Meeting with Mrs. Marsh 9/10/15

Today, we met with Mrs. Marsh about our presentation for November. In this meeting, we talked about what we wanted to do at the presentation and verified with Mrs. Marsh the things that we could do on the night of the presentation. She gave us suggestions and we ran our ideas past her to make sure that everything we were doing would be doable. We specifically discussed ways in which we could get the word out to the public about our event, and now we are working to get those done so that people can start planning whether or not they would like to come. We are now writing a blurb to put in the school news letter, a blurb to send out to parents through email, and a short informative statement to put on the electric sign outside of the school. Kierra Hall and Hannah Carver have provided us with contacts whom we are looking into speaking at the presentation. One contact works at the Grand Mesa Youth Center, Miranda Botts, who works around troubled youth and we would like her to provide from her perspective what is going on in the valley and how she has seen the effects of drugs and alcohol or negative influences on the lives of adolescents. The other is a counselor for kids who have experienced drug abuse, and we would also like her to provide insight as to the problem of drugs around the valley increasing amongst adolescents.
This Sunday, Callie, Kiara and I are meeting to write these blurbs to make sure we are on the same page, and also to finalize the speakers and people who we will have at this presentation. We will also designate who will contact which speakers then, so that we can each have a part in the contact process. Right now, I am feeling good about where we are at for this presentation. It is something that I believe is important for parents and students to hear about what is going on in the valley and how their student can get involved in more positive and beneficial activities to not be influenced negatively by drugs and alcohol. We realize that some people may believe that this is stupid or pointless, believing that we are forcing our opinions about drugs and alcohol upon them. But with this presentation night, we are really focusing on the facts of how drugs affect adolescents, providing parents with information that they may desire to be informed about what is going on in schools today, while also providing the student with alternatives such as clubs and activities to get involved in.

Plans for the Future...5/5/2015

Initially, my idea for my CAS project centered around learning the drug curriculum and going out to the middle schools and presenting. It also centered around getting the Neural Activity Club at Palisade implemented and be a leader in running it every week. Now that these things have been done, Callie, Kiara and I want to move on to something bigger. We will continue to present to middle schools and be leaders in the Palisade club, however, we wanted to do something that was connected but somewhat separate, in that we solely are planning this from ground zero. We are going to have an informational Drug Night at the beginning of next school year for parents and students. This will entail multiple areas of planning, from coordinating the people we want there (such as the police office, Chad - the Neural Activity coordinator, etc.) to what we want to do with it overall. This is something we have discussed and know we will do for a fact, but we are still in the planning stage and will utilize the summer to get this all figured out. This problem really is of global significance because people and teens all over the world are influenced by drugs. On trains in Europe, there are blue lights in the bathrooms so that people aren't able to find their veins to be able to shoot up with heroin. 1 in 20 people aged 15 to 64 have used an illegal drug worldwide just in 2009, and the number is on the rise. It is a global phenomenon among teens who feel like they have to participate in drugs to fit in or to give themselves a synthetic artificial high, and I know that with Neural Activity, we are combating this by giving teens an outlet to these negative influences.

First Television Interview for Soberhero Party 4/12/2015

Today, I had the opportunity to do an interview with the news talking about Soberhero. To be honest, I wasn't nervous for the interview at all, which I think is a skill I have developed through the course of being in Neural Activity. I wasn't scared of being in front of the camera and answering questions on the spot, which is something I am proud of considering where I used to be in that regard. Soberhero is similar to Sober Grad that went away in Mesa County a couple years ago, in that it is a non-substance party for incoming juniors, seniors, and graduating seniors to celebrate the time of year with awesome prizes and extremely fun activities. This includes a $2,000 scholarship, Beats by Dre., gift certificates, Rockies tickets, etc. This is a major event for Neural Activity, the biggest we've ever done. The challenge will be getting the word out and getting people to sign up to participate in the time span of about two weeks. We have been planning this for a while and I think that it will be a great way of getting Neural Activity out into the community!
Here is the link to the interview:
http://www.nbc11news.com/home/headlines/Neural-Activity-gears-up-to-host-a-drug-and-alcohol-free-end-of-the-year-bash-302492881.html

