“I challenge you to listen with intent to learn, not with intent to respond.”

That was part of the message from Marion sophomore Bailey Graham when she addressed those in attendance at the recent Elevating Student Voices event at the Wayne-Finger Lakes BOCES conference center in Newark. The annual gathering encourages area students to take the lead in conversations about school culture, inclusion and diversity.

Regional students gathered in Newark for the event, which opened with several speakers and was followed by a gallery where students showed their displays centered on various themes designed to encourage dialogue. 

Bailey teamed with Marion classmate Ashley Osborn to showcase a Marion initiative to “Lift Up” a more positive school environment by encouraging students to prevent impulsive behavior that can lead to hurtful language. Bailey and Haley hosted “Knights Roundtables” with other Marion students and in one session had students do jumping jacks while wearing a backpack stuffed with textbooks. The extra weight represented the load unkind behavior can have on people. 

We’re proud of the initiative being shown by Bailey and Ashley in helping Elevate Student Voices both here in Marion and regionally.

As Bailey also said in her speech, “the most effective conversation is from considering all ideas and perspectives, from all different people.”