The school’s annual Challenge Day encouraged conversations about mental health within the student body from Jan. 26 to Jan. 29. 

Challenge Day is a nationally recognized program designed to help the student body build empathy and awareness of those struggling around them, while also bettering themselves.

The school hosted Challenge Day since the early 2000s. Every year, the school gym becomes a space for connection, reflection and emotional vullnerability involving students, parent volunteers and teachers. 

Angela Willden, PALs advisor and Advanced Placement and Honors Chemistry teacher, described Challenge Day as “the very central part of [the school’s] social and emotional education.”

“We value the whole student, not just the academic student,” Willden said.  

Willden says that feedback from participants is increasingly positive. Many describe the experience as life changing. 

Students who took part in Challenge Day echoed these sentiments, including Parissa Karimi (10). 

“I wanted to feel more connected to my school environment and learn what other people are going through so I can empathize with people,” Karimi said. “I gained a lot of empathy, and left with a much clearer vision of the kind of person I want to try and be.”

This was Karimi’s first year participating in Challenge Day, after she heard the praise it received from peers. Karimi would recommend the experience to other students, even those who may feel hesitant to share. 

“It’s good to push outside of your comfort zone every now and then and see what we can do to make our school a better community,” Karimi said. 

Participant Kim Smidt (10) said Challenge Day gave her perspective and recommended the experience.

“I realized that I should be very grateful for what I have,” Smidt said.  

While the Challenge Day organization runs the program, the school community, including PALs, handles much of the setup.

Willden added that the Torrey Pines Foundation funds the event, provides food and helps set up. PALs students focus on morning setup, recruiting and registering students and cleaning up the event.  

Students walk away from Challenge Day with different lessons.

 “Everybody gets what they need,” Willden said. “Some people reflect inward, and others realize they’re not alone. Every single person can take something meaningful from it.”