The Emotion Revolution Summit was an opportunity for the dozens of young people in attendance to hear from advocates, academics and experts and to share their own ideas for improving school climates. Two Born This Way Foundation Youth Advisory Board members were among them. Below are their reflections:

 

From Christopher Rim:

“When you leave tonight don’t leave loving me more, leave loving yourself more,” said Lady Gaga to the audience at her Monster Ball Tour in September of 2010.  I found myself impressed by her authenticity and connection to the crowd.

For the rest of my high school career and my first semester at Yale, I had a duty to uphold: to broadcast Lady Gaga’s message to the world and allow all people to express their true selves without any hesitation. The next step was determining how to accomplish this.

After much research on Yale’s campus, I stumbled upon the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence. On October 11, 2013, I emailed Professor Marc Brackett asking to him to share his experience as a member of the Research Advisory Board of Born This Way Foundation. Seven minutes later, Dr. Brackett responded enthusiastically and became my mentor for the next three years. Two years later, I was asked to be on the Youth Advisory Board of the foundation, and in that capacity, I had the opportunity contribute to the Emotion Revolution.

The Emotion Revolution started with Dr. Brackett and his team, in collaboration with Born This Way Foundation creating a nationwide survey that asked high school students to share – in their own words – both how they feel (currently) and how they hope to feel in school. The goal was to collect enough data to be able to stress the importance of creating positive learning environments where students’ emotions were valued. The Emotion Revolution Summit was created to share the results with students, educators, and policy makers.

On October 24, 2015 the day of the summit had finally arrived. The morning session was marked by Dr. Brackett launching the outcome of the survey  — the results were astonishing. Take a look:

 

The remainder of the day was filled with workshops and discussions exploring new outlets for students to safely express emotions.

In the afternoon, I had the opportunity to speak on a panel moderated by Soledad O’Brien alongside two high school students and Lady Gaga. When Lady Gaga asked me what changes I hoped to see in the classroom, I utilized what I had learned in Dr. Brackett’s Emotional Intelligence class this semester by encouraging schools to explore RULER – an evidence-based approach to embedding emotional intelligence into the “DNA” of schools. This method calls for students (and educators) to “recognize emotions in themselves and others,” to “understand the causes and consequences of emotions,” to “label emotions accurately,” to “express emotions appropriately,” and to “regulate emotions effectively.”

The teachers and administrators I had in high school always reminded me to follow my passions, learn from my losses, and celebrate my achievements. However, listening to my peers during the Emotion Revolution workshops made me realize that not all teens throughout the United States have this same sense of support at school. Interestingly, research shows that school leaders and teachers need to model the skills of emotional intelligence while they are teaching ig. That way, there is congruence between what adults are modeling and what they are teaching kids to do.

Although the Emotion Revolution Summit has ended, the aim to further a focus on positivity and self-expression is still at play. One project I am currently working on to support this cause is inspirED, a new online resource center on Facebook. Born out of a collaboration with the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, inspirED, is a community with lessons, activities, and projects designed by educators, teens, and experts in social and emotional learning (SEL). The goals: to help high school students and educators work together to create the best possible learning communities.

It has now been five years since Lady Gaga’s Monster Ball concert, but I can still hear her words as I further my involvement in the Emotional Intelligence initiative. If there’s one idea that I have taken to heart throughout this whole journey, it is the notion that simply listening to each other can spark a conversation. Dr. Brackett, although extremely busy and very accomplished, took the time to listen and respond to my email. From there, I had the opportunity that many only dream of being part of – a role in a project like the Emotion Revolution.

Imagine what we could achieve in our nation’s schools if educators and students would just simply listen to each other more and find ways to work together to make schools places where everyone feels connected and inspired

From Daniella Cohen:

It has only been a few weeks since the Emotion Revolution and I am still shaking from a discussion I had with Lady Gaga and Soledad O’Brien. Let me take a few steps back:

I was at the Emotion Revolution as a Youth Advisor to Born This Way Foundation. The foundation is working to shine a light on important, yet stigmatized subjects: emotional and mental health. At the Emotion Revolution, Gaga said she wanted “to explode the conversation” about emotions– that is exactly what she did. The weekend began by learning more about the story behind the foundation. Lady Gaga and her mom, Cynthia Germonatta, were honest and bold when sharing their story. The Foundation was started so no child is told they are “just being dramatic” or should “toughen up” when battling negative emotions. I was deeply moved by Lady Gaga’s words; she is a fearless, passionate woman and her genuine character is something I will remember forever. I am humbled that I was able to be a part of her vision.

