Feminenza Program Helps PHS Students Tackle Fears

Fear is a part of life and something we all experience. Some fears are natural, some we learn to live with, but some fears can stop us from doing what we want to do in life. Now, thanks to Feminenza’s Young Women’s Leadership Program at PHS, some young ladies have learned to better manage some of their fears and approach their life with an increased amount of self-confidence.

Earlier this month, nine PHS students went through several workshops on fear, including one 7-hour day spent outside, to help them deal with their fears. During the workshops, Feminenza leaders spoke to the students about how fear works in the brain and how the emotional part of the brain can hijack people in many situations, to the point where fear can cause a person to panic or freeze. How to bring fear to a standstill, so to be able to better manage it, was then explored through various understandings, theaters and participation in a unique outdoor process called “The Field of Fears”.

“Fear is the one thing that can prevent us from pursuing our passions or dreams,” said Feminenza advisor Eileen McGowan.

In the “Field of Fears”, girls identified their personal fears, gathered their strengths, qualities and achievements and then chose 3 to 5 specific fears to tackle, using certain tools that have proven to be successful with women and girls all over the world. Feedback from students after completing the tasks was overwhelmingly positive, with all who attended feeling a sense of accomplishment.