Challenge Day Reflection: Toda Today

Eight best friends for seven days in the mountains is a great way to discover yourself and what really being a man is. I went into the trip lost and not sure what to do or who I truly am but came out with a better understanding of who I want to be and how to be that

This project made me step out of my comfort zone to learn more about myself and others. The other people participating in the project were also uncomfortable. We had to talk about stuff we have never talked about before. This caused some people to get up and leave and others stayed including myself. When I decided to stay, I learned more than ever.

During this semester, we were asked to attend different groups. This was to see how they were conducted, who could attend, and the purpose of the group. I found this to be challenging, in our area, due to the lack of groups offered or provided. I attended Catholic Mass, Catholic Community Meeting, Nar-Anon, Human Trafficking Seminar, and an on line marriage counseling group. I found each of these to be very interesting and informative; however, I found Nar-Anon to be the one that I fit in the best.

I walked away from this experience, not only with a bunch of new friends, but with a whole new outlook on life and the way in which I look at and treat other people. I realized how important it is to simply be kind to others, no matter how cliché it seems, and that just by saying hello to someone or showing you care about them, you can make their day or maybe even save their life. This is an attitude that I will carry into adulthood and use in my everyday life. It is an attitude that will be valuable to me in college and in my career when I encounter an even larger and more diverse group of people than what I am used to at the moment. In a world that is filled with such negative people, it is important to not fall into a pessimistic way of viewing the world and other people and instead be a friend to those who feel as if they don’t have any or be a helping hand to those who are

I went to a new school with new people. I felt like an outsider. But these people, they didn’t understand my situation; they just thought I was quiet and shy on the first day because that was my

In many ways, the most enlightening thing I learned today was hearing all the opinions of my classmates. When we all sat together in a circle together and discussed what our opinions were on the questions assigned, mysteriously I felt a lot closer to my classmates. It may sound a bit cliché, but it was almost as if there was a bond formed from that moment. From that mere twenty minutes of discussion time that we had, I learned a lot more things about the way my classmates thought than I have in these past three days I have known them. It was especially enlightening when I stated something and my classmates were there to pitch into what I had thought. Of course, at the same time, it was fun when I heard different viewpoints than mine, like Johnathan's

As the year progressed, I found people who shared common interests as me and people who did not. Regardless, I made myself associate with them and it worked for my benefit. You may never know when you need a favor or just someone to talk to for that matter. Saying hello to a person can change so much which may sound really cheesy but its true! If I had never had the courage to join in on a strangers’ conversation then they would never have become my best friends. I had witnessed the Butterfly Effect. As I grew more comfortable with talking to others, my personality bloomed into something that I am proud of. I was excited to do things that others were not. If there was a spirit day, I would go all out. If it was someone’s birthday, I would try my hardest to get them a gift they would enjoy. If I saw someone going through internal turmoil, I would lend them my ears so that they could release their stress. Once, I was browsing Instagram through boredom and a girl had posted a picture of herself with the caption that said “I have nothing to live for.” I commented on the picture saying that she was gorgeous and she replied with “so what.” That reply hit me

While my friends are still the friends I used to have, I’ve stopped hanging out with the mean ones. My other friends have kind of broken away and we’ve started a new group where the “leaders” are not jerks to Gracie and I. Now I know I can trust the people I love without getting stabbed in the back and then having a broken heart.

There’s nothing more important in this world than having a reason and purpose to live. It’s what strives us, it’s what motivates us, it’s what carries us (anaphora). I look forward to life and the things it throws at me for I feel that I am ready. Challenges I faced as a kid have prepared me for the challenges I will face as an adult. I was constantly put in new environments as a child. I went to 3 elementary schools and 2 middle schools. No matter how much my life changed, I came to admire it. As the old saying goes “If life hands you lemons, you make lemonade” and I did just that (idiom). I am grateful for all the friends and memories I’ve made on my journey. However, I am most grateful for my family for allowing to be on this journey. This journey created who I am

I also got to talk with and get to know some of them. They talked with me and my supervisor about their experiences with the kids in their schools they serve. While Michelle taught them about how domestic violence affects kids. It was also an emotional one because the Foster Grandparents program is being cut in the western part of North Dakota. This is a great program and I truly believe it is helping kids and I’m sad to see it be cut.

Despite only being in high school for two years, the friends that I have made have greatly impacted who I am as a person. Whenever I am struggling, my friends are the first people I turn to for advice. I learned from them that I always put others first even when it may cause a large amount of stress later on, am very talkative about the things I am

I felt intimidated and uneasy while I was introducing myself to the group because I did not get a reaction from them, thus, I was unsure if they were uncomfortable with my presence. Although, I perceived that they seemed to be a quiet group because when I initially entered no one was mingling,

I think what I enjoyed the most about this course was the fact that I got to learn about all of the different factors that impact or are relevant in order to really understand diversity. I also founded interesting how much understanding this concept really affects your life and those that surround you. I really also enjoyed how we were able to comment on each other’s post, and give our own opinion or feedback on the discussion of the week. I think that this was a great idea because we saw who had similar points of views, who agreed or disagree and some even gave us some words of encouragement. It was just good to communicate with others on the topics of discussion for the week, and after all it was necessary since the main focus of this course

For as long as I can remember I’ve had the same group of friends, but coming into high school I met a lot of new people. I met some of my best friends here and my boyfriend.I’ve reached out to a lot of different people I didn’t really expect to be friends with. I learned that you really can’t judge a book by a cover and that probably sounds cliche, but some of the people I thought I’d never get along with became some of my really good friends.

That year I had tried to make new friends and I know I did. Their names were Cy, Caleb, Sydnee, Cole, and Tanner. After a pleasant, sunny recess one day, before we went into class I decided to make sure they were my friend and not just classmates and associates. So while we were under the to the shade of the red brick entryway, my 7 year old self just boldly asked them together. “Are we friends?” They all plainly told me yes. It made me absolutely ecstatic. Because I had thought they were my friends but there was that little thread of doubt in the back of my mind, and it had just been cut, and they were my friends all throughout elementary school. Now I feel because I had them as friends and influences I was able to be nicer, smarter, and a tad bit more