I started the day off in a 7th grade ESL class where Lauder students accepted the Great Cup Stack Challenge of 2018 from the Adelson 6th grade students. In this cup stack challenge, students worked in teams to stack the cups using 
only the rubber band and ribbon provided. In order to complete this challenge, students believed it would take teamwork, slow and clever movement, and speaking to be successful. The Lauder students rose to the challenge; leaders emerged, there was compromise and cooperation, a number of tower collapses, but all groups were successful. We tried this activity again, except with verbal silence and believe it or not, students were able to erect their tower in about half the time! Students found in order to be successful, beyond the list above, this took the inner and personal skills of having dedication, mental flexibility, motivation, positive attitude, goal directed thin
king, kindness, encouragement and helpfulness. Interacting with the Lauder 7 th graders this morning was a welcomed and comforting experience, as no matter what country they are in, teens are teens and middle school students, in essence, are middle school students in behavior, mannerisms, interactions and thinking.
My second class of the day was with a class of 8th graders. I introduced myself, Las Vegas and the Adelson Educational Campus and how there can be many areas in our life such as our city of origin, a school, family, a community, values, strengths and adversities that can all shape our personal identities. Here is when the dichotomy of the day emerged. It seems like a number of American teens are not afraid, embarrassed, shy or unopinionated when given the opportunity to talk about themselves and their beliefs. Generally, if you give them a platform they will speak. I found it very interesting that the Lauder students were much more reserved in their discussion on the topic of identity. I perceived that there were some inherent challenges in speaking in a second language as well as speaking about something personal. I encouraged the students to think and explore who they are and the ways in which our identity can be created, how it can possibly change over time as we mature and develop, how it can and may look very different from our family of origin and how do they manage and negotiate that in this day and age.
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