Pubdate: Sat, 24 Dec 2005
Source: Noblesville Daily Times, The (IN)
Copyright: 2005 Noblesville Daily Times LLC
Contact:  http://www.thenoblesvilletimes.com/
Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3846
Author: Robert Herrington
Bookmark: http://www.mapinc.org/dare.htm (D.A.R.E.)

SETTING AN EXAMPLE TO FOLLOW

High Schoolers Tell Fifth Graders It's OK To Stay Drug-Free

"You get lots of peer pressure," Noblesville High  School junior Michael 
Guyer told fifth graders at  Noblesville Intermediate School Wednesday. 
"Fight it!  Remember what's right."

Instead of a review session, the fifth-grade classes  participating in Drug 
Abuse Resistance Education this  semester were given the opportunity to ask 
questions  and listen to high school students tell stories of  situations 
they've found themselves in involving drugs and alcohol.

The fifth graders listened to high schoolers tell them  how some of them 
have never been offered drugs or  alcohol because people knew they wouldn't 
accept.  Others told of being asked constantly despite denying  any acceptance.

"You get so many people asking you (to do drugs) you  wouldn't believe how 
many times you're asked," junior  Zara Khan told the students.

The fifth graders sat quietly, paying close attention  as the high 
schoolers spoke and described ways they've  gotten out of situations that 
were bad. As soon as the  students finished speaking, dozens of hands eager 
to  ask the next question went up.

"They seem pretty knowledgable," Michael said. "They  knew what to ask and 
they all seemed to know what the  right answer was even before we told them."

"They seemed really interested and that was nice,"  freshman Kyla Garrett 
said. "I was really concerned  that they were going to have a low interest 
and they  seemed kinda excited that we were there and they were  going to 
learn something. I could really tell that they wanted to know the answers 
and they wanted to be  informed."

DARE instructors and School Resource Officers Edie  Keesee and Matt 
Johnston thought the high school  students would have a bigger impact than 
the officers  would by lecturing again.

"We're old people are far as they're concerned," Keesee said.

"Instead of giving a parent's perspective, who's been  through it all and 
probably has a family, we're teens  who are still just trying to figure it 
out, just like  they are," Kyla said. "It's a little bit fresher in 
our  minds and it's something we deal about on a day to day basis. I don't 
know an adult who shows up for classes  still and is still feeling peer 
pressure and the stages  of adolence like we are."

The 15 high school students ranged from freshman to  seniors and jocks to 
honor society students.

"The kids get to see athletes, those involved with  academic activities 
like student government, they see  kids that play in a band and play in 
band," Johnston  said. "They see a wide variety of kids so each one 
can  relate to a mentor."

"It was cool because they were nice and funny and still  drug-free and we 
know that they went through those  situations and still said no," 
fifth-grader Brooke  Flanagan said. "If they can do it, you can do it."

The beginning of the hour-long Q&A had students asking  about drugs and 
helping people who use drugs. The  second half focused on alcohol and the 
effects of  drunken driving.

"My curfew is a little earlier then others because my  parents don't want 
me out with drunk drivers," junior  Megan Oilar said. "They scare me and 
they scare my  parents."

The high schoolers told the fifth graders of the  importance of friends and 
those you spend free time  with.

"I don't have friends that I had in eighth grade  because they made bad 
choices and used drugs," Megan  told students.

The students also neutralized the "smoking is cool" mentality.

"I've seen the effects of smoking," Kyla told students.  "I get no good 
vibe from people who smoke and drink. I  just don't think it's cool."

"We know there are people who say no and its easier to  say no after the 
first time," Brooke said.

Both officers were surprised with the convictions that  the high school 
students had when talking about their  experiences, especially when some of 
the students began  talking about their friends involved in drunken 
driving  accidents, one in which ended with death.

"None of the kids struggled with yes or no," Keesee said.

The fifth grade students were also given an indication  that high school 
pressures may not be as hard as they  expected.

"It's good to know what it's going to be like going  into high school and 
that you won't have to drink or  smoke anything to be like other people," 
fifth-grader  Drew Musselman said.

"I learned a lot of new things. It's a lot easier to  know about them than 
finding out when you're older,"  fifth-grader Megan Schillinger said.

Some of the fifth graders were surprised when they  learned that Keesee and 
Johnston had taught them DARE  in the past.

"They had the same officers we have and just did what  the officers said 
and the officers saying the same  thing to us as them, so it makes us feel 
that we can  quit by using the knowledge the officers told us,"  Megan 
Schillinger said.

"I honestly think that because I was so informed about  the risks when you 
do drugs, it is one of the reasons  why I am on right track," Kyla said.

The high schoolers admitted that sitting in front of  the fifth graders 
reminded them of when they were that  age.

"A lot those questions I had when I was their age,"  Michael said.

The older students were also impressed with the  dedication the fifth 
graders showed about being  drug-free.

"It was a wonderful feeling, but it was also a glimmer  of hope," Kyla 
said. "There's a chance that the  percentages of smokers and drinkers just 
might go down  with so much interest they had. I was so surprised 
they  cared so much."

"With these DARE classes it might drop some of the drug  and alcohol use in 
high school and later on," Michael  said.
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MAP posted-by: Jay Bergstrom