As alcohol and fentanyl continue to be increasingly prevalent substances among teenagers, the Homewood High School peer helpers have devised a new strategy to inform students about the dangers these substances present.
The introduction of full-day in-class talks is an extension of the study talk peer helper program where upperclassmen members talk to freshmen about making healthy choices and avoiding substances that derail them from being their personal best.
These talks are different from previous talks because of the amount of time spent between each lesson. Normally, peer helpers go into classrooms during only a full study or a full class period. The new change allows students to obtain more information on the important topics presented during the full class period.
Once a semester, the peer helpers will give full-day talks to the freshmen on various prevalent teachers. The first presentation took place on December 4th and the second will take place in February. The peer helpers go into freshman classes and spend all seven class periods talking to them about various topics.
Senior peer helper Sadie Busbee explained how these new talks work.
“We make a presentation and find information that we think is most important,” Busbee said. “Then, we spend the full 50 minutes of each class period talking to them about problems in the real word such as saying no to alcohol and drugs and help them understand what they can do to you and how they can impact their health.”
Prevention and Development Coordinator of Homewood City Schools Carissa Anthony thinks these talks are beneficial in many ways.
“For the Freshman, it’s a great opportunity to hear from Juniors and Seniors on how they make good choices and serve as positive role models,” Anthony said. “Just hearing from them about not having to do bad stuff to fit into society.”
Anthony adds that students will be informed about the risks and harms of different substances.
“Specifically we’re gonna focus on nicotine and vaping, alcohol use and drinking and THC,” Anthony said.
Anthony also points out this new development as a way for peer helpers to develop skills needed for the real world.
“Everyone’s going to be working together to try and distribute the role of each helper during the talk,” Anthony said. “It’s a great opportunity for them to develop their presentation skills and their teamwork skills.”
Anthony hopes this program can help upperclassmen display leadership skills and that they can serve as positive role models for younger kids as they navigate their older years of high school.
