that I’m already changing because my water level is dropping more so thanks and remember to BE THE CHANGE to anyone that’s reading this .
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:09 pm
Today, April 22, 2009, was a changing day in my life. Challenge Day was at my school, Ellender High School. It was so great. It changed my life as well as my peers’. The activities that we did and the things we talked about really helped me open up to people. It also showed me how to listen better to other people. This experience makes me want to go help people like me and other people who are hurting. I just want to thank the Challenge Day people so much, they are a big inspiration for me.
I would love to be a part of you guys’ group and help people like you guys do.
Love Always,
Natasha Klingman
Sophmore at Ellender High School.
C:
April 22nd, 2009 at 11:23 am
I have quite a few… I bought my friend who is struggling a train ticket to come visit me. A taxi driver gave me a ride to work when I had forgotten my wallet. A drummer in a band I like put me on the guest list for his show and asked me to help out on Warped Tour… Yay!
April 22nd, 2009 at 9:33 am
We think that we need to have more support from schools, teachers and councilours. we think that by teaching all students the effects and causes by student bullying will open up our communitys eyes, and to show our community what this really does to our lives, and how we can stop it. although the community knows about bullying teachers never take any action or pay any attention into what there students are going through, and how much better they would be able to accomplish and move on from these things if someone would notice choose or act. we think that we could start a session for students of all ages, for them to confide to someone with experience from being bullyed in kindergaten to highschool. thank you for listening.
Lenette Doskoch and Taryn Brown
April 22nd, 2009 at 6:47 am
stop bullying
April 21st, 2009 at 12:24 pm
I loved challenge day Emzima and Seako were the best people I ever met. They taught me alot of things and I made the poem beneethe as a pre thing and the day was actually like that so i hope that other schools can enjoy the day like our school.. Thank you for challenge day :). It was the best and it really made a change in me….
April 21st, 2009 at 12:19 pm
Challenge day.By javairia
A day that we had for the first time and things you never knew that will blow your mind.
Bullying is what it took for us to notice and racism is a part of why we go through this.
Things that we been through that you think would soon get old, the words are switched and a new reason to start is told, gossip is treasured and is seems as worthy as gold, every thing seems noticed to you don’t judge a book by its cover, because the title is bold. Will the truth about some of our peers unfold? Will everything we have endured go to waist or be sold? Will the meanness in our hearts warm up or stay cold? Life shall be cherished each and everyday. Bullying and hate is why some kids take their own away sometimes even another! So will this kill some of the hate we have for each other? Will it just build up inside? Would you do what ever the person you fear says and ride? Will you go with the flow and let life guide. Or endure the worst? When all of what the person had inside blew up and he burst, because the last time can also be the first. So will you ever learn? Have you ever been bullied so much that inside it burned? How would you feel if it actually was your turn? If we where all treated equally respect would really be earned. Maybe we can gain respect to and bulling should be the last thing on our mind to go through. Maybe we should only raise our hands for help and not to put up a fight, because at the end of the tunnel it is always usually bright. So when we close our eyes it’s not out of freight it’s to go to sleep and actually hope to wake up the next night. Lets add a smile and make each day worth while, because your unique in your own since of style.
April 20th, 2009 at 8:48 pm
I recently participated in a Challenge Day workshop. It opened my eyes up as and adult and parent. I will definitely treat my children better because of this. I am still thinking of ways I can better this planet. I have volunteered at my churches youth group to encourage them to Be the Change.
Thank you
Trevor Goforth
April 20th, 2009 at 8:22 pm
This is has been by far the most amazing experience I have ever been given the opportunity to participate in. My two facilitators, Pam and Sean are some of the craziest most real people I have ever met and I reallt appreciate them for stepping up to the challenge and becoming a part of this changing movement. So many emotions are all tangled up in this program and it’s amazing to see the way people react to it. Certain activities moved people that I had no idea it would. Crossing the Line was by far the most powerful activity our school did. To watch as my “best friends” crossed the line and knowing that I never knew that about them made me helpless. So many times I wanted to run across and just squeeze them and remind them that no matter what I will always be those ears to listen and will always have a shoulder for them to cry on. It’s truly a blessing to have been given this wonderful opportunity and I thank you all for being such amazing people and believing that we can change the world!
April 20th, 2009 at 7:27 pm
today the challenge day program came to my school, this day changed my life! it taught me that i need to live my life 100% real because tomorrow is not a promise. this couldn’t have happen on a better day because in our freshmen class we just lost a student and it made us all realize that life is a privlage and it can be taken from you in a blink of an eye. the two people,sean and pam were our councilors and they are my new heros! thank you so much for everything!!!
April 20th, 2009 at 4:04 pm
Hello , i just wanted to say thanks for coming to our skool (Houma Jr. High). As you Know we really enjoyed yall. we hope you come back and vist us again. i also promise to make a change in my life. It’s because of yall , thats why i made the change , because that let me know that there are people like you that cares for us. And just to let you know our team the (Care Bears ) really won that beach ball game . i love you guys very much.
April 19th, 2009 at 3:29 pm
I just wanted to give a shout out to Rich and Yvonne, because they work they do is just so amazing and life changing, it truly does save lives, I know it turned mine around and got me to see the light in life. So keep it up, you two are true role models of perfect human beings.