There
are little eyes upon you,
And
they’re watching night and day.
There
are little ears that quickly,
Take
in every word you say.
There
are little hands all eager,
To
do everything you do.
And
a little child who’s dreaming,
Of
the day he/she’ll be like you.
~
Anonymous ~
Working
with Groups
1.
Be real. Share things about yourself:
2.
Use humor only when appropriate.
3.
Share your thoughts and feelings about the requested topic.
4.
Be respectful, courteous.
5.
Make sure you capture and keep your audience’s attention.
6.
Have a positive approach.
7.
Seek to understand your group, read their behavior.
8.
When answering questions or listening to comments, repeat them
for all to
hear.
9.
Ask yourself if you are really leaving a good message with the
children.
Questions
and Answers
1.
Time
Depending on the age of
your audience, leave about 10
minutes at the end of the presentation to answer questions. Monitor the
time and
make sure to end the session when your students start getting restless
or when
they start telling stories rather than asking questions.
2.
Answering Difficult Questions
a.
Be
prepared for
all kinds of questions, including personal ones. If a question is too
personal,
simply tell them and move on to the next one. You may be asked very
difficult
questions such as:
‘Have
you ever used drugs?’
‘Do
you smoke?’
‘Do
you drink?’
If you ever have this
type of experience, stress the dangers
of substance abuse and state why it causes you pain and suffering
(deteriorating
health, losing friends, failing school, underachieving in sport, etc).
b.
When
asked
questions about teammates, be careful not to implicate individuals or
teams. Do
not name any athlete, sport, or school, even if specific incidents have
been
publicized in the media.
c.
If
you feel
comfortable, lead a discussion about the topic and let people express
their
opinions.
Speaking
to Different Age Groups
1.
Late Childhood or Preadolescence (ages 5 – 12)
When talking to
elementary school students (below the age of 12), the primary message
should be
prevention. It is best if these youngsters never start with alcohol or
drugs,
and the evidence is that the most successes lie within this group.
a.
General
Characteristics
-
Interested
in
people, aware of differences and willing to give more to others.
-
Busy,
active,
full of enthusiasm, accident-prone.
-
Sensitive
to
criticism, recognize failure, capable of self-evaluation.
-
Decisive,
dependable, reasonable, strong sense of right and wrong.
b.
Physical
Characteristics
-
Very
active and
in need of frequent breaks.
-
Bone
growth is
not yet complete.
-
Early
maturers
may be upset with their size.
-
Concerned
with
appearance.
c.
Social
Characteristics
-
Competitive.
-
Picky
about
friends.
-
Important
to be
accepted.
-
Team
games are
popular.
-
Have
heroes.
-
Cliques
start to
develop.
-
Crushes.
d.
Emotional
Characteristics
-
Sensitive
to
praise and recognition.
-
Feelings
get
hurt easily.
-
Conflict
between
adults’ rules and friends’ rules.
-
Concerned
about
others’ opinion of them.
e.
Mental
Characteristics
-
Fairness
is a
big issue.
-
Eager
to answer
questions.
-
Very
curious.
-
Desire
more
independence.
f.
Working
with
grades K-3 (ages 5-8)
-
Be
very positive
and use imaginative stories.
-
Plan
for short
talks.
-
Do
not pass
anything around – walk around the group to show it.
-
Use
group
answers or have the group repeat after you.
-
Keep
ideas to
the present.
g.
Working
with
grades 4-6 (ages 9-12)
Recent studies show that
the average age to begin
experimentation is about 12 years old, or during the 5th and
6th
grades for most youngsters. Typically, alcohol and tobacco are
considered the
‘gateway’ drugs. People progress from these drugs to
marijuana and then hard
drugs.
-
Be
encouraging
and use a pleasant tone of voice.
-
Do
not be
concerned with covering a certain amount of information.
-
Set
up rules,
raising hands etc.
-
Plan
for an
attention span of 30 minutes.
