"THAT is a cute bracelet... you have such neat accessories"
thursday found me speaking at a high school. while i find myself feeling comfortable speaking in front of groups maintaining the attention high schoolers is difficult- maintaining any kind of focus when talking about rape- next to impossible. (this seems like complaining- you know i love this!!!)
there were two groups- so i had the pleasure experiencing this twice. the first group was the 'achievers' kinda group- they file in, mild gossiping, sit close to the front, asking what we're going to discuss... there is this one, especially highlighted-tanned-thin-wearing jeans and carrying a coach purse girl- we're chatting before we get this party started, waiting for others to file in... she turns turns to her friend (equally tanned- not so highlighted) and says, "look at her bracelet- it is so cute... she really accessorizes." hearing this i say- 'well, thank you- i try to look cute when i go present- it doesn't freak people out as much when you talk about rape!' they laugh- we begin soon after...
so we are about 20 minutes into this discussion of what is sexual assault, how does one avoid this, and what are good relationships...
we get to relationships- what is/is not a healthy relationship (i think i can speak to this- i've seen unhealthy...) and my style is more discussion based- lots of talking, lots of walking around- trying to engage everybody... and i say, "let's discuss some of the pitfalls of possibly being in an unhealthy relationship..." and one of my accessories damn near kills me-- my cute (and new- they were only $17... SEVEN-TEEN DAH-LERZ!) black open-toed heel manages to catch itself in a small hole at the front of this lecture hall. (evidently there was wiring there at onetime for an old overhead?- cover the damn hole- geez) having child-like reflexes as i do... i stumble, NOT A FALL!, and quickly recover- raising both hands in the air as though i had just 'stuck the landing' and manage to convince them that i had done the sight-gag on purpose to illustrate that the hole is "jealous behavior" and you will fall into it if you are not aware of appropriate relationship boundaries!
all that before noon!
there were two groups- so i had the pleasure experiencing this twice. the first group was the 'achievers' kinda group- they file in, mild gossiping, sit close to the front, asking what we're going to discuss... there is this one, especially highlighted-tanned-thin-wearing jeans and carrying a coach purse girl- we're chatting before we get this party started, waiting for others to file in... she turns turns to her friend (equally tanned- not so highlighted) and says, "look at her bracelet- it is so cute... she really accessorizes." hearing this i say- 'well, thank you- i try to look cute when i go present- it doesn't freak people out as much when you talk about rape!' they laugh- we begin soon after...
so we are about 20 minutes into this discussion of what is sexual assault, how does one avoid this, and what are good relationships...
we get to relationships- what is/is not a healthy relationship (i think i can speak to this- i've seen unhealthy...) and my style is more discussion based- lots of talking, lots of walking around- trying to engage everybody... and i say, "let's discuss some of the pitfalls of possibly being in an unhealthy relationship..." and one of my accessories damn near kills me-- my cute (and new- they were only $17... SEVEN-TEEN DAH-LERZ!) black open-toed heel manages to catch itself in a small hole at the front of this lecture hall. (evidently there was wiring there at onetime for an old overhead?- cover the damn hole- geez) having child-like reflexes as i do... i stumble, NOT A FALL!, and quickly recover- raising both hands in the air as though i had just 'stuck the landing' and manage to convince them that i had done the sight-gag on purpose to illustrate that the hole is "jealous behavior" and you will fall into it if you are not aware of appropriate relationship boundaries!
all that before noon!
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on Saturday, April 30, 2005 at 2:44 PM.
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