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FROM TEACHERS
David presented
the girls with a series of workshops during the day, in which it became
increasingly apparent that many of the established friendship groups were
willing to leave the security of their 'cliques' in order to explore the
possibility of working with other girls in the year group.
This breakdown of the friendship group barriers has continued as the school
year has got under way and it is heart-warming to see so many students
interacting with 'new' friends in the common room.
A well worthwhile day and a great investment in the social development of
our students.
J. Griffiths
Rangi Ruru ~~~~
Dear David
Please accept my grateful thanks for your invaluable contribution to Leadership Week.
It was a privilege to watch you work and an extraordinary experience to witness the
progress of individual students as well as the bonding of the year group.
The evaluation forms completed by the students clearly show that your sessions were
the highlight of the Leadership Week for all of them and many have requested the opportunity
to work with you again next year.
Without your contribution, Leadership Week would not have been such a meaningful
and effective program. I have no doubt the students will enter their final year
at St Andrew's College as more sensitive individuals and as a more positive and
cohesive year group. This is due in no small part to what you showed them on those magical days.
Once again, congratulations on your professionalism and your profound effectiveness
as a communicator and a human being. I have no doubt popular acclaim will have
you back at St Andrew's College early in the new year.
Yours sincerely
Vicky A McLennan
Head of Senior College
New Zealand
~~~~
FROM STUDENTS
Dear David
I would like to thank you for an excellence day. This session helped me
personally by helping me connect with others in year group that I would not
have attempted to before, or tried to understand their personality. It also
gave me a different respect for my fellow peers. Many thanks for a great
session. It was enlightening. - Amber Cooke ~~~~
Thank you very much for the day
that you provided for us. I felt that it really helped a lot of people and
allowed people to open up help them have a understanding of what others are
experiencing In their lives that a lot of people don’t know about.
- Holly ~~~~
I feel like your
workshop really helped me to understand my peers better. I feel like I can
try and trust them with personal things. - Tabby ~~~~
I felt the course really helped
our year group become more considerate of each other and open up and
apologize on or express how we are feeling. - Zoe ~~~~
Thank you for the
amazing day, it was really enjoyable and I feel I have grown as a person
from this experience. You have really opened my eyes to the people around
me. thank you so much - Alice
~~~~
Hello David,
I just wanted to write you an email to thank you so so so much for coming
and speaking to us Year 12 SMC Girls last Friday. This meant so much to all
of us!
When we first got told about the day, we couldn't wait for it to be over. We
thought it would be just like the last few camps with team building,
teachers etc. But you were real! You spoke our language and genuinely cared!
You made us feel so relaxed and comfortable and that really got to us, you
truly wanted to help. I have to admit, when you put the chair out for girls
to sit on and to 'confess', I didn't think anyone would do it. But when
people started to go up, I felt more comfortable with the idea
so decided to myself. The anniversary of my friend's death is coming up and
I finally think I can try and let her go - thank you for giving me that
ability. Again, I can't thank you enough!!! :)
Please, please! Please join us again next year, we would be more than happy
to see you again!
Thank you so very much, you have made such a difference. ~~~~
Thank you so
much for your special day. I think it has benefited our year group in a huge
way and it helped me to understand people in my year group. I got to
interact with people I usually wouldn’t interact with and took a step out of
my comfort zone. I would like to thank you for bringing us together as a
year group.
From Holly Geddes. ~~~~
When I walked in there were so
many people and many I didn’t even know their names or know them at all.
Through out the day I met several people. I ended up meeting and getting to
do things I wouldn’t usually do. I spent time with an international girl. I
would like to thank you for encouraging me to bring me out of my comfort
zone and talk to people I didn’t know. I felt very scared but proud when I
spoke in front of the year group. Thank you for opening the doors to our
year group from being a loose group to a tight and family like year group.
- From Tilly ~~~~
Thank you for the
day. It was fun and emotional and it helped me. -
Love Claudia ~~~~
I would like to thank you very
much for helping me with my self confidence and confidence in front of
others. I really enjoyed the whole day. I especially appreciated the open
chair activity. This allowed me to express how I felt at a personal level. I
will take all of your advice on board and remember the day forever.
- Many thanks, Ziah. ~~~~
I found it
really beneficial at the end of the day when we were all able to get up and
share our personal stories with our year group. It was really nice to know
other people were going through the same things that I am going through
– Shannon ~~~~
I enjoyed the day that we spent
with you in your workshop. It was cool that our year group could get to know
each other better and understand a little more about what each other was
going through.
