Not being one to blow her own trumpet, Jenna did not submit this report to CommuNIque, however a member of the Board of Counsellors, and the Bahá'í Council for Northern Ireland, both felt it was worth publishing as an example to all of what can be done.
Editor
In June 2003 I was anxious to start a study circle with my friends from school. The plan was that we would start in September, every week for an hour after school. Everyone was keen to join. Sweet to the beat! September came but no study circle. Everyone just seemed so busy and my friends are very into their own extracurricular activities. There just wasn’t the time, andeventually the plan became a distant memory. Not so sweet!
In November 2004, as a member of the Northern Ireland Bahá'í Youth Committee, I was invited to the European Bahá’í Youth Conference in Acuto, Italy. Here, I learnt how important it is to enlarge our community of interest and that the best places to do this are in our schools, work places or even within our family. During the conference I felt more and more eager to try again, but I couldn’t see how or when.
On my return journey panic broke out. Where was my phone? The one material thing I didn’t feel right without and I had lost it. The flight was beginning to board and so I had no time to search for it. Unwillingly, I boarded the plane leaving my phone behind. Sitting waiting for take off, a thought crossed my mind. How can I turn this situation around? What can I do to make this a loss a gain? Then it hit me. DETACHMENT! This is one of the hardest things to practice, and as a society, we are failing with. I decided that on my return, I would give a short talk about attachment to my fellow Year 13 students, highlighting the problems it causes. Then I would advertise a solution- Reflections on the life of the spirit.
Even though I had come up with a plan I was still a little upset about my phone. So I phoned the airport and phoned my phone but nothing. On the third day back I went to my teacher and ran my idea past her. I was told provisionally yes but I would have to run it past the headmistress. I was thrilled, I had put it into motion and things were beginning to happen. After school that day, I phoned the airport again and this time I got through to someone! They had my phone and would post it back to me for a small sum ! What a result! Divinely inspired? I like to think so!
But the story doesn’t end here. With the help of some close friends, I put posters up advertising an introductory meeting where I would give my short talk. Four people came. Not many but it’s a good enough turn out and, better yet, they all wanted to join. At our first official meeting I had not four but nine enthused collaborators! Unfortunately due to exam pressure we were restricted to one lunch time session a week. It isn’t ideal but the important thing is to go through the material and, together, gain new insights and understandings.
But what about that oh so important service project? What do you do with nine girls who can’t commit outside school hours? Do you decide that a service project isn’t that important anyway and forget about it? NO! Ever heard the saying “hit two birds with one stone”? I had my friends involved with the faith but what about the teachers?
Everyone knows how stressed teachers can be and how much they need to relax. So we decided we would plan a tranquillity afternoon, where they would hear readings from different religions, listen to music and generally take some time out. We have set a date for this though it hasn’t yet taken place at the time of writing. So far we have twelve interested teachers. Fingers crossed...
Jenna Lynn
BACK TO CONTENTS PAGE