Breaking Down the Walls in YLHS

Breaking Down the Walls is an interactive program that is designed to bring unification within school campuses, encouraging students to know, understand, and feel one another. Phil Boyte, the program’s main speaker, brought Breaking Down the Walls to Yorba Linda High School from Feb. 13 to Feb. 16, 2012.

On the first day, the entire school assembled for Phil Boyte’s speech, explaining the program’s goals and motivating students to cooperate with one another. The program assembled 150 different students on the remaining three days, all who played various games and participated in different activities that allowed for school bonding. Students played icebreaker games at the start of each day. This allowed participants to feel comfortable enough to share personal stories with one another.

A number of students shared powerful stories from their lives that touched others’ hearts. Their stories let fellow students to break down any racial, ethnic, or personal barriers they may have had between them and other students.

One of the participants of Breaking Down the Walls, Brianna Seamster, 12th grade, was fully pleased with the event. “Many people tend to judge others solely on appearance,” said Seamster, “However, this was a great opportunity to disregard those prejudices and be genuine to each other.”

Not only was the program about emotional, or inspiring moment, Breaking Down the Walls was also about connection within the school. Through a number of activities and games, different people mingled together, made new friends, understood their personal balearned to understand each other’s’ personal background, and consoled strangers.

“I met a person who walked home from the same bus stop, went the same way, but had never talked to her,” said one anonymous student. “I’ve been missing out on a great potential friend.”

“I met a girl that I’ve been going to school with since middle school,” said another student- “I always thought she was a perfect popular girl, but she has actually been going through lots of hard times.”

The impact that each day carried on was outstanding for some students. “It was very shocking to see one of my very close friends cross the line for a touchy subject because I would have never guessed that she had to go through something like that,” said Seamster after a “Cross the Line” game, in which students were asked to take one step across a line for each personal statement that applied to them. “This activity was my favorite because I learned that many people share the same problems or hobbies with me.”

Also, Allison Ruiz, 11th grade, was surprised to see some students apologize to their old friends or enemies. “I couldn’t keep my eyes from tearing up,” said Ruiz. “It showed me a side of people that I wouldn’t have seen unless I was close friends with them.”

Even though it was only a four-day experience in their life, each student personally learned valuable lessons on taking steps toward forming connected, united school.

“Now, I understood that I need to be cautious as to what i say to others and how I treat others. I learned that a simple smile, a hug, or even a “hi” can brighten up a person’s day,” said Seamster.

“I learned that everyone is going through such tremendous hardships under a veil or mask, [hiding them] from a judgmental and opinionated student body,” another student added. “Today, many of us felt respected and [had] a deeper understanding [of others], which was not expected possible.”

Breaking Down the Walls’ impact on each student varied, but it left an impression on many. “This assembly wasn’t life changing. I still live the same way and stay amongst my group of friends,” said Ruiz. “But, this assembly did give me a different perspective of our school. I definitely have a new respect for everyone.”

After the week of the event, Boyte commented on his impression of YLHS. “I was totally impressed with [YLHS’s] student body – the respect people showed each other for the four days I was there was really cool,” said Boyte.