Whiz Kid: Sarah Killough Recognized for Keeping Others Safe with D.A.R.E Program

• Sarah Killough
• Sophomore, Bishop Feehan High School
• Massachusetts D.A.R.E Youth Advisory Board 

Like most high school students who have turned 16, getting a permit rated high on Sarah Killough’s list of priorities. Killough could be considered a typical teenager. She loves her high school, spending time with her friends and family, playing soccer in the fall and throwing javelin in the spring. Yet number one on her list, and what sets her apart, is her commitment and focus to the Nationwide Drugs Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E) program. Killough has a passionate desire to see the young people in our midst avoid destructive behaviors.

Killough represents the entire state of Massachusetts on the D.A.R.E Youth Advisory Board. The YAB is a group of 50 kids, one per state, who meet once a year at a conference and discuss what they can do to make the D.A.R.E program better nationwide. “The YAB gives D.A.R.E graduates an opportunity to speak to issues impacting the national and worldwide D.A.R.E program and to advise D.A.R.E America and local D.A.R.E programs, government and community leaders on drug and violence prevention strategies beneficial to our youth.”

In her own words, Sarah articulates what the D.A.R.E program is to our community and what it means personally to her. “It is a worldwide program used to keep kids healthy and safe as they grow up. The main focuses of the Massachusetts D.A.R.E program now are peer pressure and learning to stand up to and avoid bullying. The D.A.R.E program in Attleboro is thriving right now and is as successful as it’s ever been thanks to our (Attleboro) D.A.R.E Officer, Tom Wellman.” For Killough personally, she was recently encouraged in her role by a young girl who was impacted by Sarah’s work. “While I was at the movies with some friends, a little girl who just went through the D.A.R.E program, who I did not know, told me she wanted to be just like me when she got older. It doesn’t seem like much, but I knew I was finally setting a positive example for the kids I was reaching out to.”

A highlight of her commitment is the yearly conference she is privileged to attend in Quantico, Virginia. At each conference, one topic of discussion for board members is what they can do personally to promote the D.A.R.E program in their individual state. One of her ideas is public advertising. She has created a Facebook page that she would really like to see become a success. 

Besides going to Quantico, Killough has been able to attend local D.A.R.E graduations, state meetings and the regional D.A.R.E conference in New Hampshire. Topsfield Fair welcomed her in their parade, and in the summer she counseled at the D.A.R.E camp which took place at Camp Finberg.