"Because I Got High"

Whether it is fashion, cars, television shows, hair styles, or technology new trends are appearing every day and the biggest consumers of these trends are teens. Because teens are such consumers of fads it’s easy to see why they create their own trends, but some of their trends have a second meaning behind them. However, one of the darkest new secrets in the world of adolescent trends is that of drug abuse.

Because I am studying to be a high school counselor it's important to know about and understand all the drug related issues that are out there for teens to experiment with. I read an article entitled Trends in Adolescent Drug Abuse and this article opened up my eyes to what’s really out there for teens to use to get high. “Pharm” parties, for example, are when “teens take drugs from their home medicine cabinets to [a party] where the pills are mixed together in bags or bowls” (Wilson, 2010, p. 125). They then take turns picking random pills out of this giant grab bag and take them. There’s also a mixture called “cheese”. This is a mixture of heroin and cough medications that teens snort up their noses (Wilson, 2010). Ecstasy, MDMA, and Ritalin are among the top drugs teens use to get high as well (2010).

One maybe asking: how do teens get their hands on these drugs? Especially if these drugs aren’t readily available at home. Teens have rediscovered the internet as their in home drug dealer. “The internet allows teenagers rapid access to information about using new drugs of abuse, so adolescent patterns of drug misuse and abuse are continually evolving” (Wilson, 2010, p. 127) and these trends are in fact constantly evolving. Did you know teens can order Salvia Divinorum, a psychotropic drug that has been outlawed in all 50 states, on the internet! (2010).

It is also noted that “cheese” is used as “starter heroin” (Wilson, 2010, p. 125), but before teens even touch hard core drugs, such as heroin, they begin with gateway drugs; the most common gateway drug being marijuana. These drugs normally lead to harder drugs, but teens also use solvents that can be found at home, commonly referred to as huffing. Inhaling the fumes from spray pant cans, rubber cement, white out, permanent markers, and so forth. Some believe that teens use gateway drugs to try to recapture the very first high they ever had, and we've all experienced this high: spinning in a circle and getting dizzy. That's a high.

Another thing that really shocked me about this article is that it has information from 2007. That was four years ago! How can these trends and parties be so underground that they're just starting to come to light four years ago? It takes deaths. "Cheese" came to light in 2005 after several teens in Dallas Texas died. Then “in 2007, the Dallas County medical examiner reviewed cases from the preceding two years and suggested that as many as 17 deaths in teenagers were caused by cheese” (Wilson, 2010, p. 125). However, when drugs like heroin, or marijuana can't be found teens move toward another popular trend: The Choking Game. It produces the same type of high as spinning in a circle, but the effects last longer. But, once again, this trend has only come to light because of all the accidental suicides.

It's so important to be aware of the things teens are doing, not only to be able to recognize the effects, but also because parents, teachers, and counselors need to know how to educate and communicate with their teens about these things.

He who said nothing is impossible never tried to slam a revolving door, or raised a teen.

 
Wilson, H. T. (2010). Trends in Adolescent Drug Abuse. Annual editions: drugs, society, and behavior 2010/2011 (25th ed., pp. 124-127). Boston: McGraw-Hill Higher Education.

Someone Like Me

What are girls facing today? In the social sphere their facing peer pressure, complicated cliques, relationships with boys (sexual), and all around drama. In the family sphere they're trying to figure out how to express themselves at home, how to separate themselves from sibling, and develop their own identity. And then in the cultural sphere they're battling beauty advertisements, dieting ideals, music videos, "proper" make-up and skin up-keep, and so forth. Even at school girls are facing gender stereotypes. The curriculum is set in gender stereotypes. For example, very few women are brought up in history lessons and if they are discussed they tend to fall under two different categories. First there are the women who fit into the traditional gender rolls like Betsy Ross who sewed the American flag (Wood, 2011). The "second group of women highlighted...distinguished themselves on men's terms and in masculine contexts" (Wood, 2011, p. 192). An example given of this type of woman is Mother Jones who was an organizer for unions (Wood, 2011). If girls can't even learn about women in their own history, then how do they find someone to look up to? They look to the media.

