BECOMING MINDFUL: SURFACING HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS' EXPERIENCES OF MINDFULNESS

In our world of interconnected systems - a world that relies on the Internet, social media, and technology - how does mindfulness help us become more aware of our relationship to ourselves, to others, and to our world? How does mindfulness impact academic learning, athletic development, and personal growth? As high school students juggle rigorous courses and academic obligations, how can mindfulness be integrated in secondary school settings, so that it does not "detract" from students' already-constrained schedules? What are the experiences of high school students as they participate in a mindfulness class? Why is teaching mindfulness important to developing the socially conscious and systems-thinking change leaders of tomorrow, today? This oral presentation examines the above questions, discusses what mindfulness is, and explores why mindfulness is relevant to high school students. To surface the voices of students, who are the end-users of, and participants in, their own mindfulness experience, this oral presentation shares students' perspectives on their experiences in a mindfulness class, offered during their junior and senior years while in high school. It presents key themes and takeaways from students' learnings, especially as these learnings relate to mental health and social relationships. This presentation is hands-on and participatory in that it features several breathing exercises as demonstrations of how to integrate mindfulness in the school day. This presentation is appropriate for teachers, administrators, professors, or for anyone with an existing mindfulness practice or wanting to begin a mindfulness practice. After attending this session, participants will have a deepened understanding of what mindfulness is and why it is relevant to learning, health and wellness, and personal growth.