Pubdate: Wed, 06 Dec 2006 Source: Chronicle, The (CN ON) Copyright: 2006, OSPREY Media Group Inc. Contact: http://www.dunnvillechronicle.com/ Details: http://www.mapinc.org/media/3831 Author: Karen Best DRUG AWARENESS SPEAKER CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO CARE DUNNVILLE - He got them snapping their fingers and growling like panthers and having fun before they knew it. By their own participation, 500 Dunnville high school students, who were sitting on the gymnasium floor, were buying into the theme of last week's Drug Awareness assembly. Having fun is one of the payoffs of caring motivational speaker Andy Thibodeau told students. He was out to dare them to care. He connected with his audience by speaking about his high school appearances and laughing at his graduation photo, which displayed his mullet hair cut. When a baby is born, his or her care bubble is all about themselves, said Thibodeau. Eventually a child expands its caring circle to include parents, siblings and friends, he said. At high school, students are asked to further expand their care bubble to include administration, teachers, their fellow students, clubs and activities, he said. Thibodeau said DSS fundraising efforts for cancer, Camp Trillium, Christmas gift boxes and starving children are excellent examples of caring by the high school student body. Even though all students were not involved in these activities - they all care about something, he said. For example, they care about special sports teams and their favourite bands and just showing up to cheer and scream, he said. "They care so much about multi-millionaires who they will never meet," said Thibodeau. Caring about high school can forge life-long bonds between friends, he said. The speaker, who was on an eight-day tour of southern Ontario, understood why some kids don't care. Crushing disappointment from not making the team and the dreaded "let's be friends" call from a boyfriend are low points for teens who cared, he said. Thibodeau asked students to go along with teachers who are trying to make learning fun and to participate in events like the upcoming semi-formal on Dec. 14. He cracked up the audience speaking about his Grade 9 dance experience and his strategy to only ask girls who would say 'no' nicely. By sharing his experiences, he drew students further into his challenge - Dare to Care. He told students that caring and kindness is always hot. "If you ever dated someone who is a jerk, you know that looks can only take you so far," said Thibodeau. Sometimes students who don't care about school and don't participate in events turn toward drugs, Thibodeau said. One of his friends failed math twice while using drugs. In Grade 11, his friend went for help from the health unit and was soon back playing hockey and bumped up his math grade by 25 per cent. Thibodeau reminded students that confidential counselling and health services are available in their school. Caring can make kids healthy and their bank accounts too, if they are not purchasing drugs or cigarettes, said Thibodeau. His presentation was sponsored in part by the Haldimand Norfolk Health Unit. A 2003 study by the unit in the two counties and Brant county showed 26 per cent of Grade 9 students tried marijuana, and the number doubled by Grade 11. By that grade, 87 per cent of students consumed alcohol and 40 per cent were binge drinking. - --- MAP posted-by: Elaine