Workshop outline:

Sex and Consent

The pressure to be sexually active, abusive, and predatorial is huge in high schools.  This underground but acceptable behavior is not easy to bypass for young men.  We will discuss ways to:

• Not participate in the jokes.
• Speak up to inappropriate speech and behavior in a way that does not make you seem different, unsexual, or self-righteous.
• Know what consent really is and listen to your partner.
• Listen to your own body and not be pulled by something that does not feel right for you.

Drugs

Drugs are a natural part of high school.  Teens will always find ways to get high.  We believe alcohol and drugs should not be ingested until your body is fully grown but also realize the majority of teens (especially boys) will try or practice some form of self-medication.  So, we will share both abstinence and wisdom:

• Cause, effects, and consequences of every action.
• The many types of drugs and the effects they have on you.
• How to say no and keep friendships, reputations, and self-worth.

Bullies

There was a big push (which still exists) to stop bullying in schools.  The truth is bullying did not ever stop; bullies just learned how to bully better while in-person, and with blasted coding online.  Through all this, no one taught our teens the important skills of how to face, manage, and cope with bullies.  Not having this skill in life is dangerous and keeps people in victim mode.  Here are the skills we will share:

• How to remain authentic and not be targeted.
• What to say and do when a bully tests the waters to see if you are a victim.
• What to do if you get blasted online.
• How to be independent and still connected to friends and the collective.
• Physical techniques to stop bullying.
• Talking to someone about bullying.
• Making a plan that will not cause you to be targeted, shamed, ridiculed, or isolated.

Privilege and Racism

These topics have been labeled taboo over the past year but still impact young men’s relationships and interactions in high school.

Each school has its unwritten and non-verbal relationship to privilege, disadvantage, and racism.  If a freshman does not know how to navigate and decode these rules, or the rules are not aligned with their personal values, this can affect their success and well being for the remainder of their time in high school.

We will discuss:

• Recognizing your privilege and not using it at anyone’s expense.
• Recognizing and managing your own biases and affinities.
• Conversation about the effects racism has on everyone.
• How to listen, ask questions, and share challenging conversations in a way that connects to people.

Workshop Leader:  Dorian Wiederholt Kassar

From Dorian:

I had a panic attack the evening after my first day of high school orientation. I realized I was stepping into a new paradigm around sex, drugs, gossip, and insecurity, and I felt totally underprepared. I’ve gone on to do significant work in high schools, even at orientations, but there are limitations to what I can talk about there. This workshop is the answer to those limitations. 

We’ll talk honestly about hook up culture, drug culture, porn, bullying, fitting in, privilege, safety, and more. Students will be empowered to face challenges without becoming overwhelmed and resorting to the myriad ways of numbing out and self-medicating. I hope to have your son join us for this important workshop. 

Next Session will be August 13, 2022.  Register and learn more here.