As a keynote speaker at the 2022 ATPE Summit, five-time TEDxTalk presenter Alex Sheen shared his emotional message about commitment and accountability with our members. Over nearly a decade, his message has grown into an international social movement that continues to play a unique role in changing lives around the world. His nonprofit organization, because I said I would, is dedicated to the betterment of humanity through promises made and kept. The program has partnered with schools across the country to develop programs that teach character development and practical skills in honesty, compassion, accountability, and self-control. The programs use a research-based, full-year curriculum that includes setting personal goals with peer-based accountability support, character development workshops, and service learning projects.

The because I said I would High School Chapter Program provides meaningful and interactive workshops that engage students throughout the year. Lessons are interactive with video, podcasts, and articles incorporated to deliver habits and tactics that can be used in daily routines to improve personal relationships and school culture. Students have the opportunity to gain a deeper understanding of the importance of making and keeping promises, self-control, compassion, contemplation, sacrifice, hope, accountability, and honesty while learning to apply them in new and meaningful ways. Through student-led volunteer projects, participants develop community networking skills, use critical thinking skills, build confidence through teamwork, and benefit from the positive effects that volunteering can have on mental health.

The full-year program consists of nine monthly lessons created in 20-minute modules that can be adapted to meet school needs and schedules. Each lesson has four modules with options to extend the learning or connect modules to create one workshop experience. A core component of these lessons is a monthly accountability session that empowers students to tackle their own promises in their life. Accountability meetings allow for student choice and the opportunity for students to practice concepts from other modules. This provides a practical application for goal setting and individual accountability.

In addition to the lesson-based workshops, each student participates in a collection of three volunteer projects involving their peers, the school community, and the community at large. Students assess their community’s needs and work together to complete volunteer projects and collect community service hours that may be used toward graduation.

A built-in professional development component is designed to support, motivate, and encourage educators throughout the year. Led by Alex Sheen, these four quarterly workshops are designed to help educators build resiliency and leadership skills. In addition to the professional development workshops for all school staff, chapter advisors provide concise training on materials and processes to ensure a smooth and successful program. Every lesson includes a complimentary teacher guide that breaks down each module and all necessary PowerPoint presentations, worksheets, and discussion questions—taking the strain of curriculum development off teachers.

In addition to comprehensive training and fully developed lessons, schools are provided direct support throughout the school year from a program impact team. Dedicated senior program impact managers are always available to answer questions or provide support to make chapters as successful as possible.
The High School Chapter Program is designed to be cost-effective in two ways. Program costs vary to help maintain the cost per student with a tiered price per school, and the program offers schools a discount for committing to more than one year. The because I said I would organization also returns nearly half the program fee back to the school to fund chapter events and volunteer projects.

If this program sounds like the right fit for your school, visit the High School Chapter Program page to apply or begin a conversation.

While the High School Chapter Program is an amazing way to bring the message of because I said I would to your school, the organization has also announced that it is purchasing a summer camp in Walhonding, Ohio, to further engage students in the movement! The camp will serve 12- to 17-year-olds from all backgrounds and focus on improving resiliency and mental health. You can learn more about the camp by watching this video and visiting https://camp.becauseisaidiwould.org/.