My brain feels a little chaotic because I have so much to say, but I’m not always sure how to put it all into writing. This experience has had me thinking about so many things, not only what I’m learning through the Consent Café, but also my own experiences, the ways I’ve communicated with people in the past, and the moments where I wish I had handled certain situations differently. It has given me a lot to reflect on, but also a lot to learn from.
Doing the Consent Café each day has brought up different emotions for me. At times, it makes me think about experiences from my own life and how I wish I had been more educated about consent, boundaries, and listening to my body. It has also made me reflect on how important these lessons are for everyone to understand, and that consent is more than just hearing the word “yes.” Silence isn’t a yes, and being able to recognize and respect someone’s comfort, boundaries, and body language is so important. I think it has been really positive to see these conversations happening and to be part of creating a space where people can learn and talk about these things openly.
There have definitely been moments where feelings of shame, guilt, confusion, and lots of “why?” questions have come to mind. But I’m also trying to look at those feelings as opportunities to learn rather than getting stuck in them. I think one of the biggest things I’m taking away from this experience is that we are all constantly learning. None of us are going to handle every situation perfectly, especially when we haven’t always had the education or tools to understand these topics. What matters is being willing to reflect, grow, and do better moving forward. I think there is something really positive about being able to learn from the past and use that knowledge to approach things differently in the future.
What has made this experience especially meaningful is being able to take what I have learned, continue to learn, and share it with people who are learning. Connecting with them, having conversations, answering questions, and seeing them engage with these ideas has been such a positive part of the experience. It has been so nice seeing everyone so engaged, curious, and excited to learn. Seeing people get involved with the activities, ask questions, share their thoughts, and genuinely want to understand has been really rewarding. It reminds me why this kind of education is so important and how valuable it can be to introduce these conversations in a way that feels approachable and positive. It has been meaningful to see people feel comfortable asking questions, sharing their thoughts, and being open to learning. Sometimes we assume that everyone has had these conversations before, but this experience has shown me that many people may never have had the opportunity to talk openly about consent, boundaries, or communication. Being able to create a space where people can ask questions without feeling judged has been really rewarding.
I have loved seeing those moments where someone learns something new or starts thinking about consent in a different way. Whether it is someone asking a thoughtful question or someone saying that they have never really considered something before, it has made me realize how important these conversations can be. Even a short conversation could give someone a new perspective or something they carry with them into their future relationships.
Although this experience has brought up some confusing thoughts and emotions for me, I think it has also given me a lot of hope. It has encouraged me to reflect, learn, and become more aware of how I communicate with and support other people. At the same time, it has been really encouraging to see how willing people are to engage when they are simply given the opportunity and a safe space to do so. Seeing people be curious, excited, thoughtful, and open to learning has been one of the best parts of the experience.
I have also learned a lot about myself even just in these first few days. I feel like I have become more confident in having conversations about topics that can sometimes feel difficult or awkward. I have learned that I don’t always need to have the perfect answer, and that sometimes the most important thing I can do is listen, be open, and make someone feel comfortable enough to share.
The last few days have shown me I feel passionate about prevention and education. I do not just want to help people after something has happened; I want people to have the knowledge and confidence to recognize when something is not right and to know that they have a right to speak up I can’t change the past or know exactly how every situation could have been different, but I can choose what I do with what I’ve learned. If the work I’m doing through the Consent Café helps even one person feel more confident in their boundaries, understand consent, or know that their voice matters, then I think that makes all of the reflection worthwhile. Being able to take something that has made me think deeply and use it to connect with and educate others feels really meaningful. I hope I can continue carrying what I’ve learned from this experience into the future and use it to help create more open, supportive, and positive conversations around consent.