Get Active Subscribe Support Us

DARING TO LEAD

COLUMBUS - Kaitlin Roh knows Columbus and the high school she attends have a stigma when it comes to drinking. 

"I know Scotus has been labeled for drinking," she said.  "But, I don't think it's a fair label.  I know some people drink, but not everyone drinks."

Roh, who is a freshman at Scotus Central Catholic, is one of those students who choose to abstain, and she hopes more will follow her as they learn more about what alcohol and other drugs can do to them. 

For Roh, the lessons came as part of the D.A.R.E-Drug Abuse Resistance Education - program offered in fifth grade at St.  Anthony Elementary School, and later as an eighth-grader at Scotus. 

Unless students attend one of the area's parochial schools, the D.A.R.E.  program isn't available to children in Columbus. 

"I'm not thrilled about that," Roh said. 

The Scotus freshman has plans of changing that, thanks to her involvement on the national D.A.R.E.  Youth Advisory Board. 

Roh, the daughter of John and Angela Roh of Columbus, was selected as Nebraska's representative to the board earlier this year after being nominated by Columbus Police Officer Gilbert Maschmeier. 

"I thought it was cool," Roh said of being selected.  "This is a great chance for me to work with other kids my age also involved with D.A.R.E."

Roh's current term on the board will be for two years, but she hopes to continue it until her senior year. 

As a member of the board, Roh will attend a national conference each year and participate in conference calls once a month.  This year's conference was in Washington, D.C. 

"The conference was a neat experience," she said. 

The event included brainstorming sessions and information on programs that can be offered to elementary school students. 

It was also a good way to pick up new ideas.  Roh already has plans for what she can do in Columbus to get the messages of D.A.R.E.  across.  She said she wants to begin one of the programs she learned. 

"I'm hoping to start a Peer Plus program in the spring," she said. 

Peer Plus would be held after school and could include many different activities, such as team building, speakers and field trips. 

Roh said just how the program is set up will be determined after she meets with principals at each school.  She said she will start organizing the program in the private schools, but her goal is to offer it to all Columbus elementary schools, both public and private. 

"I want to offer a place where kids can go to have fun and learn so they don't resort to taking drugs," she said. 

She also hopes to get other kids her age involved. 

"One of my ideas is to have an activity day where kids from the different schools can talk about their program," Roh said. 

In addition to offering the Peer Plus program, Roh has a much larger goal. 

"I'm hoping to get the D.A.R.E.  program back in every school by my senior year," she said.  "I think it is important to have it back in the public schools."

Roh said her dedication to the D.A.R.E.  program and others that promote a drug-free lifestyle not only comes because she wants to get rid of the stigma surrounding her school and hometown, but also because of recent incidents involving teenagers. 

"Just knowing about all the people who have been killed because of drinking and driving makes me want to get the messages across," she said. 

She also wants kids to know that even though people say it's cool, drinking is not. 

"I want kids to think it is cool not to drink," she said. 

Roh said if she can get a lot of kids involved in her programs, she believes she can get that message across. 

"Kids who want to stay drug free should surround themselves with people who are drug free," she said.  "There is power in numbers when it comes to fighting peer pressure."