-
Keep
ideas to
the present.
-
Be
ready to
answer a lot of questions and learn how to handle storytellers.
2.
Early Adolescence (ages 13 – 16)
Middle school students
are very susceptible to experimentation. Encourage those who are
already
involved with drugs and alcohol to stop, and encourage those who are
not
involved to continue staying clean. It is important to reassure those
who have
not started that they are doing the right thing.
a.
General
Characteristics
-
Know-it-all
attitude.
-
Vulnerable,
emotionally insecure, afraid of rejection.
-
Mood
swings.
b.
Physical
Characteristics
-
Physical
changes
affect personal appearance.
-
Self-conscious
about growth.
-
Bad
diet and
sleep habits.
-
Rapid
weight
gain.
c.
Social
Characteristics
-
Friends
set
general rules for behavior.
-
Great
need to
conform.
-
Very
concerned
with what others say or think of them.
-
Tendency
to
manipulate others.
-
Going
to
extremes, emotional instability.
-
Fear
of ridicule
or of being unpopular.
-
Strong
identification with an admired adult.
-
Girls
more
interested in boys.
d.
Emotional
Characteristics
-
Sensitive
to
praise and recognition.
-
Caught
between
being a child and being an adult.
-
Loud
behavior
hides lack of self-confidence.
-
Look
at world
more objectively.
e.
Mental
Characteristics
-
Better
understand moral principles.
-
Attention
span
can be lengthy.
f.
Working
with
grades 6-8 (ages 13-16)
-
Be a
real
person: discuss real situations and experiences you have had.
-
Use
dilemmas to
bring out discussions, then ask opinions and discuss both sides.
-
Be
positive and
discuss ways to get motivated and feel good.
-
Plan
for longer
activities: 30-45 minutes.
-
Find
out who
they admire and use them in examples.
-
Teach
social and
leadership skills.
Topics
of Presentation
1.
Saying No to Drugs
“Yes
and No are the easiest words in the English language, yet, sometimes,
they are
the hardest ones to say.”
--- Claire Woodbridge
When discussing the
dangers of drug use, you are not
expected to be an expert on each drug. However, you should have clear
values
regarding the dangers of drugs. State your personal opinion and relate
your
experiences (your own or those with friends) with taking drugs. Talk
about peer
pressure and how/why to withstand it.
a.
Why
are drugs
wrong?
-
Drugs
keep you
from being honest/responsible/credible.
-
Drugs
kill your
dreams and prevent you from achieving them.
-
Drugs
will
seduce you, turn you on then take away your dreams and desires.
-
Drugs
will stop
you, slow you down, and hinder your personal growth
(physical/emotional/social).
-
Drugs
erode
self-discipline and motivation needed for learning.
-
Drugs
will take
away your lifestyle and everything you value.
-
Drugs
can kill
you or may take you to prison.
-
Drugs
have been
known to destroy families.
-
Drugs
change the
personal relationships you worked hard to build.
-
Drugs are a downhill trip: health problems, legal problems,
moral
problems, economic problems, and family problems.
-
Drugs and alcohol alter the organs in your body (brain, liver,
intestinal
system, circulatory system, skin, etc). These changes can be long-term.
Some
effects can be reversed when the intake is stopped, but others may be
permanent.
-
Drug use is tied to truancy and dropping out of school.
b.
Why
do people
start to use drugs?
-
Because
they
want to satisfy their curiosity.
-
Because
they
want to look cool, tough, or smart.
-
Because
their
friends/parents/family/role models do drugs.
-
Because
they
want to be accepted into a group.
-
Because
they
want to keep their so-called friends.
-
Because
they
want to feel grown-up and make their own decisions.
-
Because
they do
not know how to say NO (see section f for
techniques on how to say NO).
-
Because
it does
not seem dangerous.
c.
Why
do most
people not start to use drugs?
-
Because
their
friends/parents/family/role models do not do drugs.
