Harmony Week recap

Last week Urbana High School participated in Harmony Week, an annual event centered around discussion towards change and educating the students in the school. Prominent speakers were invited to come in and talk to students. If you were not lucky enough to take part in Harmony Week, read on for a recap of events.

Tuesday:

The first day of Harmony Week focused on gun control and getting to know the small groups you’re put in to have discussions. First hour students played games such as two truths and a lie to break the ice. Second hour, Chief of Police in Champaign, Anthony Cobb facilitated conversation with students to inform them and with the hope of creating change.

Cobb explained that “a lot of people argue gun violence is a symptom of problems people face in society.” Problems such as poverty and mental illness contribute to the violence seen in communities and local communities need to be more supported in the future to, therefore, supporting the people that are struggling.

According to Cobb, the way forward is by communicating with the people around you, such as your neighbors. By communicating more efficiently people will look out for each other, which will decrease gun violence.

Before Cobb leaves he ensures that everyone in the room is aware that “you can either be a positive influence or a negative influence.” The future is on the shoulders of young people.

Wednesday:

The second day of Harmony Week began during second hour. Andrew Alleyne, a member of the mechanical engineering department at the U of I came in to inform students on some inside tips to prepare for college admissions.

Alleyne advised the students to apply to around five to eight schools, to consider more than one major, and to talk to your family beforehand about looking into how much college may be by utilizing a net price calculator.

One inside tip Alleyne revealed is that many colleges release their essay questions around this time and it is likely they are out now. To write a more persuasive college essay, begin to write and revise now or in the summer if you are applying to colleges in the fall.

According to Alleyne, colleges believe that “what you did is valuable, what you learn and how it shaped you is even more valuable.”

During third hour, Mayor Diane Marlin came in to speak to students about local politics.

Marlin strongly believes that “climate change is the most serious issue facing us.”

Although most people are unable to impact change on a national scale, there is still a lot you can do on the local level.

Adopt Urbana and the Co-op Tree Planting Program are ways to get involved locally. Adopt Urbana is a litter collection program where a group will clean up an area three times each year for two years. To help with tree planting, make a one-time donation, or raise $125 dollars to pay for a tree to be planted in an area of your choice.

Marlin encouraged that “if [political representatives] are not talking about climate change, move on to the next one.”

Thursday:

The third day of Harmony Week centers on discussion regarding a judge and about immigration.

Judge Ronda Holliman Coleman was determined to be a judge for most of her life. To achieve her goals, she’s “always taken [her] education seriously and tried not to play into stereotypes.”

Citing her biggest inspirations as “attorney’s who advanced civil rights or women’s rights, such as Ruth Bader Ginsburg,” she has know she’s wanted to be a lawyer “since the seventh or eighth grade.”

Judge Holliman Coleman explained that the way to succeed in life is by “thinking ahead and planning your schedule.”

The other speaker during the third day of Harmony Week is Madam Ho who facilitated a discussion regarding immigration.

Madam Ho works at the East Central Illinois Refugee Mutual Assistance Center. She speaks five languages, which is helpful when communicating with people from various places over the world.

Madam Ho explained that the hatred over immigration is unnecessary considering “we are different seeds but we’re watered by the same rain.”

Friday:

The last day of Harmony Week took place during 7th hour. Michael Jenkins from The Rock Counseling Group came in to hold a discussion concerning mental health.

Jenkins stressed self-care as a way to keep your mental health healthy. According to Jenkins, “self-care is trying to find balance in your life again.”

He believes an important question to ask yourself is “how do I start integrating wins back into my life?” There are many ways to care for yourself, the way to stay balanced is by putting yourself first at times.

At The Rock Counseling Group “[the counselors are] here to listen and to care and get you the help you need.”

Lastly, Jenkins is clear that you should not let finances keep you from getting the help you need. There are situations that are met on a need base level.

Overall, Harmony Week succeeded in opening people up to new idea, people, and ways to improve their lives. If you couldn’t make it to Harmony week this year, hopefully this recap helped you as well.