Thanks- Poppy
~~~~
Thanks for taking
the time to spend with our year group on Friday. It was much needed and from
what I see has made a difference. It was an emotional day, but we all pulled
through. Thanks for making us a stronger year group. -
Emily ~~~~
Thank you for coming to help our
year group to become closer and prepare us with skill for year 13 and for
the future. I believe it has be beneficial to us and I defiantly enjoyed the
day. You do remarkable work and I greatly appreciate you coming. -
Thanks from Christina Greenwood ~~~~
The knowledge you
shared with us on Friday was amazing and has taught me to appreciate
everyone and has brought our whole year group closer - Megan McKay ~~~~
Our year group has become more
considerate of one another and are able to understand where others are
coming from and what they are going through - Anna Sands. ~~~~
Dear David
In regard to our year 12 leadership day I would like to thank you for
encouraging me to step outside my comfort zone and interact with people I
normally wouldn’t. - From Lydia McIntosh ~~~~
The workshop you held for us was
an interesting and emotional experience that proved to be successful for
both me and my year group. I believe your air of experience was extremely
comforting and enabled me to share things with girls I am not close with. I
found the whole day to be beneficial for our year group and am certain it
will ensure that I am a better year thirteen leader in 2012. - Kind regards
Lydia Milner ~~~~
YEAR 13
WORKSHOPS WITH DAVID GARB – REFLECTION FROM ST ANDREWS COLLEGE
Early in February 2011 Year 13 year group attended a workshop with renowned
therapist and lecturer David Garb. We were all eager to meet the man behind
the mystery that our predecessors had reported as being a highlight of their
year. As a year group we found the nights both emotional and inspirational,
this brought us together as a whole and helped us to better understand each
other’s needs.
Personally, we found the evenings fulfilling and enjoyable, stretching our
trust in each other and our perceptions of our social boundaries. We both
had an experience we will never forget, and we learnt valuable life skills
along the way.
Overall attending the workshop with David Garb was an amazing experience and
set us off in good stead for the rest of the year.
~~~~
Year 9 student from Queensland,
Australia What is respect?
A difficult question, the answer of which often varies from person to
person. I think, however, the answer is simple. It's whatever David Garb
gets from a group of twelve or so grade nine teenagers. I personally am a
little apprehensive when mention of a counsellor comes up. My brain goes,
‘Social worker! Hide!’. However, I think he is among an elite few that pulls
away all emotional walls and demands respect, without making one actual
demand.
Spending the day with my class in
an environment such as the one he forms was, as always, very enlightening
and fun. The sense of safety and confidence he creates within a room makes
one feel as though no judgments are being made by anyone, and for once in
your life, you can be who you want, without worrying about what others
think.
David Garb creates balance of
fun, discussions, and therapeutic exercises that keeps one interested and
engaged throughout the entire session, allowing everyone to get as much as
they can from it. As with all counselling, it takes a good counsellor, and a
person willing to let themselves learn – sessions with David Garb are no
different – however, he makes you want to learn, listen, and participate.
I enjoyed every moment of the
session grade nine had with him just recently. In fact, I was sad to go to
lunch breaks, and to leave at the end of the day! ~~~~
To Whom It May Concern
I was privileged to be able to attend Mr. David Garb's life-changing,
intriguing and remarkable seminar whilst in Grade 11 at Herzlia High School.
We were informed by our school that we will be having a seminar. Naturally,
most people were excited because it was a day off from classroom work. We
certainly didn't know what we were in for.
From the moment I walked into the classroom, I felt a real sense of
uncertainty as I did not know what to expect. Dave instilled a sense of
respect, dignity and honour amongst ourselves. During the seminar, some
cried, some had tears in their eyes and some were just speechless. It was
clear that Dave's seminar had reached places that had never been seen within
ourselves, places which we never dreamed of exploring. We dealt specifically
with conflict resolution and how to deal with issues that are underlying and
worrying us. Also problems we face in our high school years.
At the end of the day once we were at least 20 minutes late, their was a
sense of fulfilment and achievement. We all felt closer as a class and
definitely spoke about it for months to come. David taught us to get real
and confront problems, conflicts and things that need to be processed. The
group work really made us all open up and comfortable to speak our minds.
I was privileged to meet David never mind have a whole seminar with him. I
recommend this course highly to anyone who wants to grow and 'get real' - it
is truly something that will stay with you for life.
Thank you once again.
Nicholas Cape Town, SA ~~~~
Dear Sir
I am writing this letter to you in connection to the "David Garb Seminar".
I think it is important for you to know how everyone in the Grade 11 year
group thoroughly enjoyed it- hence the letter! It is very difficult to explain
in writing just how amazing the seminar was. In my opinion, words will most
certainly do it a disservice but I will try as best as possible.
I think it is safe to say that David connected well with everyone in
the group. You got the impression that he was able to understand us,
knew exactly what we were thinking and knew exactly what problems, us
as teenagers are going through without dramatizing it. He established
a relationship with us all that we felt free to speak without feeling
self-conscious of what we had to say.
