STUDENTS TALK FRANKLY ABOUT ISSUES THEY FACE

The March of Dimes hopes frank discussion will cause a chain reaction among
high school students.

Thursday, Willis-Knighton Education Center held a conference for 60
Shreveport-Bossier City teenagers about subjects students face in their
schools and communities.

The conference was organized by Chain Reaction, the March of Dimes' youth
leadership council. Speakers discussed self-defense, drugs and sexually
transmitted diseases.

Chain Reaction includes 15 high school students from Northwest Louisiana.
The council reports to the March of Dimes board of directors at board
meetings and plans every aspect of the conference. Chain Reaction chooses
the topics, contacts the speakers, sends invitations and even orders the
catering and prizes for the conference.

"We put on the health conference every year," said Temper Stokes, a Loyola
College Prep senior and Chain Reaction chair. "We get our topics from
things that have gone on with students in the United States."

Shreveport police Officer Mike McConnell did more than just talk about
drugs. He showed students videos, drugs and drug paraphernalia taken from
police raids.

"You can talk about this stuff all day," he said. "But when you see the
real thing, it's hard core. It makes an impact."

Students smelled what was almost the real thing when McConnell lit a
marijuana burn tab to simulate the aroma of the burning drug. In the closed
classroom, the smell became very apparent to the students.

McConnell also explained the effects of illegal drugs and warned students
about the prevalence and effects of date-rape drugs in social situations.

"With all the things that go on today, you have to be careful," said Ema
Billings, a junior at Caddo Magnet High School.