-
Because
they get
involved in better activities.
-
Because
they do
not want legal trouble.
-
Because
they do
not want problems at school.
-
Because
drugs
are bad for their health.
-
Because
they do
not want to become addicted.
-
Because
they
want to be in control of their bodies.
-
Because
they are
afraid of cancer and other diseases.
-
Because
they
will lose their real friends.
-
Because
drugs
will stop them from reaching their goals.
-
Because
they
like themselves the way they are.
d.
Risk
factors in
substance abuse:
Harmful involvement with
drugs will affect all major areas
of a young person’s life. Some of these major areas are:
-
Family
functioning: disruption of family roles.
-
School
performance: attendance, grades, interests, and motivation.
-
Attitude:
indifference, unconcerned with consequences.
-
Behavior:
withdrawal, hostility, and irresponsibility.
-
Social
aspect:
change of friends, isolation.
-
Interests:
preoccupations with use of drugs.
e.
Staying
out of
trouble and keeping your friends:
-
Ask
questions:
What are we going to do?
-
Name
the
trouble: That’s… (stealing, dangerous, illegal etc)
-
Identify
the
consequences: If we get caught, we’ll be in big trouble.
-
Suggest
an
alternative: Why don’t we go to my house instead?
-
Tell
them what
you are going to do and leave the door open: If you change your
mind,…
f.
Techniques
to
say NO:
There are different ways
to say NO to drug offers or
pressure to do things you do not want to do:
-
Say
‘no
thanks’.
-
Give
a reason or
an excuse.
-
Use a
broken
record, repeat your refusal.
-
Walk
away from
it.
-
Change
the
subject.
-
Hang
around
non-users.
2.
The Importance of Academics
“Anyone
who stops learning is old, whether at 20 or 80. Anyone who keeps
learning stays
young. The greatest thing in life is to keep your mind young.”
--- Henry Ford
When talking about the
importance of an education, the
following points should be discussed:
a.
Your
personal
perspective on why an education is important:
-
Who/what
motivated you to graduate from high school.
-
Who/what
motivated you to pursue a college degree.
-
Share
advice you
were given about staying in school.
-
Share
your
experiences vs. those of others who did not graduate from high school
or
college.
b.
The
importance
of getting a high school diploma:
-
Being
able to
get a job.
-
Being
able to
join the military.
-
Being
able to go
to college.
c.
The
investment
into a college education:
-
Being
able to
pursue a career rather than just a job.
-
Being
able to
make more money.
-
Being
able to
meet lifelong friends from all over the country/world.
d.
An
education
provides you the opportunity to pursue your interests: sports, music,
science,
etc.
e.
An
education
helps you become a well-rounded, intelligent person.
f.
An
education
provides you with the knowledge and skills that will help you function
in our
society. Responsible people learn to use that knowledge/skill/talent to
further
themselves in life.
g.
In
school, you
learn how to:
-
Get
along with
others.
-
Communicate
with
others.
-
Work
with others
(citizenship, sense of community, etc).
h.
An
education
will make you feel better about yourself because you have reached an
important
and worthwhile goal.
i.
Learning
is
fun/challenging/rewarding.
j.
You
are less
likely to engage in inappropriate behavior when you are actively
pursuing a
degree.
3.
Setting and Achieving Goals
“Setting
a goal is not the main thing. It is deciding how you will go about
achieving it
and staying with that plan.”
--- Tom Landry
a.
Reaching
goals
– Time management
The key to reaching your
goals is through making time
management a habit. The following are important steps in the process:
-
Make
a list of
tasks to do.
-
Prioritize
your
tasks.
-
Adopt
realistic
goals for each task.
-
Break
each task
down into smaller steps.
-
Develop
a
schedule for completing each step.
-
Begin
working on
your tasks, small steps at a time.
-
Record
your
progress (keep a log).
-
Reward
yourself.
b.
