There is this image every high school aspires to have: An image where students are learning with intention, socializing with positivity, and leaving with content. However, the reality is that no matter how hard the administrative body tries to create this environment, there will always be students who feel alone and isolated from the rest of the school. One program is currently trying to change this social norm for high schools, including mine, for the better. 

Breaking Down the Walls is an all-inclusive program where one of their speakers travel to high schools and talk about building a compassionate, encouraging environment. Students partaking in this program would be excused from class for the entire day. At my high school, the workshop consisted of group activities, partner discussions, speeches from the speaker, talent shows by students, and finally Cross the Line (will be explained later). The goal of Breaking Down the Walls is to help every student feel included and supported by their peers and understand that they really are not alone in whatever they are dealing with. 

This organization was introduced to my high school last year, and I decided, on a whim, to attend this year. I wondered if this one-day workshop I was skipping a whole day of class for was worth it. At first, I assumed that this program would just be another boring assembly. However, I experienced something that was anything but that. 

The day started out with the group forming a two large circles, with one on the inside and the other circling around it. Everyone had a partner (preferably someone they are not particularly close to) and basically performed different games with each other. The pairs also had conversations about their typical school day and childhood memories. All of these activities seemed to be sort of lighthearted, but they all had a deeper meaning. My partner was someone who, quite frankly, intimidated me. But he actually turned out to be one of the nicest people I have ever met; he just had a lot of problems outside and inside of school which caused him to create this defensive front. 

We then moved on to having different partners and having deeper conversations with one another. At one point, I ended up telling my partner, whom I have never met before, that my parents are divorced. The girl ended up telling me how she is always hard on herself with grades, which I could very much relate to.

However, despite all of these memorable activities, Cross the Line really stuck with me the most. For this task, students lined up in two different lines on opposite sides of the room behind a line (ours took place in a basketball court so we stood behind sidelines). Then the speaker asked a series of questions with the format of “Cross the line if _____”. The questions ranged from light hearted ones like “Cross the line if you have a driver’s license” to almost taboo topics such as “Cross the line if your sibling(s) passed away”. The instructions were simple but the emotions felt during the session brought so many students to tears. I saw one of my most positive friends step across the sideline when asked, “Cross the line if you feel depression almost on a daily basis”. I saw some of the most beautiful people I ever met cross when asked, “Cross the line if you feel disappointed every time you look in the mirror”. I myself crossed the line for questions I never thought I would tell the student body about. This short activity compelled students who barely knew each other to hug and whisper words of encouragement. It made students bawl their eyes out in the center of the gymnasium. By the end of this ordeal, I felt this energy of compassion, almost like the group of people in the room, some I have never met, were companions I have known forever. 

Breaking Down the Walls will always be an experience I will never forget. I will never forget the students who crossed the line for questions I thought did not apply to anyone. I will never get out of my head the image of sisters embracing and crying at the end of Cross the Line. I will never fail to remember the smile my partner had on his face after we created a handshake. This workshop should be brought to every high school in this nation, in this world, so that even just for a day, all students can truly feel welcomed and supported in their environment. 

breaking down the walls 2

We then moved on to having different partners and having deeper conversations with one another. At one point, I ended up telling my partner, whom I have never met before, that my parents are divorced. The girl ended up telling me how she is always hard on herself with grades, which I could very much relate to.

However, despite all of these memorable activities, Cross the Line really stuck with me the most. For this task, students lined up in two different lines on opposite sides of the room behind a line (ours took place in a basketball court so we stood behind sidelines). Then the speaker asked a series of questions with the format of “Cross the line if _____”. The questions ranged from light hearted ones like “Cross the line if you have a driver’s license” to almost taboo topics such as “Cross the line if your sibling(s) passed away”. The instructions were simple but the emotions felt during the session brought so many students to tears. I saw one of my most positive friends step across the sideline when asked, “Cross the line if you feel depression almost on a daily basis”. I saw some of the most beautiful people I ever met cross when asked, “Cross the line if you feel disappointed every time you look in the mirror”. I myself crossed the line for questions I never thought I would tell the student body about. This short activity compelled students who barely knew each other to hug and whisper words of encouragement. It made students bawl their eyes out in the center of the gymnasium. By the end of this ordeal, I felt this energy of compassion and embracement, almost like the group of people in the room, some I have never met, were companions I have known forever.

Breaking Down the Walls will always be an experience I will never forget. I will never forget the students who crossed the line for questions I thought did not apply to anyone. I will never get out of my head the image of sisters embracing and crying at the end of Cross the Line. I will never fail to remember the smile my partner had on his face after we created a handshake. This workshop should be brought to every high school in this nation, in this world, so that even just for a day, all students can truly feel welcomed and supported in their environment.