SECOND MIDDLE SCHOOL PRESENTATION! 2/15/15

Yaay! Another opportunity to get to present to middle schoolers about the affects of drugs on the adolescent brain! This time around, Callie Kiara and I presented to 2 classes (6th and 7th grade) of about 30 kids each, for 45 minutes or so each, at Fruita Middle School. I noticed that I wasn't nearly as nervous as I was for the presentation as the Redlands presentation. I know that now, that is a skill that I lacked, in being able to relax and do well under pressure. However since I have two presentations under my belt, I believe myself to have acquired that skill along the way, and continue to practice it. Anyway, the presentations went great. The kids were really invested and interested in what we had to say, and they wanted to know more. Again, it was so rewarding to be a part of something that has the potential to impact a life.
I realize that with my CAS project comes ethical implications, and I will consider these ethical implications by presenting accurate and reliable information, or else it could result in worse consequences. I believe that what we do is something that I personally have a very strong passion for. I believe that the youth of today is being heavily influenced by drugs, and so I feel it to be a duty of mine and a desire to educate these young people so that they can make the right decisions to positively impact their future. Almost half of all teens in the United States report that they have used drugs in high school, while 81% of teens say marijuana is easily accessible.  I realize that I have to learn the information and be honest about what I say so that I can be able to help these kids instead of hinder them in the long run. I also think that with this, Neural Activity considers the ethical implication of "telling" kids what to do rather than letting them decide for themselves. We give kids the information they need to make informed decisions about using drugs and alcohol: we don't say "don't do drugs" or "don't drink," because we believe it should be their choice as young adults to make decisions that will affect their future. It is important that we consider all arguments both for against drug use. We understand that people may not agree with the things we say and the information we give. Some people think drugs are harmless and have no lasting effects, while others swear by their medicinal properties. We don't argue with these people, but we do try to help them to see our view and the scientific facts so that they are more informed or can research it for themselves to make their own decisions.

Movie Night Fundraiser and Bake Sale - 12/20/14

A quick little update about club at Palisade. Everything is going great with the club so far! We finally decided on a fundraiser and showed the movie Elf along with a bake sale. This earned our club at Palisade about $180, which is great! The planning for this fundraiser went really well, and all the members were very willing to help and got involved. I think this was a great step for us as a school club, being that since two fundraisers weren't extremely successful, one even falling through completely, the success of this really showed that we could overcome obstacles and still foster a sense of success. I didn't let those fundraisers get me down, and I was really happy with how everyone made the effort to promote our fundraiser.

FIRST MIDDLE SCHOOL PRESENTATION! 12/15/14

I can't even begin to express how nervous I was for my first ever drug prevention presentation to the middle schoolers. It's the basis of Neural Activity - teens teaching teens - and I had all the training and all the preparation to do it. It was what I had waited for and what I planned to be a part of my CAS project. On the day of the presentation, December 2nd, Callie, Kiara, and I were told that we would be presenting to two classes at Redlands Middle School, with each class having 30 or so 6th graders and the class would last for about 30 minutes. We had worked together and practiced our presentation that we learned through the trainings that we had throughout the year on the different modules and information about the effects of drugs on the adolescent brain. However, when we arrived and were setting everything up, Leigh informed us that we would be presenting to 200 6th graders for about an hour and a half! I was mortified! I was so nervous, being that I had never talked in front of that many people ever, in my entire life! Once the kids got settled, we presented, and the feeling of relief afterwards subsided into great happiness and pride over what we had accomplished together. Callie, Kiara and I had worked very hard together to make the presentation the best it could be, and when we found out that plans had changed right before we were about the present, we were basically freaking out. It was a very stressful and scary experience, as we not only had the responsibility of relaying this information to the kids in a way which they could understand, but we also had to keep them engaged for a long period of time, which is super difficult. I've worked with kids before but I definitely had to undertake this new challenge and persevere through my self-doubt to deliver a great message. We had to work together throughout the presentation to make it run smoothly, and to get our message across to these kids who are so deserving of needing to understand the problem facing the community they live in. The presentation went extremely well. The kids were really involved and interested in what we were telling them, and they understood. This experience was truly gratifying in so many more ways than I expected it would be. Knowing that I could have made an impact or changed even one kid's life makes me so proud of the work we do and the message we are spreading. I can't explain the feeling of joy in knowing that I potentially helped or positively influenced a life or future. Not only was this truly the most gratifying experience, but I also grew in my abilities and skills that day. I truly overcame my fear of public speaking, and I definitely noticed the improvements I have been making in this experience overall. I no longer get extremely nervous to speak in front of large crowds and I have a overall greater confidence in myself. This experience overall has changed me, and I look forward with great anticipation to the next presentation I have the opportunity to do in the future! I truly loved it!