Lindsey Lohan may find herself in jail soon because of theft and drug abuse, Miley Cyrus (aka Hannah Montana) has reached her teen years and has rebelled by getting tattoos (nothing wrong with that mind you) and smoking marijuana. Paris Hilton...I don't think I need to explain why she isn't a good role model. Who do girl have to look up to? How, in this day and age with sex parties (e.g. rainbow parties) and drug parties (e.g. pharm parties), all the negative media messages, and holes in their own history do they grow up to be strong, confident, brave women?

Who needs celebrities to look up to when girls can look up to the young women in their own lives? Smart Girls offers just that. A lot of people see Smart Girls as another form of a youth group outside of religion, but it's so much more than that. The roll playing and games the girls play in each session actually teach the girls a deeper lesson. For example we play a game called Someone Like Me. Someone stands in the middle and says, "I'm looking for someone, someone like me who..." and they say something like, "plays soccer" and those who have played soccer walk briskly through the circle to find a new spot. It's very much so like musical chairs, but with a twist. This game, while fun, shows girls what they have in common and helps build friendships with girls they never would have been friends with whether it be because of social status, peer pressure, or their own generalizations of their peers. We teach them positive self talk and how to keep positive not only about their physical self, but also their personalities. We also show them videos from youtube.com that have lesson behind them. 

Bullying is also addressed: how to prevent it and what to do if they find themselves being bullied, or are the bully themselves. We talk about boys, relationships, family issues, academic hardships, friends, and other touchy subjects. We offer a safe, non-bias, non-judgmental environment for the girls in our group so they feel welcome, the feel trust, and they can be themselves and have fun. Which is also what any of us really want, but the most important thing we do in Smart Girls is we talk about every thing we do with the girls. It's not about us, it's about them and what they learn. Our job is to give them the tools to use throughout their lives to accomplish what seems impossible.

I'm looking for someone, someone like me who feels good about themselves, accepts who they are, and can truly be themselves. Ready...set...RUN!

Wood, J. T. (2011). Gendered Education: Communication in Schools. Gendered lives: communication, gender, and culture (9th ed., pp. 187-205). Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

I've Got High Hopes

It's coming, the excitement is building, my palms are sticky, my heart is racing, and...no new e-mails. Why haven't I been placed yet? Kepner Middle School please call me back! Being a volunteer with Smart Girls has really got my energy level up and I haven't even started yet! But my enthusiasm has gotten me thinking about my expectations for this experience and thought they are high I'm also scared.

The social arena has changed so much in the five years I've been out of high school, I could only imagine what it's like for these girls now! I do realize I cannot relive my past years through these girls, that's not fair to them, and it's unhealthy for me, but I know I can regain my faith in adolescent girls that they can learn from their mistakes and grow because of them. This is what I want to do, these are the types of teens I want to work with, I am expecting to not only teach the girls I mentor, but I want them to teach me. I am hoping to become a kid again and learn along with the girls. Even though I am a 23 year-old woman I still have a lot to learn about bullying, sexting, sexual harassment, how to make good friends, and how, as a woman, to not let the messages the media spits out to get to me. Smart Girls teach confidence, bravery, and universal kindness. Universal values that we all could stand a few more lessons on.

I'm also scared. Anxious mostly, but scared none-the-less. I have over 10 years invested in working with kids ranging in ages from two months to 16, but no matter how much experience one may have - you're never fully ready for what's to come. I have worked with teens from disorganized families, I have mentored a 12 year-old pregnant girl, I have helped repair friendships, mend broken hearts, and minimize egos - so why am I still so anxious? Just like teens I am afraid they wont like me. Knowing from experience, it's difficult to connect with teens on a personal, intimate level if they don't like you. Sometimes I'm a little bit of a "mama bear", but I hope they look at that as me caring about them and not me trying to be their mother. Will they like my tattoos? Will the respect me? Will they trust me? Will they be honest with me in group? The anxiety from these questions is overwhelming, but the best way to answer them is to go and experience it.

Though I am anxious, scared, and worried I am still very excited to be a part of this experience. I've got high hopes, high wishes, and a lot of prayers.  

Two Rights Make A Right

Rights. This word brings up so many different things: our right to free speech, our right to bare arms, and also female and male rights. To be perfectly honest I knew about all the different woman's rights movements and I didn't even know that men had their own movements outside of moving from one side of the couch the other. I will be the first one to admit that when it comes to anything political I am a little naive, but through the reading I have come to understand and like both sides of the specturum.

