I first heard about ROX after my parents mentioned it to me.
Photo courtesy of author
As a sixth grader, the idea of it appealed to me because I realized would help me learn a little bit about what’s in store for me in middle school, which is when many of the challenges associated with growing up start. I thought it would be a good idea for me to participate in the ROX program and learn how to deal with some of the challenges I would be facing.
So far, I’ve attended a handful of classes. I’ve learned how to recognize different types of stress – whether associated with family, friends, homework or other sources – and how to deal them.
Today’s class about self-defense was a really good one. We learned how to defend ourselves without using any physical activity. I learned how to use my words and my body language to tell someone “no” or “back off.” We were taught that we should be firm, but not vicious about it.
Another part of class that I really enjoyed learning about was how to use “I feel” statements to communicate with people and deal with social conflict. I have been able to use a modified form of this sort of communication to talk to my friends when they don’t get along.
I don’t have many friends, but a lot of them don’t like each other. I’m compatible with a lot of
Riley Fox, second from right, attends a ROX class.
people, and the people that I am friends with have a variety of personalities. When there’s conflict, I use the “I feel” statements to try to stop the friction, and it works most of the time.
Before I learned about those statements from ROX, I didn’t know how to deal with social tension at all. I used to talk to my parents or my friends’ parents. Now, I can deal with conflict by talking directly to my friends.
I really enjoying going to ROX classes and meeting other girls like me who also want to learn more about how to prepare socially for middle school.
Riley Fox is a sixth-grader at New Albany Middle School. Feedback welcome at ssole@cityscenemediagroup.com.