Goals:
-
You
need goals
to help you stay motivated on a daily basis.
-
You
have to set
both short- and long-term goals.
-
You
have more
control over reaching those goals that are shorter in time.
-
The
more
successful you are at setting and meeting small goals, the greater your
chances
of success become at meeting long-term goals.
-
Goals
must be
measurable when making a behavioral change.
-
Goals
must be
realistic, you have to recognize your abilities and opportunities.
-
Goals
help you
accept yourself, believe in yourself, focus on the positive, become
responsible,
develop self-control and discipline, treat setbacks as temporary, and
avoid
excuses.
c.
Mini
goals:
Small steps towards your
short- and long-term goals:
d.
Short-term
goals:
A short-term goal is a
goal that can be reached in a few
months.
e.
Long-term
goals:
A long-term goal is a
goal that can be reached over time. It
requires a lot of small steps and extensive planning.
f.
Self-talk:
REPLACE
WITH
‘I blew it.’
‘Next time I’ll get it right.’
‘I’m so
fat.’
‘I’ll feel and look better soon.’
‘I’ll never
get it.’
‘I have the ability to improve my performance.’
‘I’m so
stupid.’
‘I can and will learn this.’
‘What’s the
use.’
‘If I can dream it, I can achieve it.’
‘I just know
I’ll screw it up.’
‘I’ll learn from my mistakes and will be able to do
it.’
‘They won’t
like me.’
‘I’ll enjoy being with them.’
‘I just
don’t have what it takes.’
‘I’m capable.’
‘I’m such a
slob.’
‘I enjoy looking my best.’
‘I hate the way I
look.’
‘I like myself.’
‘I hate doing
this.’
‘I’ll do my best.’
4.
Handling Peer Pressure
“You don't have to buy from anyone. You don't have to work at any particular job. You don't have to participate in any given relationship. You can choose.”
--- Harry Browne
a.
What
is peer
pressure?
Peer pressure is any
situation where peers are trying to
influence you on how you think or act.
b.
Positive
peer
pressure:
-
Participate
in
school activities, sports, etc.
-
Set
and achieve
goals.
-
Get
good grades.
-
Keep
your body
healthy/drug-free.
c.
Negative
peer
pressure:
-
Use
alcohol or
other drugs.
-
Skip
school and
classes.
-
Have
sex before
you are ready.
-
Shoplift
or
vandalize property.
-
Disobey
your
parents.
d.
How
do you
handle peer pressure? Learn to be your own best friend.
-
You
need to
understand who you are, what your values are, and what right from wrong
is.
-
You
need to know
how to make your own decisions: what is right for you?
-
You
need to tell
others your decision and stick with it with confidence.
-
You
need to
recognize what to do in different situations.
-
You
need to
learn how to say NO.
-
You
need to
think about the consequences: can you get in trouble?
e.
High
self-esteem
can help you resist peer pressure:
-
Accept
your own
self-worth - strengths and weaknesses.
-
Be
accountable
for yourself – make your own decisions.
-
Act
responsibly
towards others - respect yourself and others.
-
Trust
and
believe in yourself.
f.
Low
self-esteem
is:
-
Having
a lack of
confidence.
-
Being
unable to
accept yourself.
-
Not
respecting
or disliking yourself.
-
Letting
others
make decisions for you.
g.
How
to develop
higher self-esteem:
-
Examine
yourself
and your values - know what is important to you.
-
Make
time for
yourself - reflect on your thoughts and feelings every day.
-
Set
realistic
goals - what do you want to accomplish today/tomorrow/this week?
-
Take
pride in
yourself - praise yourself for your accomplishments.
h.
What
happens
after you make a decision? What happens when you say NO to peer
pressure?
You
will:
-
Feel
good about
yourself because you were in charge.
-
Gain
other
people’s respect because you were your own person.
-
Improve
your
relationship with your parents.
-
Stay
out of
trouble and help keep others out of it too!
5.