Women fought for their right to vote and were granted that right in 1920, but the first fights for woman's rights took place in the 1840's with the first "woman's rights convention...in 1848" (Wood, 2011, p. 71). Many types, or labels, of feminism emerged over the years, but the one that I feel I most identify with is Revalorism feminism. These feminists "focus on appreciating women's traditional activities and contributions and increasing society's appreciation if women and their contributions to society...[and] increase the value that society places on women and on the skills, activities, and philosophies derived from women's traditional roles" (Wood, 2011, p. 79). Every woman, including myself, likes their hard work to be noticed and appreciated and what better way that to start with the simple things they do around the house? Our traditional roles include cooking, cleaning, baring and raising children, and pleasing their husband emotionally, mentally, and sexually. My personal experiences with this revolve around my husband. He thanks for for cleaning, doing the laundry, and even though we don't have any children yet he complements me on how good a mother he knows I will be someday. Women's contributions go outside the home as well. Teachers, nannies, babysitters, social workers, counselors, and the list goes on and on. Our "natural" nurturing stretches beyond the home and into our jobs, social networks, and everyday lives. It's okay to embrace the traditional gender roles, but once they start to rule your life then maybe you've taken feminism too far. I embrace my roots as the great granddaughter of Irish immigrants - I cook (to the best of my ability), I clean (my favorite pastime), and I long to have kids, but it's my husband who wants to stay home with the kids and that's okay with me because he embraces and celebrates not only what I do at home, but what I can do outside the home.

Men staying home with the kids? Volunteering to be a stay at home dad? It's becoming more and more acceptable, but slowly men are fighting back to regain their masculinity. As a woman it's difficult for me to connect with a men's right's movement, but one in particular stood out to me above all the others: MVP, Mentors in Violence Prevention (Wood, 2011). I, much like MVP, believe that there is a difference between a person and their behavior. "Men are not naturally violent and we don't think men are bad. The majority of men are not violent" (Wood, 2011, p. 102). If a man can recognize his triggers, understand his own anger, and emotions then he then has the tools to end violence in his life. Even though violence is linked to masculinity in our culture (Wood, 2011), MVP teaches men how to still be masculine, but in a less destructive way. MVP believes that the views on masculinity in our current culture is "toxic for all of us" (Wood, 2011, p. 103). It's amazing to think that two groups - seemingly different - can make it right for the whole.

           
Wood, J. T. (2011). The Rhetorical Shaping of Gender: Men's Movements in the United States.. Gendered   lives: communication, gender, and culture (9th ed., pp. 95-114). Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning. 

Wood, J. T. (2011). The Rhetorical Shaping of Gender: Women's Movements in the United States. Gendered lives: communication, gender, and culture (9th ed., pp. 69-93). Australia: Wadsworth Cengage Learning.

Smart Girls in Training

An amazing weekend was had by all who attended the Smart Girl training weekend. Two and a-half days and 21 hours of laughter, tears, games, and momentous learning. It was a great weekend to re-live the middle school years I never had. Made friends with other women (32) that I am blessed to have met and shared this weekend with. It was a weekend I will never forget and I can honestly say, with all the joy my heart can muster I cannot wait to begin the adventure.

All the Volunteers from Gender & Communication

The "Whatever" Boards! - Just write or draw...Whatever!!!

Sameen and Anna - Our Fearless Leaders!

(And Fan - back right)

 What Should Smart Girl be About? Brain Storm!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Watch the video and see what it was like for us this weekend! We learned the exclusive smart girl handshake...how you get to learn it.

Dance!

Teenage years. We all remember them - the good, the bad, and the confusion. My teen years were full of trials ranging from average boy problems, to emotionally, physically, and mentally abusive friends, and a whole in my heart that no one could fill. I fought with depression and emptiness for years! I needed someone to help me along the way...my mom was always there for me, my sister to this day is still my best friend, but I needed someone who had been there before. And now that I've come to terms with my past I want to use my experiences to aid the lives of adolescent girls. This is my driving passion! And thanks to Smart Girls I am going to get one step closer to my dream.  

My personal life philosophy is: Life is full of storms and if you're afraid to go out and dance in the rain you're going to miss some great puddles. I want those I help through this experience to dance. This is an opportunity I've been searching for for a few years now. Some how, some way I was going to get a foot in the door of the world I longed to be a part of and I thank you for allowing me the opportunity to touch the lives of girls who need someone to look up to.


I can't wait! Let the dance begin!