b'T TR RO OP PE ER RN L 0 2 A U N N A 1 R 2 4 E V I T R A A T N V 1 R A I E 4 2 0 2 A R A N N U A LThis was my third year partic-ipating in the Global Innovation Challenge robotics challenge. The theme this year was about movement and sports. Basically, you have to find a problem relat-ed to that theme and then come up with a solution, prototype it, and come up with a busi-ness plan. Its a long process. Because of my experience with N4, I pushed my team to focus on a project that could help the wheelchair community. During By Ezzaddin, Student our brainstorm, I shared my storyBy Alondra Marmolejos,of meeting the Reality Poets, and University Heights High School,we discovered everyone on thePrograms Supervisorteam, including our mentor, had The Bronx, NY a connection to someone who was disabled. I first got involved with Narrative 4if they were willing to share more At the competition, we got(N4) back in 2013. I was 17 whenabout why they didnt like it, and Im from an Arabic background,porating stories into our conver- to meet a bunch of peoplethey came to my high school intheir response blew me away. and I was taught at a young agesations which allowed us to findfrom organizations like DisneyNewtown, CT to pilot the storyThey said, The story exchange that, as a man, I should not beconnections with each other thatImagineer, Lucas Films, and Johnexchange in a school setting.doesnt need to be changed. I empathic, that I should not crywe thought were never possible.Deere. One of the judges told usI participated in my first storyneed to change. Through the sto-or be soft. So, last year, whenSo, this year, when offered thethat there were a lot of teamsexchange at a time when I feltry exchange, this student realized offered the opportunity to joinchance to join N4, I knew bet- out there focused on sportslike my voice didnt matter. I feltthey wanted to change themselves Narrative 4 (N4), I declined,ter than to skip such a valuablemovement, but we were the onlyhooked after my first exchange,so that they could be more open thinking storytelling and opportunity.team focused on creating abecause I finally felt like I wasto empathy.empathy are not for me. During the Field Exchange withproduct for wheelchair users andable to share my stories and myN4 has grown tremendously After the pandemic started,students in Kentucky and the Re- the judges were really inspiredtruth. since I first got involved. Weve many students experiencedality Poets from Open Doors NYC,by that. When I was hired as a full-time,brought our story exchange meth-anxiety and stress. In a club Iwhat I found really interesting wasI never thought I would sayN4 employee in 2019, I facilitatedodology to over 200+ schools participate in called Gentlemensthe fact that we all came fromthis before joining N4, but writinga story exchange between a groupworldwide. I am extremely grateful Club, my mentors tried to solvedifferent generations and differ- and storytelling are powerfulof high school students with onethat I was able to experience N4job is being able to watch stu-that problem by having weeklyent backgrounds. Usually, whentools that we can use to helpof my fellow Master Practitioners. from the very beginning, grow withdents get excited about how meetings where we shared ouryoure in a room with older people,others and make major changesDuring the reflection, I asked thethe organization in many ways,theyd like to incorporate the thoughts and ideas about whatstheres that respect between youin our world. If we look at humangroup what they enjoyed aboutand educate hundreds of studentsstory exchange into their happening in a safe, judg- and the adults and it feels likehistory, we see the thing thatthe experience and if there wasabout the importance of empathy.schools or communities. I see a ment-free space. At first, this wasa barrier. But in our workshops,survived and helped us under- anything that they would change.What excites me most about thespark in them like the one that I very difficult for many of us. Ouryoure talking to them as if theyrestand our history is writing andOne student responded that theyfuture of N4 is nurturing studentexperi-enced when I was their firstmeetings were quiet. Thenyour friends. Youre understandingstorytelling. did not like the exchange. I askedleaders. My favorite part about myage. the conversations became moreeach other. Youre connected to engaging, we started incor- each other.I first got involved with Narrative 4 (N4) back in 2013. I was 17 when they I never thought I would say this before joining N4, but writing andcame to my high school in Newtown, CT to pilot the story exchange in a storytelling are powerful tools that we can use to help others and make school setting. I participated in my first story exchange at a time when I felt major changes in our world. If we look at human history, we see the thing thatlike my voice didnt matter. I felt hooked after my first exchange becausesurvived and helped us understand our history is writing and storytelling. I finally felt like I was able to share my stories and my truth.4 5'