This summer, I worked with Facebook and the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence to develop InspirED. InspirED is an emotional health curriculum that directly addresses the findings of a Yale survey. The survey found alarming disparities between the way students currently feel and they way students want to feel in school. Specifically, “When asked how they currently feel in school, out of all the words respondents listed, approximately 75% were negative. The most common words these students used to describe their current emotions at school are ‘Tired’ (39%), ‘Stressed’ (29%), and ‘Bored’ (26%). When asked how they WANT to feel in school the top three emotions that students want to experience more of are ‘Happy,’ Energized,’ and ‘Excited.’”

Later during the closing session, I was on a panel discussion with Lady Gaga, moderated by Soledad O’Brien. The discussion was in response to what we learned at the Emotion Revolution and a recent study by the American Psychological Association. The study found that for the first time ever, the stress levels of teens are higher than the stress levels of adults. The discussion can be watched here: (1:20:00)

Here is what resonates with me:

1. Mental and emotional health is just as important as physical health.
2. Battling emotions is a silent struggle; often times it is isolating. What I learned at the Emotion Revolution is that there are other people who are battling their emotions.  There are resources to get help. We are not alone.
3. “Self-care is not selfish.” We deserve the same compassion for ourselves, as we give to others.
4. Learn to say, “no.” Our decisions and actions are our vote. Say “yes” to things that promote emotional health and happiness. Say “no” to the things that promote stress.
5. Sometimes the small things can cause us immense stress; but the accumulation of small acts of kindness can inspire happiness. Give a few more compliments, tell someone you care about them, or pay it forward- small acts of kindness are easy and can promote the happiness of those around us.
6. “How are you?” is a powerful question that I am still learning how to respond to. Don’t have a knee-jerk response such as, “I’m fine.” When asked that question, pause and truly assess your emotions. If you are feeling inspired, say “I am feeling inspired right now!” If you are feeling sad, be brave and do not be afraid to say, “Actually I’m feeling sad right now, but I think I could feel inspired if you help me.”

Let’s start an emotion revolution– explode the conversation about emotional health.

 

 

 

This post first appeared on the Huff Post Impact blog.

Co-authored by Marc Brackett, Ph.D, Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence

On a Saturday in late October, the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and Born This Way Foundation had the immense pleasure of welcoming almost 200 high school students to the Yale University campus for the Emotion Revolution Summit.

The Emotion Revolution was launched on the basic belief – supported by a growing body of scientific research – that emotions are fundamental to a young person’s decision making, academic achievement, and overall well-being. It was also grounded in a commitment to make young people a part of the conversation about how to better integrate tools and tactics to support emotional wellness into their schools and communities.

That’s why – before the Summit began – we conducted an unprecedented online survey of teens nationwide. Drawing responses from approximately 22,000 high schoolers, we collected data on how young people currently feel and how they want to feel in school, and the possible reasons for these emotions. This research is straightforward but crucial to strengthening our understanding of current school climates and the factors that affect those environments.

The results were clear. When asked how they currently feel in school, approximately 75% of the words the students used were negative. Just 23% were positive. Furthermore, the top three emotions the students reported were tired (used by 39% of the respondents), stressed (29%), and bored (26%). In contrast, the top three emotions students said they want to feel in school are happy, excited, and energized.

We also asked the students about their experiences in school, revealing several notable correlations. For instance, students who said their peers had been mean or cruel to them were more likely to feel negative emotions such as loneliness, fear, and hopelessness. Meanwhile, respondents who said that what they were learning is relevant and meaningful were more likely to feel positive emotions such as interest, respect, and happiness. Similarly, students who reported that their teachers delivered engaging lessons experienced less boredom and greater respect and happiness.

These results clearly demonstrate the need to close the gap between what students are currently feeling in school and how they want to be feeling. We must start by empowering the young people themselves by giving them tangible support, practical tools and tactics, and a voice in the conversation.

The Emotion Revolution Summit was a first step in that process, bringing together young people with teachers and education leaders such as Yale University President Dr. Peter Salovey and New York City Department of Education Chancellor Carmen Fariña, passionate speakers including journalist Soledad O’Brien, Life is Good Co-Founder Bert Jacobs, and poet Azure Antoinette, and advocates like Lady Gaga.

At the Summit, our partner Facebook unveiled InspirED, a set of online resources for teachers and teens focused on building emotional intelligence in schools. It aims to connect high school students and educators across the country with tools and inspiration in social and emotional learning, so they can work together to create more positive learning environments and lead healthier, more fulfilled lives.

The day was also an opportunity to hear from students directly. We were blown away by their bravery in sharing their stories and honesty in discussing the role emotions play in their lives. Here are just a few of their reflections we think are worth remembering:

1. If you are struggling with anxiety, depression, self-doubt, or other negative emotions, it is difficult to be a positive force for change in the world. So before you can help anyone else, you need to be able to help yourself.

2. Regardless of background and personal history, everyone struggles at times with their emotions. Speaking up honestly about those experiences can helps the person doing the sharing but it can also serve as a comfort and inspiration to others navigating their own obstacles.

