PTHS Grads Share Insights From Life After High School

On January 5th, The Benji Project hosted an online panel of four recent Port Townsend High School graduates who spoke with current PTHS students and teachers about life after high school.

While talking openly about their personal experiences with college, a gap period before college, or friends who joined the workforce after high school, shared insights emerged about how to take care of your mental health during this major transition:

  • Embrace that you can change your mind and have a non-linear path. Many of us will want to adjust the expectations we place on ourselves or receive from others as we engage in new environments, gain a more realistic picture of what’s possible, and explore new interests. 

  • Do what you want to be doing, and be with people who support you. Even before you graduate from high school, get into the habit of being more selective with your time and energy.

  • You don’t have to leave this area to keep learning and growing. There are many people in this community who want to help you reach your goals or try new things. Reach out.

  • Prioritize your mental and physical health. This includes making sure you know where to find support before you or a friend have an urgent need.

A big thank you to our wonderful graduate panelists - Mel Bakin, Callay Boire-Shedd, Sorina Johnston, and Finn O’Donnell - and PTHS students and staff for joining The Benji Project’s Heather McRae-Woolf for the open-hearted discussion.

Youth Mental Health Advisory

U.S. teens are in a mental health crisis. That's the news from the U.S. Surgeon General in a public health advisory published in December 2021. The call to action notes alarming increases in the prevalence of certain mental health challenges over the last 10+ years. And then came the pandemic.

“The pandemic era’s unfathomable number of deaths, pervasive sense of fear, economic instability, and forced physical distancing from loved ones, friends, and communities have exacerbated the unprecedented stresses young people already faced,” the report states.

The news itself is depressing, but the publication also offers clear recommendations for individual and institutional actions that support the mental health of children, adolescents, and young adults. We thank our supporters for helping The Benji Project be part of the solution. Click here to read the advisory.

Image of Advisory Cover Page

Fall 2019 Newsletter

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The Circle of Community -
a word from our Founder, Cynthia Osterman
I’m so grateful for our strong community.  We share a commitment to quality of life, caring, and volunteerism, and I see evidence daily. This heart beats at Port Townsend High School where administrators see firsthand the challenges of adolescence and are inspired to seek innovative solutions. Read on for details of The Benji Project’s upcoming program at PTHS. Also know that you complete this circle. Our donors, supporters, and volunteers make this work possible. Thank you for supporting youth in our community.
Port Townsend Kiwanis awarded The Benji Project its Everyday Hero Award at a ceremony in August recognizing our work in the community.
Port Townsend High School Offers The Benji Project Program
About 240 students in 9th and 10th grade at Port Townsend High School will learn tools to manage stress and navigate the emotional ups and downs of adolescence through The Benji Project. The five-session program will feature highlights of our “Making Friends with Yourself” curriculum on mindfulness and self-compassion.  Led by Teresa Shiraishi and Heather McRae-Woolf of The Benji Project, the classes take place during health or English periods this fall. PTHS administrators and teachers have been instrumental in bringing this opportunity to the high school, and The Benji Project thanks donors including Rotary and Kiwanis for financial support that makes this program possible.



Benji Camp Wins Rave Reviews from Middle School Youth
“Let more teens know about this camp because they need this,” one participant in Benji Camp said in a program feedback survey.  The four-day summer camp in August served 18 youth ages 11 to 14 including a session for boys for the first time. Campers did art projects, games, yoga, and had a hot dog roast and ice cream sundae party while learning practices to support their emotional well-being.
Interview with our Founder on KPTZ
Cynthia Osterman, founder of The Benji Project, was interviewed by on the KPTZ Compass radio show by host Charlie Bermant about the challenges facing youth in our community and The Benji Project’s mission. Listen here. 
Back-to-school Mental Wellness Checklist
The back-to-school season is exciting and sometimes overwhelming for kids and families. Here’s a checklist of tips on how to support the well-being of your child drawn from resources of JED Foundation and YourMomCares.
  • Help your child develop a self-care plan – Review with her which activities and practices make her feel happy and relaxed, and encourage her to do these whenever she feels down or overwhelmed. Also discuss healthy habits such as eating well, getting enough sleep, and exercising.
  • Support your child in developing healthy stress management techniques – Explore the differences between healthy and unhealthy coping. The Benji Project’s program teaches a toolkit of positive coping techniques.
  • Motivate your child to develop personal goals – Discuss where she sees herself at the end of the semester or year, and make a plan to achieve those goals.
  • Assist your child to stay socially connected - Encourage him to participate in extracurricular activities and get involved.
  • Help your child create conflict management strategies   - Talk about likely scenarios and ways to handle them.
  • Foster positive ways to express feelings – Discuss different emotions and how to recognize and communicate them. Be open with your children about your own emotions.
  • Make sure your child knows where to go for help with emotional stress – Ensure your child knows about mental health and other resources at school and in the community as well as other adults they can trust.
  • Teach your child how to build resilience around setbacks – Help your kids learn how to put setbacks into perspective, whether around academics, sports, or another part of their life. 
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LAUNCH Emotional Success for Graduates: New 2-Hour Training

The Benji Project will offer a new training called LAUNCH: Your Emotional Success Toolkit.

High school graduation is a transition. Prepare emotionally for your next phase whether you're off to college, moving away from home, or starting work. Hear about common experiences, learn to support your well-being, and set yourself up for success.

Who: High school graduates, new and returning college students

When: Sunday, August 11, 6:30 to 8:30 p.m.

Where: Masonic Lodge, 1360 Jefferson St., Port Townsend

Cost: By donation, registration required.
Suggested donation $25. No one turned away. .

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