For me personally, it has honestly had a deep impact on me. It made us
look inside ourselves and ask ourselves the obvious questions such as:
What are our passions? What are our fears? Our class (11B) has definitely
bonded even more since this experience. I really feel that we are much closer
and I look at people in a different light. All I can say is "WOW" thank you for
giving all of us the opportunity to experience something so unique and special.
It has really touched me in such a way!!! I strongly suggest that if possible,
this once in a life time opportunity be given to the Grade 11s in the years to come!
Yours Sincerely
JacquiC
South Africa
~~~~
I am
writing to you in connection with the seminar held by Mr. David Garb. As you
know I am in grade 11. 1 am thankful for this seminar my only regret is that
it has been so long delayed! This letter is coming as a plea to introduce
Mr. Garb's seminar earlier and more frequently. In one year's time I shall
be leaving this school and there are certain realities I will have to face
about the things that I have been taught:
The skills that were imparted to me by Mr. Garb are not only useful for my
future life, they are crucial! I, on behalf of the members of grade 11B and
myself, urge you to make use of Mr. Garb's talents on a regular basis and a
frequent one at that. Never before have I witnessed camaraderie between my
classmates as I saw last Wednesday.
Math, Science, Computers, History, Biology, etc. all of these subjects are
important. I doubt any degree in those fields will prepare one more than the
above-mentioned seminar.
It is common knowledge that I am a skeptic and I have extensive experience
with therapy and derivatives thereof. Yet I believe save for my birth
and learning to read, there has never been a more impacting situation than
Mr. Garbs seminar I attended.
Once again I urge you to consider this request. I also advise you to prepare
yourself for more letters of this kind. I thank you for introducing the
opportunity of the seminar to us in the first place and for your
understanding.
Yours truly Justen
South Africa
~~~~
A great sage once said, " If I am not for myself, who will be for me..."
I think these are the words that have impacted me the most from today's
lesson in life. Words cannot express my appreciation for sending the
whole of grade 11 on the "Getting to know yourself..." seminar.
I have been on many of these seminars and have been to many motivational
lectures and trust me when I say that not one of them have come anywhere
close to this one. I am still finding it hard to believe that the people
who opened up and shared with us their thoughts where the same people I
have grown up with and whom I consider to be some of my best friends.
I think this course made us realise that how privileged we are to be in
a school like Herzlia, I am almost sure that no other school in the Cape
has or is going to send an entire year group consisting of+- 150 impressionable
minds on such a crucial course. It taught us many skills that can help us to
build and re-enforce friendships and also to look at things in life with a
different perspective, be it at home or in school.
I think this course could not have come at a better time in our lives, we
are at a stage where we are going through a lot of stress and I think we
have all blown things out of proportion. I also think it was the right age
for such a course, however I do think the course should be a day longer or
even half a day. I think that it should be repeated next year just to see
the progress, impressions and even new friendships it created amongst the
pupils. The seminar would be more effective if teachers and possibly parents
of the school went on it, I think they are the ones that could benefit the
most from it.
As you are aware we students do not have the longest concentration span and
usually take such programs as a free day and a waste of time, but to see a
class eager to stay at school after the bell rang just goes to show what an
impression David has left on his students.
Thanking you once again
Anton G
South Africa
~~~~
On behalf of my class, I would like to thank you or whoever it may concern
for organizing the few days we could spend with David Garb. I personally enjoy the
sessions with David very much and I think that every high school class should spend
at least a couple of days with David each year.
Brendon L
New Zealand
~~~~
The following are some comments I collected from my class:
" It was a good thing to learn more about myself and about the class"
"It was excellent – I really enjoyed it." "I find Dave Garb an excellent person
to work with and overall its good for the class."
"The time with David has made me come to some really important conclusions
about the class and myself. It definitely helped the class in general."
"I think the courses we have done have all been very worthwhile and I always
feel much more focused afterwards."
"I thought the topic was very appropriate – it was great to be real and really
talk about life. We should have a lot more of this
stuff."
"Great, great, great!
I enjoy going out of my comfort zone and listening to people talk about things
you usually don’t hear them talk about. " "I had one of the best days of the year"
FROM PARENTS
Letter from ‘The Grapevine' -
Spending Mothers Day doing the Dave Garb Workshop was perhaps the finest gift I
could have wished for this year.
David took us on a very challenging and creative journey towards ourselves: so
that we could rest assured in the knowledge that setting boundaries for our children
did not require endless reading of child-rearing manuals but just a listening to our
very own hearts.
By acknowledging and learning what
it was that we truly felt we could then creatively and mirthfully set the boundaries
necessary for our children's well
being.
Thank you to those who organised it and thank you again to Dave for a wonderful and inspiring
workshop,
Mirjam Macleod
Parent
Cape Town |
