Practical Social Science: Renison Prof Denise Marigold takes SDS to high school students

This past fall, Dr. Denise Marigold took key concepts from the Positive Psychology course she teaches at Renison and turned it into a workshop for high school students called “The Power of Perspective.” Through hands-on activities, students were given opportunities to reflect on how shifting their perspective on negative experiences can foster more positive emotions, behaviours, and outcomes—while also developing a realistic understanding of the limits of positive thinking as a quick fix.

The workshop was part of a larger initiative from the University of Waterloo to provide outreach and enrichment opportunities to some elementary and secondary schools in local school boards. Schools are selected based on their relative proportion of students from groups that are historically under-represented in the university space. These schools receive a catalogue of offerings twice a year, and teachers or guidance counsellors sign up for workshops based on relevance to class curriculum or to student success more broadly.

The vast majority of offerings for secondary schools were STEM-based.  “Many teachers whose classes I attended expressed appreciation at having a social science-based offering, particularly one focused on supporting student well-being,” says Marigold. “There are lots of students interested in studying social science post-secondary but don’t know much about what options there are. A program as unique as Social Development Studies (SDS) is especially likely to be unfamiliar, yet a really good potential fit for many.”

Each workshop focused on understanding how the way we think about what we experience impacts our feelings and behaviours, for better or for worse. The workshop guided students through the identification of cognitive distortions – mental habits that often have us thinking more negatively than is warranted by our situation –  and provided tools for challenging these with more balanced thoughts. Marigold also introduced the practice of self-compassion, encouraging students to be kind to themselves and remember that struggling and making mistakes are part of the human experience.

The workshop included a small-group activity, an individual reflection, and a Kahoot quiz to keep students engaged at every step. Feedback from students and teachers supported the intended outcomes of the workshop: students have some new tools for managing difficult experiences, and teachers have new language for supporting students who are struggling.   

Marigold delivered the workshop in classes from grades 9-12, adjusting it based on the grade level and subject of the class. “In grade 11 and 12 social science classes, I gave a bit more information about SDS as an interdisciplinary program that could lead to a career helping people at the individual, family, community, or societal level,” explains Marigold. The workshops also gave students a glimpse into what a university class could be like, and allowed them to meet a professor in a comfortable space.

In addition to the workshops presented at individual schools, last year Renison hosted a field trip where students came to campus and participated in workshops at Renison for a day. They heard about restorative justice from Dr. Crystena Parker-Shandal, community organizing from Dr. Craig Fortier and Dr. Rob Case, and resilience and optimism from Marigold. Dr. Christine Logel also conducted a special session focused on what students wished they knew before starting university. The field trip will run again in April 2026 to give a new group of students the opportunity to experience Renison.

At its core, SDS is about helping people thrive, and this workshop series is a small step toward that goal—supporting students with tools to handle difficult situations and contributing to conversations about postsecondary education.