The INFLUENCES project began on a brisk fall day in 2016. Travis Hellstrom, a friend and fellow graduate school member, and I had a heartfelt phone conversation that began with the exploration of the question, “Who am I? Is it possible to be authentically myself or am I just a combination of everyone I have ever come to know and be around?” From this question came many discussions and ultimately the creation of a 13-week curriculum that had the capability of inspiring individuals to reflect on the influences that shape them into the people they are today and the people they want to become tomorrow.

In a period of a few months, Travis and I created a flowchart of the curriculum, along with the first edition of the INFLUENCES Workbook, which would be used as a reflective and exploratory resource for our course participants. From that point, we filled in the gaps of our curriculum and kept running full force ultimately unveiling it to our first cohort of participants in the Spring of 2017.

The impact was incredible. The human-to-human connection between us, as facilitators, and our participants, as well as between themselves, was tangible and electric. The environment that was fostered in this cohort and each subsequent grouping has been nurturing, respectful, and safe. The participants have shown growth both at an individual level, and as a collective through the exploration of the curriculum’s quotes, questions, and other design elements. I have heard on many occasions from fellow teachers, past participants, and general members of the greater community, that such a course doesn’t exist in the traditional school environment, yet it is critical for today’s youth to experience a framework of self-reflection that includes exercises around compassion, mindfulness, values, reflection, and interconnectedness.

Travis and I are incredibly proud of the INFLUENCES course curriculum we have developed. It is integrated, interconnected, and timely for our world. Participants are eager to learn and explore how their life can be reflected upon and link to the lives of others. The need is great, the time is now. The question is, do you want to be part of a movement that helps to foster an environment of humans connecting to other humans at a level where we feel heard and truly understood.

Our hope is that you will join us in the exploration and sharing of this impactful and empowering curriculum!

Ashley Veenema was born and raised in a small town outside of Lebanon, New Hampshire. From an early age, education and teaching have flowed through her blood and it would ultimately lead her to a passionate and flourishing career in public secondary school education. Although her primary love is in the sciences, Ashley did discover a personal enthusiasm and an overwhelming need for deeper human connection to be introduced back into the public school system. “Students need a space where they can speak freely about who they are and who they want to become as human beings. I don’t feel I was formally given the space to do that in high school and the Influences course offers just that.” Bringing the human connection back into the traditional public school system is critical and offering such a space can offer students an opportunity to experience what it is truly like to be heard.