Photos courtesy of the Amityville Union Free School District
After their school day ended on Nov. 18, 80 Amityville Memorial High School students spent the next 32 hours in the school participating in bonding activities and listening to inspirational speakers.
Awareness Weekend has been an annual tradition for nearly 20 years. Students in grades 10-12 who participate say it is a transformative experience that cultivates new friendships and leads to self-reflection.
An essential part of Awareness Weekend are the family groups. Students are typically paired with others who are not part of their normal friendship circle, and each team has a facilitator. Family groups have follow-up discussions based on the speakers, share personal experiences and participate in icebreaker activities.
This year’s keynote speaker was Shadrack Boakye, whose “Overcoming Adversity” presentation kicked off Awareness Weekend on Friday afternoon. Boakye spoke about his experience growing up in Liberia, Africa in the midst of a civil war during the 1990s, and how he and his mother were just a few of the survivors to escape the war-stricken country. He also spoke about the hardships that he faced once he entered the U.S., among them not being able to read, and how he has since persevered over the years.
Guest speaker Chris Memoli was involved in a car accident at 16 and suffered brain injuries as a result of no wearing a seatbelt. He communicates through a typing device and shared his story about how he overcame tragedy to earn his master’s degree in computer science. Hashim Garrett, another guest speaker, is a former gang member who is paralyzed from the waist down. He spoke about forgiveness, overcoming adversity and learning from mistakes.
Students, joined by 13 faculty chaperones, spent the night in the school in sleeping bags and on air mattresses in classrooms. Awareness Weekend ended at 10 p.m. on Saturday night with goodbyes and hugs. Special education teacher Jason McGowan, who coordinated the event, said it was an inspirational weekend for both the students and the teachers.
“We try to create an environment where students feel comfortable and make this a safe place where students take that chance to speak about what’s happening in their lives,” Mr. McGowan said. “It’s an emotional rollercoaster, but once the students buy in, it really becomes a wonderful time.”
Recent Comments