T.I.D.E. gives students a choice

People have a choice not to do drugs, but sometimes they need to be
told they have that choice.

Teens Involved in Drugs Education helps educate young minds about the
negative effect drugs can have on their lives and the ways they may
avoid or reject drugs.

The program was established because of Target, an organization through
the Minnesota State High School League which encourages athletes to
stay away from tobacco and drugs.

But, where Target focuses on student athletes, T.I.D.E. includes
everyone. The program is made up of high school students who have
committed themselves to stay free of drugs and it is produced through
Community Education.

"Through education and understanding, youth are able to make choices
that are healthy," said Audra Nissen Boyer, youth development
coordinator at Community Education.

T.I.D.E. is basically an acting troupe, Boyer said. The actors engage
youth in everyday situations, first acting them out and then coming up
with real solutions, she said.

The group has written and developed three scenarios which introduce
students to the different situations they could face.

One scenario involves a young girl who decides to smoke in the
bathroom. In one performance, Alexandra Leland (freshman) plays the
smoker. She describes how depressed she is, having problems at school,
with her parents, with friends, and etc. She claims smoking calms her
down. An "informant" played by Kyra Danneker (freshman), witnesses the
smoking and tells the school liaison officer, played by Matt Estes
(senior). Estes confronts the smoker and escorts her to the principal,
played by Erica Sorenson (junior).

Throughout the scenes, the director (Boyer) calls for a "freeze" where
the actors then explain what is going through their minds at that
moment. Leland worries about how her act of smoking will get her into
trouble with a whole list of people; she may be suspended from school,
go to a treatment center, or get kicked out of soccer.

"The purpose is to show young people that the choices you make don't
just affect you," said Boyer.

During a freeze, Estes describes how he is concerned that Leland is
smoking at such a young age, how cigarettes are bad for her health and
she may have to go to court.

"Was it worth it?" he asks the audience.

After the scenario, performers have a question-and-answer session with
the audience and discuss any drug-related issues, if they have ever
smoked a cigarette or used drugs.

They educate students where they can go for help. The performers also
explain why they joined T.I.D.E.

All of the students involved in T.I.D.E. have decided drugs were not
part of the lifestyle they wanted to lead. Many joined T.I.D.E. to
help get the message across that there are other options.

"I made a personal choice not to do drugs," said Sorenson, adding that
she joined T.I.D.E. to help communicate to younger kids that they have
a choice and give them the confidence to say no.

"I just want to put a positive message out to the community," said
Danneker.

"I've seen nothing but positive things from these kids," said Boyer.

The group hopes to help kids make positive choices before they are
faced with situations where drugs are involved. They hope to target
sixth-graders, to serve as a sort of refresher to students who
finished the Drug Abuse Resistance Program in fifth grade.

"You can choose to surround yourself with positive people, or people
that make bad choices," Boyer said.

Other students participating in the program are Corbyn Peterson (grade
11), Hannah Gjersvik (10th), Chianan Quinn (10th) and Melissa Sather
(11th).