CRANDON, Wis. (WJFW) — Michael McGowan says as an educational consultant he loves working with young people.
“It’s so delightful to work with young people, because they’re so energetic.” said McGowan.
On Monday, McGowan worked with Crandon, Laona and Wabeno students at Crandon High School as a part of Mental Health Awareness Week. McGowan taught and presented to the students how to work and talk with other people you may not be familiar with.
“So many kids spend so much time on their phones, distracted from others, earbuds in,” McGowan said. “So to actually get together and talk to one another and to listen to one another, it’s a little bit old school, but those skills are essential.”
McGowan has been doing these talks at schools around the country, including Crandon, for over 20 years. And he says it makes him really happy to see all the kids from different schools and backgrounds come out and communicate together.
Seventh grade Crandon student, Jaelyn Guinther, said: “I think it’s fun to get to know others this way and have different questions that Mike asks that you usually wouldn’t be asked in your normal day-to-day.”
Another student, Summer Moravec, a 12th grader senior from Wabeno added, “It’s nice to learn about other people and stuff you’re not comfortable with to get us out of our comfort zone.”
McGowan added: “At first they were kind of tentative and shy. And when we got them up and moving around, and all the sudden they’re talking to one another and we partner them together, they’re laughing and problem solving together. It’s awesome.”
Guinther and Moravec said they were glad to have McGowan help teach them those skills. And McGowan wishes his school had similar talks when he was a student, saying it would’ve helped him as a kid, too.
