#24 - Challenge Day and Challenge Week

Challenge Day was UNBELIEVABLE! The opportunity to be able to hear everyone's story about their struggles and successes was so moving and inspiring. I was extremely nervous on the days leading up to Challenge Day wondering what it would be like and what in the world I would say when it was my turn to complete the sentence "If you really knew me...". The day of, there was such a high energy in the room for the first part of the morning, that there was no way that you couldn't feel excited and happy and yet I still felt anxious for what I knew was coming. Once we got into our families and started to say "If you really knew me..." all of the girls in my family were crying and all of the guys looked awkward unsure of what was coming next. When my turn came, I just started talking... I'm not really sure what I even said in those two minutes, though after, I have never felt so light. I think that this day has changed a lot of people for the better, even some that didn't attend the day were affected by the different decisions we made. The 125 people learned a lot that day... that we are like icebergs, you only get to see 10%, while the most important things about ourselves are on the 90% that people can't see and that you should actually talk to someone before writing them off as a 'loser' or 'geek'. Also, we learned about our emotional balloons, and how if we don't let some of the air out every once in a while, it will explode. These are two things that I will try to remember everyday as everyone has a story that is hidden in that 90% that we need to get to know before we judge. l,,l-

Challenge Week was AMAZING! The day after Challenge Day was overwhelming with getting the video for the assembly ready and blowing up all of the balloons. Researching to get the names of 300 teens that have committed suicide was mind-blowing. It is insane that there have been so many suicides, especially lately. Reading all of the articles about the days leading up to their deaths and how they died was very upsetting. I couldn't believe the amount of suffering that these teens had endured and what promising lives that they had given up in exchange for some peace. At IDCI however, there was the opposite of peace, many people were enraged that they hadn't had the chance to experience Challenge Day for themselves and were unsure of how to deal with all of the love that was being shared between people you would never expect. Facebook was changed instantly, there was love instead of hate, hope instead of dread and smiles instead of frowns. The majority of the school that hadn't gone to Challenge Day were angry that their place to vent was changed into a safe place of love. The 100 students that went to Challenge Day worked hard to change the opinions of those that had been close minded. The assembly on the Wednesday of that week helped show that this day was so much more than a day. It was an idea, a lifestyle, a choice to change for the better, to give a smile to that guy on the street instead of looking at him like he is to blame for all of his misfortunes. Now, I think our school is more united than is has ever been before and I am SO proud to be an IDCI Blue Bomber this year. Our school has so much spirit and inspiration for life. So, Thank-you :)

GENERATION BOMBER NATION