Graduation! - December 2009

Here we were, the final day of the first Girl’s Empowered leadership workshop at Chapin Middle School. The girls started off the morning by talking about Mix it Up Day, an idea that had already been formed, but needed the details worked out. In small groups, they discussed what would be involved in this day, who would be involved, and how it would be implemented. They then presented their ideas to the rest of the group. In the end, the girls decided that Mix it Up Day would be a time for 6-8 grade students to meet and interact with each other during Academy time, a time during the day when all of the students have extra time to catch up on homework and work on assignments. The girls didn’t decide specific activities because they wanted to have the flexibility to move things around as they needed. The girls then chose representatives who would talk to the principal about putting their ideas into practice. Last, but definitely not least, the girls graduated from the Girl’s Empowered program. Everyone stood in a circle, and when Dr. Salane called on a young lady to receive her certificate, the student would stand in the middle of circle while everyone else told her words that they thought described her. It was definitely a bittersweet time as we said goodbye to the girls, but we sent them off knowing that we had equipped them to better leaders in their school and community. Since this was, after all, our initial goal, we sent them off with joy, knowing that it had been accomplished.