Post-graduate Planning and Transition Year
20 Kearsarge Ave. Roxbury, MA 02119
Reflections from BDEA and Hudson students
This overall experience has honestly changed my life. Beginning with the retreat I met some amazing BDEA kids from the leadership team.
I did not think that I would leave there almost in tears of happiness that I made some great friends. Maria and I stayed up half the night with some of the kids talking and just opening up about everything and I can honestly say those few kids know me now better than my own mom. Breaking down the stereotypes and putting yourself out there is really hard, but it was so worth it. It changed my whole way of thinking and guided me to what I want to do in college. Over the past couple of months I’ve become very passionate about the kids and the overall experience. This is exactly what I want to be doing with my life. I’m so thankful to have had the opportunity to do the exchange and have gotten to meet all the different kids. Maria and I now go to Boston every weekend to see our friends from BDEA and continue building our relationships and breaking down stereotypes together. Although I could write pages and pages talking about the exchange and how it has impacted my life, I’ll leave it short and simple: “we are not enemies, but friends. We must not be enemies. Though passion may have strained, it must not break our bonds of affection. The mystic chords of memory will again be touched by the better angels of our nature.” (American History X)
This exchange has made a huge impact on me. I made friends with people that I never would have met if it were not for this program. It also broke down stereotypes that we have of each other. I honestly think that this was the best thing I have done in high school. We are not only just friends this day, but everyone is keeping in touch with the people from the other school. This is a really good program that should continue for as long as possible.
I actually really enjoyed today. I thought everyone was nice and I really think there should be more diversity here because today was a GOOD DAY.
We all have struggles no matter what race, gender, or area we are from. I met some great people that make you look at life from a different standpoint.
Today went very well. Meeting new people was the highlight of my day.
I think it was a very good experience seeing how other people’s lives are. I would love to do it again.
The exchange impacted me in a way that I never imagined would happen. When I first signed up for this class, I did it because it seemed cool to go to Boston. Now, a few short months later, it was not only exciting and enjoyable, but also a life changing experience. I would consider myself before the retreat and exchange as a pretty shy person who didn’t do well out of my own comfort zone. I would never have even considered going out to meet teens from an urban area mostly because of stereotypes that portray them as violent, unfriendly people.
Today I can say that I am a whole new person because I consider the students from BDEA my friends, not just people I met for a school assignment. I feel so proud of myself because my way of thinking has dramatically changed for the better. I even went to Roxbury to hang out with Jose, which is so significant because it shows that this exchange really can make an impact and begin the process of breaking down social barriers.
The program between BDEA and Hudson is valuable because it shows student who would otherwise never meet how to respect one another. Before I met Hudson students, I thought that we would not have much in common with them. I pictured white kids, wearing sweats and dirty sneakers, who would be polite and well educated and when I met them in October, I realized that I was right BUT I found out I had much more in common with them than I thought. Some of them socialized in the same way I do and they liked some of the same rap artists as me. Even though we live in different lifestyles we are the same. We care about our friends, family and educations. We have to take the trash just as they do. Many of them deal with family issues just like we do. Lots of them are trying to figure out their futures just as we do.
When we went to Hudson High School, it was amazing how many resources they have. The have a huge gym/ athletic complex. They have a theatre, music classes, TV studio, robotics lab, etc.
It is important to keep this exchange going because it is good to meet people who are from different areas than you, with different experiences and different cultures that we can learn from and who can learn from us.
Rare opportunity to meet others who only live a short distant away, it breaks down the stereotypes with students who you might think you would have NOTHING IN common with. Taking us out of our home environments helps us discover who we truly are and the commonalities that teenagers have is amazing.
Though this one day does not change the world or stop racism, this experience impacts everyone who is here. Everyone involved in this day becomes an active observer in the injustices around them and those people are the ones who can speak up and make a difference. At the heart of it, regardless of stereotypes, we are all the same.
Today was a very positive day. I met a lot of new friends and heard a lot of different new voices. It’s a very comfortable school to be in. It just that it is an eye-opener about many different people; it’s not where you’re from, it’s where you are going.
This exchange has gotten me to talk to people that I’d probably never talk to. I also Met New Friends I’ll never forget. I feel it should be more than two times, to keep our relationship strong.
Something I can say is that I will always remember from this exchange with Hudson is no metter who you are or where you live, people will always get along and have something in common.
I think our exchange with BDEA has opened my eyes to how diverse our world is. Although we’re within maybe half an hour or so of one another, our worlds are completely different. It’s amazing to see that we all face struggles, although they may look different.
Twenty years from now, I will remember being able to voice my opinion about subjects with people I don’t know from a closed book. It makes me feel like I’m more then just another student.
This day is a new day, where there will be a change: a change of our views, change the way we learn, a change of people we got to meet.
I think this day is really work it and awesome. You get to meet new people and bond with them through discussion real things happening in the world, stereotypes, assumptions, and expectations. I think its an amazing experience.
If I were to tell the next generation about this program, I could tell them how very awesome and interesting it is to meet people with different backgrounds.