10/25/14 Soccer Prom

The county-wide Neural Activity put on another fundraiser this month, called Soccer Prom. The idea was that we would put on games that would be played tournament-style, and the players would play in prom dresses. It initially sounded like a great and fun idea, but even though we advertised and planned, Soccer Prom got cancelled due to the lack of sign ups. This is a little discouraging, being that the county fundraisers really benefit our school's Neural Activity Club, because it allows students to be more involved in the club and do the adventure activities. Callie and I filmed a video with the Neural Activity coordinator, Leigh Fitch, promoting Soccer Prom earlier this month. Although this fundraiser fell through, I think it was a good learning lesson for the county club and our small school club. We learned that we need to put on a fundraiser that will be reasonable and appeal to the community, not just think it to be a good idea and run with it. I also think I grew from this experience, in that I got in front of a camera doing an advertisement that would be posted to multiple sites for the whole world to see! I was definitely scared, but looking back on it I know that I have grown in my confidence and have lessened my fright in being in front of the camera. As far as the future goes, our Neural Activity club at Palisade is continuing to have weekly meetings, and we are continuing to get students involved and plugged into this great opportunity for them. We have in the works a fundraiser idea for the holidays, but the details are still being worked out. As a leader, I have to bring ideas to the group, or the members, every week, and also be willing to take suggestions and ideas into consideration. I really enjoy being able to communicate with my younger peers, and work out a plan that will work for everyone. This club is most definitely a group effort, and every week I work with the other leaders and the students, and am always extremely excited with the participation every week.

Reflection 10/4/14 - School Spirit 5K and Homecoming Parade

In doing my CAS project, I am not only a part of undertaking the challenge of implementing the PHS Neural Activity Club as a leader, but am also still a member myself in the county Neural Activity Club, which I also include as an entity of my CAS project. Neural Activity put on a School Spirit 5K on the 27th of September, in which participants dress up in support of a Mesa County high school. This being a county fundraiser, the funds raised do not got to Palisade's Neural Activity club. However, every student involved or not involved in the club at Palisade has the opportunity to join the county club, where the money raised goes to allowing members to go on amazing and awesome adventure activities. So every club, including Palisade's, helps with the county-wide fundraisers because we are still a part of the big organization. The 5K did not do as well as we'd hoped, honestly. We were anticipating more runners, however it just didn't turn out. But, we still consider this a successful fundraiser, being that it was the first one for the county club and also because we made $640 for the program! The school club that we organize and run helps with these fundraisers for the county, being that we advertise through flyers, posters, announcements in our school to get the word out to the students. Although this fundraiser wasn't overly-successful, I know that we will be able to grow from this experience and host bigger and better, more profiting fundraisers. Also in the month of September was Homecoming, which of course means the Homecoming parade. We participated in the parade, and it was a major success. I helped decorate our "float," and was proud to ride on it in support of our cause. While we rode through downtown, I was very overjoyed to see that a group of parents had began to applaud us as we went by. They said that they were very proud of what we stood for and that it was needed in the community immensely. It was great to be able to have most of the members there, being proud to also advertise and extend this message to the community in the parade. I knew that it meant a lot more is to come for Neural Activity!  

Club Update - 10/2/14

Since club has started, it has been crucial to plan the weekly meetings and what we want to do overall with the group. Callie and I have planned the weekly meetings together, being that I have been giving input as to what I want to do and she has been as well. As far as the club itself, we have about twenty fivish kids who have been showing up consistently, which is a great turn out! I am so happy with how the club is going so far, but have to admit I am slightly nervous in my confidence in myself as far as public speaking and planning go. I know myself to be very organized and a very good planner, however I feel that, especially with middle school presentations looming in the future, I will have to grow in my public speaking abilities. We have also been talking about fundraising for the school club, as fundraising for the county club is different and separate from the club designated to Palisade. We have been brainstorming ideas so that we are able to receive money to take the club members on an adventure activity of their choosing. We already have money in our account, from the money donated by Macharnie from powder puff football, so we have a good base but our fundraising is continuing to be planned. I am determined to raise money so that we can allow our club members to experience a fun activity, which is something the club is all about; allowing teens the opportunity to participate in fun "adventure activities" as a means of providing them with an alternative to drugs and alcohol. This is definitely a challenge for me because I have been a part of successful fundraisers, but I have never actually been the one to plan them, so I am hoping that the one we choose will be successful!

