STUDENTS TO SEE 'DOWN SIDE' OF DRUG ABUSE

It's not everyone's 'cup of tea.' But the group of Sardis Secondary peer
counselling students set to spend Friday (March 11) with the homeless and
the addicts on Vancouver's lower east side, expects a thrilling and
life-altering experience.

With the assistance of the school's Grade 11 counsellor Dave Manuel and
Grade 12 counsellor Gaylene Chodak, the students have been working on
Project Shattered Dreams for some time.

"This came out of the Safe Schools initiative as a means of increasing
students' awareness of the dangers of taking illegal drugs," Mr. Manuel
gives as background. "As educators, we want to teach more than math or
science, we want to educate for life itself. We decided to go to Vancouver
because for many, the problem hits too close to home to be doing it here."

To make the excursion even more meaningful, in late January and early
February, the student body at large was encouraged to bring in blankets and
clothing for distribution in Vancouver.

"We've gathered more than 30 garbage bags and boxes full of things so the
ride into Vancouver will be crowded," anticipates peer counselling student
Amanda Meyer. "I wish we had more to give out, but I don't think the other
students really realize what we are doing ... and won't until our
documentary on the project is done."

The 17-year-old says she has personally always wanted to open a homeless
shelter. In support of that idea, in Grade 9 she wanted to jump ahead and
take the Grade 11 peer counselling course she's now on.

"My Grade 9 counsellor told me I had to 'find myself' and know myself
first, before I could ever hope to help anyone else," Miss Meyer remembers.
"Of course I thought I already knew myself, but now I realize she was right
and a smart woman. A very-smart woman."

At this point, Miss Meyer fully expects the time will come when she'll look
back on her teens and realize she still had - and forever will have -
maturing and learning to do.

"I think I will carry the memory and lessons of this March 11 for the rest
of my life," Miss Meyer predicts. "Homelessness is common and I know it
will be hard to see, but you can't just walk by people like that. They need
to be noticed too."

Even if nothing else comes from it, she says the experience will serve to
reconfirm she never wants to be in that position.

"You wonder how the homeless get to be where they are," she says. "But I
don't see anything negative coming from my going on this field trip . I
only wish tomorrow was March 11."

Sixteen-year-old Tiffany Silver second's the sentiment.

"I'm not scared of going on this trip," the Grade 11 student says. "Drug
addiction is everywhere, not just Vancouver's downtown east side."

Miss Silver intends to become a counsellor and believes the outing will
help her 'connect' with people with problems. While she's still in high
school it will also allow her to testify to her peers that drug addiction
and related homelessness is very real.

"I've put a lot of thought into the problem of drugs. I've seen it around
me and, to me, it's nothing new or unusual," she says. "Besides, when you
learn about others, you learn about yourself. I think my being able to say
that in Vancouver I actually saw what drugs can do, may help other students
to believe the dangers and avoid drugs. I don't want to see our community
get any worse."

Miss Silver fully expects Friday's excursion will change her life for the
better. Anticipating a profound learning opportunity, she's braced herself
for getting up close and personal - with reality.

"I'm mentally prepared and I'm ready for it," she says. "I know I'll be
taught a lesson on March 11, but I don't think I'll learn it all in one
day. I think this will be an experience I'll be able to call upon in the
future, no matter what line of work I'm in."