DRUG AWARENESS SPEAKER CHALLENGES STUDENTS TO CARE

DUNNVILLE - He got them snapping their fingers and growling like
panthers and having fun before they knew it.

By their own participation, 500 Dunnville high school students, who
were sitting on the gymnasium floor, were buying into the theme of
last week's Drug Awareness assembly. Having fun is one of the payoffs
of caring motivational speaker Andy Thibodeau told students.

He was out to dare them to care.

He connected with his audience by speaking about his high school
appearances and laughing at his graduation photo, which displayed his
mullet hair cut.

When a baby is born, his or her care bubble is all about themselves,
said Thibodeau. Eventually a child expands its caring circle to
include parents, siblings and friends, he said. At high school,
students are asked to further expand their care bubble to include
administration, teachers, their fellow students, clubs and activities, he said.

Thibodeau said DSS fundraising efforts for cancer, Camp Trillium,
Christmas gift boxes and starving children are excellent examples of
caring by the high school student body. Even though all students were
not involved in these activities - they all care about something, he said.

For example, they care about special sports teams and their favourite
bands and just showing up to cheer and scream, he said.

"They care so much about multi-millionaires who they will never
meet," said Thibodeau. Caring about high school can forge life-long
bonds between friends, he said.

The speaker, who was on an eight-day tour of southern Ontario,
understood why some kids don't care. Crushing disappointment from not
making the team and the dreaded "let's be friends" call from a
boyfriend are low points for teens who cared, he said.

Thibodeau asked students to go along with teachers who are trying to
make learning fun and to participate in events like the upcoming
semi-formal on Dec. 14.

He cracked up the audience speaking about his Grade 9 dance
experience and his strategy to only ask girls who would say 'no' nicely.

By sharing his experiences, he drew students further into his
challenge - Dare to Care.

He told students that caring and kindness is always hot.

"If you ever dated someone who is a jerk, you know that looks can
only take you so far," said Thibodeau.

Sometimes students who don't care about school and don't participate
in events turn toward drugs, Thibodeau said. One of his friends
failed math twice while using drugs.

In Grade 11, his friend went for help from the health unit and was
soon back playing hockey and bumped up his math grade by 25 per cent.
Thibodeau reminded students that confidential counselling and health
services are available in their school.

Caring can make kids healthy and their bank accounts too, if they are
not purchasing drugs or cigarettes, said Thibodeau.

His presentation was sponsored in part by the Haldimand Norfolk
Health Unit. A 2003 study by the unit in the two counties and Brant
county showed 26 per cent of Grade 9 students tried marijuana, and
the number doubled by Grade 11. By that grade, 87 per cent of
students consumed alcohol and 40 per cent were binge drinking.