Mental Health Matters

Funded Sep 29, 2024

As a teacher in a Bronx high school, my students often travel on multiple forms of transportation, as well as walking, to arrive at school by 8:30. During the Fall/Winter months, the daylight is diminished coming to and going from school, which creates anxiety as they try to arrive on time and get home on time. These 10th grade students are at a precarious place in their lives, as many of them look and feel grown but they are not even 16 years old yet. There is a disconnect in their own bodies that makes them emotionally vulnerable and sometimes they actually shut their emotions down.

Getting these books and the activities meant a lot to them. We have been working our way through the chapters of the book, often using small groups to divide the reading and create discussion. The students seem most open when they are randomly divided and paired up so they don't have to speak too loud. When we first started talking about how to care for your emotions as much as you care for yourself physically, they were skeptical but as we engaged in opportunities to share out some students admitted that they found the reading helpful.

Thank you for investing in my students.”

With gratitude,

Ms. Clark