By contributing writer Jackie Couto, ‘28
Dialogue Circle is a great environment for talking about issues in the Jamesville-Dewitt High School community. By discussing these issues and emotions, it forms a community among the students.
Freshman Naiya Bhattacharjee says that the purpose of the dialogue is to talk about problems happening in the school community. “I did it in sixth grade and it’s what motivated me to join the Dialogue Circle this year,” Bhattacharjee says. Many sensitive topics come up in the dialogue circles, meaning that a safe and comforting environment needs to be created. This can include everyone getting to know each other and completing team building activities to put trust in each other. “I’ve learned many things in Dialogue Circle and I think I have a lot more respect for everyone now. Learning about my peers was the most surprising part of the Dialogue Circle for me,” Bhattacharjee includes.
Junior Aarohi Rastogi’s motivation for joining Dialogue Circle was that she’s been doing it since seventh grade and enjoyed making new friends through it. “We create a set of rules and make sure our conversations are respectful,” Rastogi says. The diversity of people in the Dialogue Circle is the most surprising part for Rastogi. “The most memorable conversation we’ve had is about racism happening in our school, and how not one place is free or exempt from racism,” Rastogi says. “I use what I learned in Dialogue by identifying problems easier and now I have better communication skills.”
Senior Will Lesser says his motivation to join Dialogue Circle was because he was interested in other cultures and their perspectives on life. “The most surprising thing about Dialogue was that it was everything I expected it to be. I went in thinking it was a welcoming and safe space to communicate our emotions and for that to be reality was a surprise and I’m so happy that all my expectations for Dialogue were a reality.” Lesser says the purpose of Dialogue Circle is getting to understand everyone’s point of view on their life at school.“My perspective since joining Dialogue has changed so much. I’m a lot more open minded and have a better sense of different people’s point of view,” Lesser says.
Junior Bria Kearse says that Dialogue Circle is about spreading awareness and talking about topics you don’t experience. “One of my friends tried it so I decided to do it with her,” Kearse says. Since joining Dialogue Circle, Kearse is a lot more helpful and has a greater understanding on topics she doesn’t experience. “I’ve learned self awareness and getting to understand people better and it’s how I can use what I’ve learned in Dialogue Circle in the world,” Kearse says.
Sophomore MJ Scott, member and facilitator, uses icebreakers in Dialogue Circle to help create a safe environment so that members can be more prone to opening up on heavy topics. “We want to make school a better and safer place where students can be more open about topics,” Scott says. Scott is not only a member but also a facilitator. “Being a facilitator takes a lot more preparation but I really enjoy it because I can still participate in conversations,” Scott says. Going in with an open mind is the best thing a new member can do to get the full benefit of Dialogue Circle, Scott adds on.
Physics Teacher and Dialogue Circle Facilitator Lua Lawrence wanted to become a facilitator for Dialogue Circle because of the many problems that her own students are facing everyday. “Since joining Dialogue Circle I have a bigger perspective on not only heavy topics but how they affect people, especially students,” Lawrence claims. As a way of creating trust and unity in Dialogue Circle, Lawrence has a confidentiality rule, meaning what is said in Dialogue Circle stays in Dialogue Circle. “We have ice breakers and we also just have trust in each other to help express our feelings on topics most effectively and comfortably.”
Dialogue Circle has ended for this school year but be on the lookout for applications in the fall of 2025.
