All educators want to make sure that their students leave their class or school armed with the tools they will need when they move on in life. On May 22, the faculty and administration at the Machon Sarah TAG High School gave a special gift to their seniors just a few weeks before graduation. This was not an external gift that they were given, but rather the gift of revealing treasures that lie within them.
The TAG senior students enjoyed an amazing morning featuring interactive workshops led by professionals from Work At It, Ms. Rivka Ariel, Ms. Rona Rubin, and Ms. Yael Wedeck. Work At It invited the local New York City Council Member to see firsthand the work it is doing to boost the self-awareness and self-esteem of high school seniors as they prepare to leave the cocoon of school. Since 2021, Councilwoman Brooks-Powers has been working to enhance the lives of her constituents in district 31, including Far Rockaway. The girls got to hear from her and to have a personal discussion about her story, giving them a taste of things they can accomplish. She encouraged them by saying, “We are trying to fill your bank, so on days in your life that may be a little bit difficult for you, know that there was a community that surrounded you, that cared about you, that believed in you, that had expectations of you.”
The Work At It workshop helped students explore and discover in a deep and me
aningful way unique attributes about themselves and their peers. It also gave them the tools to see their personality traits and strengths as skills that can be used in the workplace.
The process of self-discovery began with blocks labeled with a variety of character traits placed in front of students from which they chose the ones that best described themselves and their peers. Students selected blocks and gave them to their partner with an explanation and example of why that specific attribute was chosen. This process allowed them to think seriously about what they consider their most essential traits, what they think their peers’ most essential traits are, and what others think of them. At this juncture in their lives, finishing high school and preparing to move on, this process is foundational in terms of forming a clear sense of who they are.
TAG faculty assisted in facilitating this workshop and were thrilled to see the girls so engaged and inspired. One of the faculty members commented, “I think it’s so important for each person to know her strengths and be proud of what she has to offer. The confidence that this program gives to the girls is so powerful and will be a tool that they will carry with them through the next stages of life!” The process of these workshops is one that allows girls to leave feeling uplifted and empowered to use their unique gifts to succeed. Aside from building confidence, this exercise gave students a better understanding of themselves and how they can use their G-d-given attributes to their advantage.
Thank you to Mr. Cal Nathan and the Community Chest South Shore for sponsoring this program.