3. Risking judgement for expressing emotions is far outweighed by the dangers of concealing emotions. Don’t keep everything bottled inside – and be supportive of others who are brave enough to speak up.

4. In order for real change to take place, conversations like this need to have everyone involved – from students and parents to educators and policy makers. Everyone needs to be able to voice their opinions freely so that we can work together to come up with meaningful solutions.

5. Talking about emotional wellness is crucial, but real change will take empowering young people with practical tools and real change. Whether it’s changing policies that affect school climate or online resources like InspirED, building kinder and braver schools will take more than just words.

The Emotion Revolution Summit was the beginning of an important conversation. Now it’s time for everyone to take the lessons from that day and start a dialogue in their own communities. As organization leaders, educators, and parents, we need to give young people – and the adults in their lives – the support they need to create environments where emotions matter.

The Emotion Revolution Summit was hosted in partnership with Facebook and The Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and was made possible by the generous support of Microsoft, Mattel, Monster High, Life is Good, HopeLab, WWE, U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation, Flawless Foundation, and The Faas Foundation.

…

Cynthia Germanotta is the co-founder and president of Born This Way Foundation, which she founded with her daughter, Lady Gaga, to “empower youth” and “inspire bravery.”

Marc Brackett, Ph.D. is Director of the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence and is on the research advisory board of Born This Way Foundation. He is also a senior research scientist in psychology and faculty fellow in the Edward Zigler Center in Child Development and Social Policy at Yale University. He co-created RULER, and evidence-based approach to social and emotional learning.

I just returned from the Emotion Revolution Summit, a joint project between Born This Way Foundation, the Yale Center for Emotional Intelligence, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation and Facebook. It was an incredible day, bringing together nearly 200 youth and young adult leaders and over 150 educators, policy makers, parents, and industry leaders. What an evolution in our thinking about the importance of emotional intelligence and the importance of talking about our emotions!

Emotional intelligence is the ability to identify, understand, and manage our own emotions and to have an appreciation for others’ emotions. During the Emotion Revolution Summit on October 24^th, young people spent time in workshops learning strategies to help them create the emotions that they said they would like to feel in school: Happy. Excited. Energized. Inspired. Safe. Comfortable. Valued. Respected. Connected. Supported. Balanced. Content. Empowered. Motivated. Passionate. Purposeful. The adults at the Summit attended talks on the Emotion Revolution survey results, creating positive school climate, the Born Brave survey results on kindness and bravery, social and emotional learning, the RULER approach, and understanding adolescent development. Together, these talks and workshops are supporting a movement that Lady Gaga trended, #IamNOTjust______. Lady Gaga shared her feelings of anxiety with the audience and wore a t-shirt that said, “#IamNotJust Anxious.” Her bravery in sharing her feelings of anxiety and depression were inspirational and a model for all of us on the importance and healing power of emotional intelligence.

Cynthia kicked off the day talking about the challenges of parenting and that she has learned the importance of affirming her emotions and affirming her children’s emotions. She challenged the adults in the room by saying, “To the parents and the teachers in this room, I want to encourage you to encourage your children and your students to reveal their emotions.” Lady Gaga spoke throughout the day to youth and adults. Some of her inspirational comments were:

 

 

“You have the ability to change the world. If we could all do this together and be loud, we can make a difference today.” – Lady Gaga

— Manu Little Monster (@manulitlmonster) October 24, 2015

“Emotional intelligence affects your future and your ability to live a happy life.” – @ladygaga #EmotionRevolution — Born This Way (@BTWFoundation) October 24, 2015

“I really want kids all over the world to remember that it is in our power to change how we feel” – @ladygaga #EmotionRevolution #ImNotJust — Born This Way (@BTWFoundation) October 24, 2015

“#ImNotJust a pop star. #ImNotJust famous. #ImNotJust my outfits. I am you” -Lady Gaga pic.twitter.com/HW4dFiUPdb — Bilge (@gaga_countess) October 24, 2015

“our emotions put in this compartment with a massive stigma around it that its not cool to feel, and we have to make it cool to feel again” — danielle (@dnlllyons) October 25, 2015

“We have to set a standard where it’s not okay to act without morality and values and human respect” – @ladygaga #EmotionRevolution — Born This Way (@BTWFoundation) October 24, 2015

“The person that really needs to accept you is you.” -Lady Gaga #EmotionRevolution #IamNotJust pic.twitter.com/xxS8dWJ3or

— Bilge (@gaga_countess) October 24, 2015

 

 

 

As Lady Gaga said, “we’re here to EXPLODE the conversation!” Let’s see this Emotion Revolution take over our homes, schools, and communities and together let’s create an Emotion Evolution! It’s starts with YOU.

With Gratitude,

Dr. Sue