July 31 and August 11, 2014 - Club Fair (Reflection 9/21/14)

These past two months have been the first real beginning of the launching of my CAS project, in which I decided to conjoin with Kiara and Callie due to our desire and similar goals in wanting to expand and make the Neural Activity club our own. In July, we set up a booth at Palisade High School's Back to School Night to recruit incoming freshman and get them interested in the club. Since implementing the club in all the area high schools is something new, instead of the club just being at the county level, I admit that I had my doubts about the success of the club and our ability to recruit members. Would kids even be interested in a club like this? Will this club and idea of its success I had initially envisioned be wrong? I didn't know what the outcome was going to be, but I can say that at Back to School Night I discovered that there is immense interest in a club such as this. The students we approached and those who approached us were extremely interested and excited about this opportunity that they have to be involved in something that positively advocated to teen potential and gave them an alternative to the pressures they may come to face in high school or already have faced. Both incoming freshmen and their parents approached us, commending us for our efforts in starting this club, telling us their concern for young adults and the increasing drug problem in the community and the entire state. I was initially really surprised at the amount of support that we got just from the Back to School Night alone, but once I began to really think about it, I knew that we had this support because the club is something that is truly needed in this community. There is a major increase in drug use in Mesa County especially among teens, and Neural Activity not only provides teens with fun activities as an alternative to negative influences, but we also learn about drugs' effects on the adolescent brain and can therefore back up what we are advocating against. So the Back to School Night was a success in getting incoming freshmen interested in the club. In August, when school began again, we had our booth set up at the club fair, in which all the freshmen can explore the different clubs at Palisade and choose which one they want to join. In doing this, I talked to many kids about what Neural Activity is and what we plan on doing throughout the year. Every time I talked to a student I received the response of "Wow that sounds awesome" or "that is so cool!" It was really neat to be able to see all my younger peers be so excited about getting involved in Neural Activity, and that lunch period we got more than three pages of sign ups of kids who were interested in joining the club!

Reflection, Thoughts 9/20/14

With my CAS project, I hope to accomplish having an impact on the community. I want to help and teach kids about the effects of drugs on their brain and how they negatively influence ones future. I hope to impact at least one life, in that I can change the way they view drugs and alcohol and show them that there are so many exhilarating and awesome experiences in life that can imitate a high naturally. I will know when I reach my goal when I start to see a shift in the culture not only in my high school, but also amongst the younger kids and teens in general. How, you might ask, will I know when this happens? I'm not sure it can be something that we can clearly see, but I believe I will know when I am doing a presentation to the middle schools, and can see kids' faces embracing the knowledge I give them and truly understand and want to hold onto it for their future. This will be the most rewarding thing I do. But I also think that fundraising and putting on events for teens to participate in will be a step towards reaching my goals as well, because they will be spending their time experiencing natural highs. The best thing that could happen as the result of my CAS project is making an impact on the community and the culture amongst teens about drugs. I want the program to be recognized within the community and I think that the more teens hear about it, the better this will be because ultimately, my goal is to have a positive impact on even just one life. To be the best prepared for this, I will need to be an active leader in the Palisade Neural Activity club, as well as an overall leader. I need to be open to new ideas and I will need to communicate to get my ideas across and recognize the ideas of others. I believe I will have the most control over organization, planning, and setting the goals and successes for the club and any expansions of my CAS project and goals. I predict that implementing the club in the high schools will be very successful, especially with the increased drug use among teens. It will need to grow and spread with the help of support from classmates as well as parents throughout the community. I believe that with the active support of parents and the community overall, the club will spread rapidly, which means we will be helping and influencing even more lives. Through this journey, I would like to perfect my public speaking abilities and overall sociability. I want to be able to be completely relaxed and unphased when I speak in front of large crowds, and by presenting to middle schoolers, I know it will be a challenge but great practice! Overall, I am excited to be starting this CAS project because I know this is needed and is a program that will work amongst teens. I am ready to start making a difference.

CAS Project Reflection 9/19/14

Welcome to my Blog about my CAS project! For my CAS project, I decided to blog about a program which I am already involved in called Neural Activity. Neural Activity is a drug prevention program that marries adventure activities with the curriculum about the effects of drugs on the adolescent brain. This CAS project and group is important to me because so many teens are affected by drugs in today's society. There is a culture in our society which makes it okay for teens to associate drugs with popularity or the desire to fit in. I believe that peer pressures such as drugs and alcohol are becoming increasingly prevalent in today's society, and Neural Activity is a different kind of drug prevention program designed to provide teens with fun and exciting activities to experience rather than using drugs and alcohol. With the curriculum we learn about the effects of drugs on teens' brains, we then go out in the community and teach other teens. For my CAS project, not only will I be going out and teaching my peers and those younger than me about the dangers and effects of drugs on the brain, but I am also a leader in developing the Neural Activity club within Palisade High School. This will definitely be a challenge but it will be vital in getting the word out about the program and also providing another source for teens at Palisade to be involved in something that is making an impact on, not only the school, but the entire community.