Challenge Day an Eye-Opening, Life-Changing Experience

Imagine standing in a circle with more than 100 new faces.

The faces belong to people of different age groups, racial backgrounds, varied economic statuses and different personalities. Then imagine giving hugs to at least half of the strangers in this group.

That’s what the national initiative Challenge Day was for me: an opportunity to embrace people I didn’t know and accept them regardless of our differences.

I spent Wednesday at participating in the daylong program with a large group of students and adult volunteers.

Challenge Day directors Devon Rath and Khayree Shaheed traveled from their headquarters in California to direct the activity at the high school. Challenge Day directors conduct these programs at schools across the nation to help students feel safe, loved and celebrated.

"Our compassionate approach to ending social oppression in schools, families and communities provides diverse groups of adults, and teens with an undeniable first-hand experience of group support and personal connection," the Challenge Day website says.

The day started off with some energy- and confidence-building activities. We shouted, cheered and danced and by about 9 a.m., I felt like I had drunk about six cups of coffee. I was energized! Little did we know, the fun exercises were preparing us for an emotional day.

It would be a day in which we would have to give our hearts to others and open up to people we’d never met before. I partnered with a 10th grader and she shared her dreams with me. I sat with a small group of high school students and shared stories that started with the phrase "If you really knew me ..." We discovered that we all felt the same way about life:  It’s not easy.

I know it’s hard for many people to open up to complete strangers. But when everyone else is talking about their hardships and heartbreaks in life, how can you just sit there and not talk? How can you pretend like you’ve never been disappointed in life?

We promised not to disclose details of what we discussed in that Clawson High School gymnasium, but I can say it was a memorable experience. I understand it's called Challenge Day – because you have to ask yourself if you’re up for the challenge. Participants have to be willing to step outside their comfort zone and take a risk.

But it’s worth it.

You learn to love and connect with others. You learn to not judge or tease someone because they are different from you. I believe diversity is what makes the world tick. If everyone lived the same lives the world would be mundane and unexciting.

At the end of the day, I no longer felt like I was in a room full of strangers; I felt like I was in a room full of people just like me. They are people who simply want to be accepted for who they are and not judged for their outer appearance or life experiences. These are teenagers and adults who have faced the same challenges as me in life and just needed one chance to look around and see they weren't alone.

I originally just wanted to volunteer and give back to the Clawson community, but now I feel like I gained more than I actually put in.

For more information on Challenge Day visit www.challengeday.org.