As usual, it’s been a busy week! I’ve been teaching 11th and 12th graders on the topics of Alcohol, Tobacco, and Other Drugs this week. It’s always interesting, to say the least. We had some really good discussions in a lot of my classes. A lot of my students have been affected first-hand by substance abuse. I have students who have had parents die in alcohol-related car accidents, students who have been in the ER because they have overdosed, students whose friends have overdosed and died, or been in accidents and died, and the list goes on. Yet, you talk to these students, and still, they admit they are “invincible”- it’s never going to happen to them.
We had an assembly this afternoon, as prom is tomorrow night. An 11 year-old named Hollywood Olsen, from Harrisburg, came and talked to our students. He was a survivor of an alcohol-related car accident. His biological father is an alcoholic, and one night, 2 years ago, he made Hollywood and his brother get in the car after he had been drinking, and made the 13-year old brother drive. They were in a car accident and rather than be blameful and bitter over the accident, as well as some major injuries, this young man has chosen to “change the world,” as he told us. He goes around speaking in churches, schools, and political events, daring to make a difference in people lives, challenging them to think about their decisions before they act, as well as who they will affect. Hollywood, as a 5th grader, is making a huge difference. He’s standing up for what he believes and proclaiming it wherever he goes. He’s passionate about this issue because he’s been directly affected by it.
After Hollywood, the Cumberland County Coroner gave a sobering presentation. I’ve never heard this group of students so quiet and attentive. He had a power point of various drug and alcohol related accidents he’s been called to in the last year. He did a very good job of hitting his point home, also conveying the importance of the choices we make.
Overall, it was a great assembly and the kids enjoyed it. Still, I wonder, why will they do stupid things this weekend?? As powerful as it is to hear stories and see pictures and get the facts, for some reason, having fun in the moment is more important. My students told me that. The only way some will learn is if and when they are directly affected.
So, even though we’ve seen the bad stuff that is always going on, all around us, why do we think we are invincible?? How would we be living our lives differently with the realization that we AREN’T??
