On the current MTV series “If You Really Knew Me,” high school students from various social groups spend a day bonding with students they’ve never spoken to and addressing the cliques that exist at their schools. Tears and hugs abound.
Vashon High School sophomore Maya McTighe hopes to see the same thing happen on Vashon. Though MTV won’t be involved, Challenge Day, the national nonprofit that facilitates the events at the schools, will.
After months of planning, VHS is getting ready to host its own Challenge Day, where 100 high schoolers will participate in a workshop that McTighe believes will have lasting effects at the high school, as the participating students spread what they learn about inclusion and the appreciation of diversity.
When she moved to Vash-on three years ago, McTighe said, she had a hard time making friends because most Island students had known each other for years and had formed tight-knit social groups.
Though McTighe has friends now, she says cliques still exist at VHS, and some people feel excluded. Indeed, she said, she found herself wishing her classmates would get to know each other better.
“There are not necessarily negative barriers, but there are barriers between students,” she said.
McTighe remembered hearing about Challenge Day, a professionally facilitated workshop designed to create empathy and build connections among high school students.
Through Vashon Youth Council’s Dream Project, McTighe and her Challenge Day team — high schoolers Emily Gripp, Zoe Pratt and Avery Russell — have raised $3,200 in grants and donations from local businesses, the amount needed to set a date for the Challenge Day. The students must now raise $1,500 more by April 27 to cover the facilitators’ travel expenses.
Amy Ezzo, director of Vashon Youth Council, said she was pleased to see McTighe take the initiative to address a need she saw at the high school and looks forward to seeing the impact the event has both at VHS and on the Island in general.
“It’s important that we embrace differences and not overlook them. … I’m hoping this project will show us we have differences and that’s wonderful,” she said.
VHS principal Susan Hanson said that although cliques are a normal part of high school and VHS hasn’t seen the bullying that occurs at some schools because of them, she is thrilled that McTighe has worked to bring Challenge Day to VHS.
“(Those involved) will form a nucleus of change to be more open and more accepting,” she said. “Every community thinks they’re liberal and accepting, but we all have areas we can have more growth.”