Being the Best that You Can Be
“Most
look up and admire the stars. A champion climbs a mountain and grabs
one.”
--- H. Jackson Brown, Jr.
a.
It is
fun to be
a winner but it is more important to be a good loser.
b.
Choose
the right
role models for you or find an adult role model who is in your life.
c.
Success
is
something you need to work at every day.
d.
Continuously
strive for achievement and set realistic goals.
e.
Take
schoolwork
seriously: an education is important as it can provide you with the
opportunities you might not otherwise have.
f.
Take
pride in
doing well academically as well as in other good activities.
g.
Discover
your
interests and talents and develop them.
h.
Take
pleasure in
being successful at something.
i.
Avoid
alcohol
and drugs as they lower your potential to perform at the best of your
ability.
j.
Learn
how to
have a sense of humor about yourself and your life.
k.
No
one escapes
problems - learn from your mistakes and move on.
l.
Be
popular for
who you are and not for what you do.
m.
Learn
to be an
independent and responsible individual.
n.
Choose
friends
who are well balanced, happy, and fun to be with and accept you for who
you are.
o.
Take
pride in
yourself, like yourself and accept yourself for who you are.
p.
Understand
that
success and failure are both part of life.
q.
Make
good
choices, stand up for what you believe in, and always have a positive
attitude.
r.
Be
accepting of
others, do something for your community and volunteer your time.
s.
Exercise,
eat
right, and work at being healthy.
t.
Do
the best you
can at whatever you choose to do.
u.
Learn
to be a
good leader or a good follower (team member).
v.
It is
not always
what happens to you, rather, how you handle it.
6.
Character Counts - The Six
Pillars of Character
“Be more concerned with your character than with your reputation. Your character is what you really are, while your reputation is merely what others think you are.”
--- John Wooden
a.
Trustworthiness:
-
Be
honest - do
not deceive.
-
Be
loyal.
-
Be
reliable –
do what you say you will do.
-
Have
the courage
to do the right thing.
-
Build
a good
reputation.
b.
Respect:
-
Treat
others
with respect – Golden Rule.
-
Be
tolerant of
differences.
-
Use
good
manners, avoid bad language.
-
Be
considerate
of other people’s feelings.
-
Deal
peacefully
with anger/disagreements.
c.
Fairness:
-
Play
by the
rules.
-
Take
turns and
share.
-
Be
open-minded -
listen to others.
-
Do
not take
advantage of others.
-
Do
not blame
others carelessly.
d.
Caring:
-
Be
kind.
-
Help
people in
need.
-
Be
compassionate
and show it.
-
Express
gratitude.
-
Forgive
others.
e.
Responsibility:
-
Do
what you are
supposed to do.
-
Persevere
- keep
trying.
-
Always
do your
best.
-
Use
self-control
– be self-disciplined.
-
Think
before you
act.
-
Be
accountable
for all your choices.
f.
Citizenship:
-
Make
your
environment better.
-
Cooperate.
-
Stay
informed.
-
Be a
good
neighbor.
-
Obey
laws and
rules.
- Respect authority.
THE BOTTOM LINE
FACE
IT, nobody owes you a living…
What you achieve, or fail to achieve in your lifetime,
Is directly related to what you do or fail to do.
No one chooses his parents or his childhood,
But you can choose your own direction.
Everyone has problems and obstacles to overcome,
But, that too, is relative to each and every individual.
NOTHING IS CARVED IN STONE!
You can change anything in your life
If you want to change it badly enough.
Excuses are only for losers!
Those
who take responsibility for their actions,
Are the real winners in life.
Winners meet life challenges head on
Knowing there are no guarantees, and give it all they've got
And never think it's too late or too early to begin.
Time plays no favorites,
And will pass whether you act or not.
Take control of your LIFE,
Dare to Dream and take risks...
Compete!
If you aren't willing to work for your goals,
Don't
expect others to.
BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!"
~
Anonymous
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