Glow Within’s First Year: A Recap

What an incredible first year of delivering workshops to our local schools and community organizations. Glow Within was in 30 classes and engaged with over 600 students. This is just the beginning! We can’t wait to continue our work and create lasting impact in our beloved communities.

Some Notable Feedback We Received

Feedback from Student Participants

I myself struggle a lot with my self-image how I perceive myself, and my self-esteem. So hearing those kinds of messages that reassured me and encouraged me felt really good. I didn’t feel so alone, because I saw that there were other people who thought the same as me.

I think it was the most relatable to what I currently am going through and offered helpful advice I know I can use currently as well as later on.

I think it’s a very important topic to discuss especially since so many people around my age have social media, we all are impacted by it in some way. It was nice to see other people sharing their opinions and examples of how social media negatively affects teenagers, especially girls

I feel like this topic needs to be talked about more.

It is so important for girls my age to know about consent so I was completely on board with that class. I loved it because it was so informative.

The workshop discussing body image was very relevant to me as I usually am not secure with my body and my looks due to the influence of Social Media. This workshop has helped me realize I’m much more than that and ways I could cope with all of it are available to me. Thank you!

I chose that one as it went into detail more and is one of the most important things to know when you’re in a relationship so giving that knowledge to people to know what healthy and unhealthy relationships look like, what are red flags in relationships, etc.

I loved all of the workshops they were informative but I felt let's talk consent was the most important and I learned a lot about consent and a lot about myself

It's important for me personally now because of the relationship I'm in with my s/o and we're both very good with boundaries, etc. But it made it easier to communicate with him without the possibility of a fight starting

Connecting to body image workshop, one of the speakers shared their story of how growing up they felt really conscious of their body and they felt they were “good” for having changed during puberty. I really related to that a lot and I got kinda emotional.

I felt like I could connect with the facilitators better because we shared smaller age gaps, so the advice given was more relevant to things teens are going through in this day and age

The girls were so nice and engaging and spoke with us like friends or older sisters. They spoke from personal experience which created a safe open space for the rest of us to share as well. Overall they were just very inviting and pleasant.

The facilitators were all so very understanding and kind. Helping me figure out and realize these workshops were very relevant to my life entirely was a great experience. Not only did they try to understand but they also safely and privately discussed further with consent.

I felt the facilitators were unbiased and I was only seeing them for these classes so I felt comfortable opening up to them they were kind and understanding and they were also students so they could relate to us

They didn't make anything awkward and simply spoke and acted like normal people with normal problems which isn't usually brought to light and having no problems is glamourized

I think consent had the biggest impact because up until now I didn't know as much about it and in middle school, they only showed the tea video and now I've learned about FRIES and have gotten more in-depth about it.

All the workshops were really in-depth, and filled with important information, but didn’t make me feel overwhelmed with info, which I think is important to keep everyone engaged.

The program was genuinely intended to help us they engaged us and let us share what we thought. I felt so empowered and comfortable with myself and it was a great reminder to check in with myself.

Feedback from Educators

There was a lot of specific and new information related to their health as girls and women that was so important. Mostly understanding your body and self-advocating/ not feeling ashamed.

The connection with the girls seeing someone closer in age to them talk about relevant info and being so open and honest about their own experiences

I would love to have Glow Within back because I would like to have young people talk to other young people about their experiences. I think it’s more impactful. Also, that info can be awkward coming from their teachers potentially.

This is just amazing information that kids/young adults NEED!!!!!!!! and from someone who isn't teaching them how to do a sit-up or their parents! lol