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.