Area Students get GRITty at Friday workshop

 

[September 21, 2019] 

On Friday, September 13th, 326 seventh grade students from around the area gathered at the Lincoln Christian Church to participate in GRIT workshops hosted by the Community Health Collaborative. Gaining Resilience in Teens (GRIT) is a program developed by a CHC committee with Jennifer Keith taking the lead in organizing and presenting the program. The committee worked to come up with workshops that would address the modern day concerns of kids and help them with their coping skills and making wise decisions for their life.

The workshops addressed some of the concerns that were recorded in the most recent Logan County Youth Survey conducted through the CHC. In that survey there were some very disturbing results.

The survey found that by eighth grade 35% of Logan County students had already used a substance (alcohol, cigarettes, inhalants or marijuana) in the past year. By 10th grade that increased to 59% and by 12th grade that increased to 65%.

In addition, the recent Logan County Community Health Needs Assessment identified substance abuse, mental health and obesity as priority health needs in Logan County.

The workshops held on Friday addressed those concerns with breakout sessions.

STEP OUT STRESS featured Mario Canon, Cardio and Deiy Shuff and Nikki Chapman speaking about meditation and yoga. This event was required by all students.

Other sessions were selected with students attending three out of the nine offered throughout the day.

The Creative Quest: Becoming who you want to be by being who you are

This workshop talked about the pressure that is put on teens to decide what they will be. Teens are often asked what do you want to be, what do you want to do. Adam Quine led the workshop that emphasized that happiness comes not from deciding what you will be, but by understanding who you are. “Our culture tells us we should be productive by becoming “something.” What if we consider what might happen if we choose to become “someone.” Our time together will reveal the one truth about all people: We are creative beings capable of inspiring beauty into the world. The key to happiness is never forgetting that the creative quest is an ever evolving process that requires two things: *only and always* for you to be true to you!" (copied from program)

Career Connections

Katy Reynolds led this workshop where students played an interactive game as they explored 40 different career options. They also learned some key information about their career choices such as what a particular job might yield in their paycheck and the education required to perform that particular job.

Grab your cape and become super-resilient

From the program – “Superheroes become superheroes usually after a traumatic event occurs in their life. Their “recovery” generally involves the person evolving into a superhero or a supervillain. Learn how trauma impacts your life (social, health and mental). The session was led by Lesli Hake.

Having the courage to speak your truth led by Chris Schaffner

This session talked about peer pressure and making choices for one’s self based on what others are doing and encouraging you to do. Schaffner, who works with drug dependency programs, talked specifically about how to be unafraid to reject pressure and be your own person even under pressure.

Being a great friend to all, including yourself

This workshop led by Chad Eimer addressed bullying from a victim perspective. What is bullying and how do you get through it. The workshop talked about reaching out to others for help when bullying occurs and how to approach the subject and with whom.

Music – Food for Life presented by Zach Ramsey

From the program - Music is awesome! It hits us in ways other things just can’t. It pumps us up, makes us safe, and can bring us down. Music feeds who we are. So what kind of person is your music feeding and creating? Let’s figure that out!

Wellness without Obsession: Tips for balanced nutrition and the establishment of a healthy body image

Shae Hoffman led this session that focused on healthy eating habits and the “dangers of diet culture.” The speaker led the students into an understanding of self-image and discussions about having a healthy bod image.

Success starts with C? Effective communication a key to self-expression

Nadia Klekamp led this workshop that addressed how to enhance your communication skills. Students talked about how to handle conflict peacefully through words, how to share feelings and ideas and how to enhance cooperation between peers with effective communication.

From the program – “Teens who are effective communicators are better able to make decisions consistent with their goals and develop healthy relationships.”

YOUR STORY – You’ve got a friend in me

Quentin Brackenridge led this last workshop on the program and talked with students about the rewards and challenges of building friendships. The discussion addressed how our friends are there for us to comfort and support when needed and how they influence us.

Brackenridge led a “fun and exciting discussion on exploring your story and learn how to make long lasting friends.”

Keynote by Jennifer Keith

The day began on Friday with a keynote address by Jennifer Keith. Keith, a former teacher, wife and mother, drew from her vast experiences in life, mixed with a little bit of comedic license to address some of the core issues that teens face today including depression.

She spoke to the kids about developing good coping skills and “tricking their brain” into being happy.

She told the students that play is the opposite of depression and that it is good to play and relieve stress. She said play promotes positive thinking, and positive thinking can turn the work stuff into good stuff.

As an example she drew on some popular scenes from the classic kid’s movie Mary Poppins. Recalling the scenes where children are having fun while performing the nasty chore of cleaning their rooms, Keith said that if people have the attitude that it is a game they are going to enjoy they can make it through a task with a much better attitude.

Using quotes from Mark Twain, Michael Jordan, Abraham Lincoln and Oprah Winfrey, she defined ways to maintain positive thinking.

Keith shared that there is a magic ratio of positive to negative moments and said that it is 5:1. There are five positives for every one negative in a person’s day. However, that one negative has the potential to wipe out all five positive interactions. So the goal is to work to not dwell on the negatives, but rather bask in the positives and be grateful for them.

Each student had been given a journal at the beginning of the day. She told the students that part of their departing assignment was to write in their journal. She said to help learn about positive thoughts and gratitude she wanted the students to every day write down two things they are grateful for. The gratitude doesn’t have to be big, but it does need to be sincere. She said something as small as “My mom packed me a lunch today” or “I don’t have homework tonight” is a real positive emotion even if it does seem small.

Students were also assigned to “find the funny.” Keith said that funny things happen to and around everyone. Writing those items in a journal gives the students a resource for a fun memory when they are going through a tough time. She advised the students to write down those funny moments and on days when they are feeling down go back to the journal and read the funny to brighten their mood.

Students were also told to record when they are GRITty. She explained that when people have control of their reactions they “keep the power.” She said that what goes on around us may be out of our control, but how we react is completely in our control. She told the students “feel your feelings, but control your reactions.” And, write it down. When one is strong, maintaining that memory will help one to be strong again in the future. Going back to read an account of strength will help bolster the courage the next time.

Keith also said that it was alright to have “pity parties’ but to remember that those parties have “expiration dates.”

Keith said that when kids are down and sad, they can “trick your brain to be happy.”

The keys she said are to hang out with smiling people and be a smiling person. She said smiles generate smiles in others. She said kids could crank their tunes, watch something funny or spend time with something or someone they love like a pet. They can also generate happiness in themselves by doing something for others that will enhance their happiness.

As Keith wrapped up her presentation she led the kids in her version of Sweet Caroline that she called “I’ve got GRIT.” The students really got into the music and the room became a music hall as everyone joined in. At the end of the keynote the kids were dispersed to their various breakout sessions for the day.

Organizers and the CHC dubbed the first installment of GRIT as a great success and anticipate more GRIT programs in the future.

[Nila Smith]