Self Image: Who am I? Where do I come from?

Purpose  In order to determine where you want to go in life, you must first tackle the obstacle of identifying who you are, where you come from, and how your experiences impact you. This session will challenge you to dig deep and identify what challenges and obstacles are in your life that you might need to overcome.

Agenda  Ice Breaker (5 minutes)  Values Activity (25 minutes)  I am Poems (25 minutes)  Announcements/Reminder (5 minutes)

Values  What are values?

Values Activity Instructions  Students will be given a list of core values.  Review the list of values on the handout. Note the blank lines at the bottom, which participants can use to add any values that are important to them that aren’t on the list.  Place a star next to all the values that are important to you, including any you added.

Values Activity  Narrow your personal set of values to five. Cross off the less important values and circle the more important values.

Values Activity  Now choose your top three core values.

Reflection Questions  How did you choose your core values?  What do your core values mean to you?  How can you make your core values a more present while you are at school and at home?  What do your core values tell you about where you come from and who you are?

I am Poems  Participants will write a poem called "Who I Am." The only rule is that each line should begin with the words "I...“ (See the template for more clarification). You can include statements about where you’re from regionally, ethnically, religiously, and so on; memories from different points in your life; interests and hobbies; mottos or credos; favorite phrases; family traditions and customs; and whatever else defines who you are.

I am Poem format  FIRST STANZA: I am (two special characteristics you have) I wonder (something you are actually curious about) I hear (an imaginary sound) I see (an imaginary sight) I want (the first line of the poem repeated)  SECOND STANZA: I pretend (something you actually pretend to do) I feel (a feeling about something imaginary) I touch (an imaginary touch) I worry (something that really bothers you) I cry (something that makes you very sad) I am (the first line of the poem repeated)  THIRD STANZA: I understand (something you know is true) I say (something you believe in) I dream (something you actually dream about) I try (something you really make an effort about) I hope (something you actually hope for) I am (the first line of the poem repeated)  FOURTH STANZA: Freestyle (You may write about anything that defines you)

Reflection Question  What were some commonalities across poems?  Did any of the poems surprise you?  How do your experiences influence your future?  How can we use our experiences in our lives to be better?

Reminders/Announcements