That Awkward Moment When...

Yesterday, the statistics project of the chapter was due and today the students presented them.  Their project was to research a statistic on a social issue and to calculate, educate and spread awareness of that statistic and its implications.  The physical end product is a brochure that includes all of this information and a few well stated last words from the projects creators.  This project was definitely a powerful one.  I think that the students not only related to the topics themselves personally, but many courageous conversations were created as well. I ran the presentations like I normally do and suddenly reality popped up all over the place.  During a feedback moment one student made a comment on why they like the presentation of a group that choose to do their project on unexpected pregnancy. He said "I like this topic because I am a product of an unexpected pregnancy."  Another group chose to do their project on animal testing and why they had made the personal decision to not wear make up.  Another moment occurred when a student spoke passionately about bullying and in particular bullying of kids who were suspected homosexuals.  His project was on percentages of attempted suicides and he was brave enough to share that he knew someone who had actually gone through with it.  Many shared stories where they knew loved ones who had experienced domestic violence, rape and drug abuse.  On and on the stories went. There were times when several people made light of certain topics. There were as many times where students stood in silence (out fear? respect? loss of words? I couldn't tell) while someone shared a story.


This Friday I'm doing my teacher role for my seminar class.  It's really open ended. I can do a lesson on whatever I want (within reason of course).

At first I was ready to share about cognitive coaching, a useful reflective strategy that my mentor and I do on a regular basis.  But after this week, I'm ready to choose an entirely different topic: How to deal with unexpected uncomfortable moments

There were so many serious issues and topics being addressed in class today. But at the same time, i felt SO ill equipped with how to handle the conversation. I was so afraid of trivializing the topics that I was left speechless at times.   Hopefully my seminar class can shed some light this friday....