Relaxing lazy days of summer have come and gone; it’s school time again!
Loving Assisting Nurturing Educating and Supporting Teenage Girls, Inc. (LANES) kicked off the 2012-2013 school year with its high school girls on Saturday, August 25th. Girls gathered at the Pine Hills Community Center where they reconnected with their friends and mentors for an interactive session on Fear vs. Courage.
After roundtable introductions and an exercise about facing your fears, the girls were treated to words of wisdom from Monica May, the news/community affairs director and host of the nationally syndicated Tom Joyner Morning Show at STAR 94.5, a COX Radio station in Orlando. Monica focused on overcoming the fear of speaking in public and how journaling can help teen girls express themselves. She shared her personal journey from a teenager to becoming a successful woman, mother, and radio personality.
Brooke, a sophomore at Dr. Phillips High School commented, “I enjoyed Ms. May and her presentation. I’ll remember to go for what I want and let nothing hold me back, especially fear.”
Monica challenged the girls to read an article from the newspaper out loud every day, as this exercise will help them develop better public speaking skills. At the conclusion of her message, she gave each girl a copy of the poem, You Deserve the Best.
Saturday Summits for high school girls are held every 2nd Saturday at the John Bridges Community Center in Apopka and every 4th Saturday at the Pine Hills Community Center in Orlando. The summits are designed to allow the girls an opportunity for candid discussions, with exercises and activities for character and leadership development and workshops on preparing for life after graduating from high school.
by Lisa Williams
