This is a photo essay as part of the process of SN@P. Youth were asked to document places that they don't feel safe in school.
The tragedy when viewing these photos, is the idea that these same places were unsafe when we were young...
The youth perceive adults as having "amnesia" about what it was like to be young.
Although a different story emerges as we dig into the issue.
Junior high is a time when we turn our back on traditional forms of authority and develop our own. Unfortunately, as we are very young we are drawn to some very maladaptive forms of authority.
Like: popularity, wealth, power, strength...
This kind of power is very tenuous and based on a maladaptive use of privilege...
Therefor, when working in maladapive power/privilege structures happen, the patterns are not easily changed regardless of how many anit-bullying campaigns or police officers we have at a school.
What we strive to do in this project is unpack that maladaptive privilege and examine the bio-social drivers that keep us there.
"We helped change the world. We ARE Super heros!"
Emma, Sn@p Participant
Then we are able work from outside the maladaptive patterns that hold us captive. The stories that no longer serve us. We can rewrite the stories in order to achieve success.
"this has definatley changed my view on school. i used to think it would be so cool to be "popular" but now i realize that being popular doesnt make you a better person. So i rather be myself because in the end thats the only person you can be. !! <3" Rosey, Sn@p participant
