Students Learn to Assess Choices

By Ellen R. Delisio

High-school students became teachers at Keigwin’s 21st Century Learning Community (21stCLC) April 25, bringing lessons about peer pressure, teamwork and positive self-images to their younger peers.

Members of Middletown High’s Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) club led the sixth graders in a series of activities and discussions about the importance of making good choices as they grow into teenagers.

“I never did anything like this before; I’m glad to be in charge,” said Regina, one of the SADD members. One life lesson she passed on was not to be afraid to make new friends as your interests change and you get older. “The focus is all on friends,” when you are young, she said. “But just because everyone is doing it, doesn’t mean you have to.”

For one activity, two teams of students competed to see who could make the longest line across the gym, using lanyards and jackets to extend their reach.

“We’ve been learning about self-image and doing challenges; it was a lot of fun,” one Keigwin student, Arya, said.

SADD advisor Felicia Goodwine-Vaughters, coordinator of prevention and wellness at the Rushford Center, who also oversees the Rams in Action program at Woodrow Wilson Middle School, said she wanted to give the SADD members an opportunity to be leaders and the younger students a chance to learn more about developing positive self-images.

“I like the mentoring aspect,” noted 21st Century Program Director LiseMarie Sherman. “They are bringing ideas I could have used in middle school.”

The visit culminated with the Keigwin students decorating t-shirts with the words “I am” and then listing all their positive attributes.

“I think it’s been good,” said Chase, another Keigwin student whose shirt started off “I am Great,” about the SADD visit. “I like talking about positive stuff…[like] if you believe in yourself you can do anything you want. Just worry about yourself—not anyone else.”