TIME FOR A CREATIVE BREAK
Organize your thoughts and express your feelings about social stuff in a creative way
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Your Coach
About Dr. Blake Brandes
Dr. Blake Brandes delivers virtual Growth Mindset assemblies, parent and family night presentations, and staff professional development for K-12 students, educators, and parents. Blending freestyle rap, improvised music composition, and comedic storytelling, Dr. Brandes is a TEDx speaker and America’s Got Talent performer who has shared the power of the Growth Mindset with more than 300,000 people around the world. He even has a Ph.D. in Hip-Hop and Global Youth Cultures and performed with Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer of the musical “Hamilton”! To find out more about Dr. Brandes’s presentations, check out www.blakebrandes.com
Growing up, Blake faced bullying and depression, and as a teen who loved hip-hop but wasn’t sure what he wanted to do in life, he understands what it’s like for students who are trying to find their life purpose. He also struggled to make schoolwork relevant to his life, especially in subjects that didn’t naturally interest him.
Social Mind, Big Heart
Got a social mind… and a big heart
Let’s connect, now’s the time to kickstart
Lift off, we about to rocket (rock it)
Let’s talk about your passions and your favorite topics
Like… what is it you love to do?
What makes you feel comfortable?
When are you untouchable?
Ha! I’ll eat it up like a Lunchable
Ask you questions and I’ll remind you that you’re lovable
Yeah, and when you’re feeling down
I’ll let you know I’m there – I like having you around
You don’t need to change your feelings or conditions
I’m not trying to fix it, I’m just here to listen
So let’s go, get this show on the road
Heart set aglow so it just might explode
I’m in a social mode – I can see it on your face
It’s a friendSHIP so let’s sail to outer space (ay!)
Feelings
Feeling good, feeling good, feeling great now
But the next day feels like a breakdown
These emotions goin’ back and forth
So I’m askin’ for a pause and a break now
Feeling down, feeling lost in the sadness
See a glimmer of hope, gotta grab this
Feeling so caught up in the madness
Look inside ’til I find it’s a habit
Gotta name it to tame it,
These feelings aren’t dangerous
There’s no need to change it, I know
If I can allow it, I might just see how it
Will help me to grow
If I think I can’t bear it,
I just need to share it
I know that you feel me too
So when my mind’s reeling
I can let that be healing too
Whether anxious or angry or passionate about my purpose
Whether brave or afraid or maybe just nervous
I’m searchin’ for words that make sense of sensation
I know I can get there if I’ll just be patient
Waitin’ and takin’ a second to breathe
“What am I feeling?” is the question I need
There’s nothing to change or try to remove
We got this – yeah, we gon’ make it through
We got this – we gon’ make it through
About Social Masking
Some autistic students have expressed that masking sometimes causes physical pain and discomfort. It is ok to talk about it, and understand what it feels like being around people. You may not feel the same way and social masking may mean something different to you. Knowing what to expect may help you face social situations with less fear and anxiety. You are invited to tell your story and what social masking means to you. What can be done to teach others about it and how can one handle it.
Create Your Own Songs: Music Beats
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Empathy
Create Your Own Songs: Music Beats
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Sarcasm
Sometimes people don’t say what they mean
They might be mocking you, tryna be making a scene
Gotta stay away from haters like you’re changing the team
Cuz those smiles aren’t nice – they as fake as can be
I’m waitin’ to see how you’re treatin’ your friends
That lets me know if we ever gon be speaking again
I’m reaching the end of my patience and hittin’ my limit
Feelin’ tight lipped like this grin is a grimace
Finished with critics who be makin’ me feel bad
They only win if I show them when I feel mad
The gap between Kind and Cruel? That’s a hard chasm
Words designed to fool? That’s sarcasm
Imagine that I said that I wasn’t rockin’ this
Yeah I said one thing and meant the opposite
Cuz I stay on top of this, the best in the metropolis
I’m Blake B. It’s really me – you know who you talkin’ with
Changes
Seasons come and go
Got a Spring in my step cuz I’m ready for the snow
Even if I Fall then you know I’m gonna grow
Winner (Winter) cuz I summon (Summer) up my fears and let ‘em flow
Let it roll, at least that’s what I try to do
But it can be hard when changes start to frighten you
Might feel that pain or anger up inside of you
Feeling like you’re stuck on a train just riding through
Surprises do arise it’s true – I guess I need
To hang with the change, take a pause and try to breathe
Sayin’ what I felt now instead of having meltdowns
I don’t have to shout ’cause I can help my self out
When I’m mad, worry that I might explode
Watch what I say when I’m hot just like a stove
Take a deep breath when I feel I got to go
If I’m on fire then I gotta drop and roll
Because my words can burn a house if I don’t turn around
And think of a solution so that we can work it out
Go for a run, get a hug, or bang a drum
The only thing that’s certain is that change is gonna come