Page 60 - Girl's Life (August - September 2019)
P. 60
Make Your School Safer
THESE 5 TEEN ADVOCATES ARE WORKING s excited as most girls chapters in schools across the
HARD TO CREATE A SPACE TO MAKE SURE EVERY are to go back to school U.S. and Canada. Members go
STUDENT GETS TO BE THEIR BEST— (new classes! new on field trips, listen to speakers,
AND THEY’VE GOT TIPS FOR HOW YOU Afriends! new clothes!), participate in leadership pro-
CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE, TOO. many also have concerns. Sadly, grams—and, most importantly,
issues like gun violence, bullying create a safe space where any-
BY CHRISANNE GRISÉ and harassment continue to one can speak up about issues
plague our hallways—and make they’re facing.
students feel unsafe. While it “At some point in our lives,
sometimes seems like these we’ve all felt that experience
problems are insurmountable of being new, whether it’s to a
(and our country is majorly school, a place you’ve moved
divided on the right solutions), or a job,” Peyton says. “Being
these teens have taken action to inclusive and welcoming is
make their schools a safer place. beneficial for everyone.”
SHINING A LIGHT
PEYTON KLEIN ENCOURAGING ON MENTAL HEALTH
INCLUSIVITY Kenidra Woods, 18, has dealt
Looking around her freshman with depression and anxiety her
classroom, Peyton Klein noticed whole life. But three years ago,
the girl sitting behind her was she realized that openly talking
struggling to communicate, about her dark times might help
as English wasn’t her native others facing similar mental
language. That’s when it hit health issues. “I was like, I want
her: “I believed in these values to turn this around for the
of diversity and inclusion, but I good,” she remembers.
wasn’t actually living by them,” So one sunny day before
Peyton, now 18, says. school, she decided to wear a
Peyton approached the girl. dress—even though it revealed
KENIDRA WOODS Her name was Khawla and she the scars on her legs from when
was a Syrian refugee. As the pair she used to self-harm. Many
became friends, Khawla shared of her classmates thanked her
with Peyton how difficult it was for her honesty. “They were
to learn a new language in a like, ‘You don’t know how much
new place. you’re inspiring me to come out
Wanting to help, Peyton about my own story,’” she says.
organized weekly student chat But Kenidra knew she could
sessions between native English do more to advocate for mental
speakers and those who were health. She started the CHEE-
learning the language. The goal TAH Movement (Confidence,
was to find ways they could Harmony, Enlightenment,
make their school more Encouragement, Tranquility,
welcoming. The meetings Awareness and Hope), and
ended up being so popular that spends much of her time speak-
CELIA ZILIAK the girls eventually formed an ing with classmates about their
official school club called Global mental health concerns. When BELL AND TAYLOE: COURTESY OF SAMSUNG
Minds Initiative. they confide in her about their
These days, the club is struggles, she does what she
spreading rapidly, with 25 can to get them help.
56 GL AUGUST | SEPTEMBER 2019
