Finally the day that we had been waiting for had arrived. The day that we would hopefully help someone in their decision against drugs. As Chad has always told us, "even if you only help one person, it has permanently made a difference in this world."
Our first presentation took place at Mount Garfield Middle School (the middle school which sends the majority of its kids to Palisade High School). Giving the presentation to this school gave us a sense of home knowing that these kids would be the ones carrying on the legacy of PHS one day. I was personally responsible for contacting the school and putting together the presentation for the students. Shelby Rubalcaba was my partner in giving this presentation to the 6th graders at MGMS. Shelby and I drove to the school together and saying we were nervous would be an understatement. We were practicing different parts of our presentation out loud over and over again. Although we were completely prepared it is nerve-racking presenting to kids over adults. Will they listen. Will they be interested. Will I even be able to speak. (That last part was a joke, kind of.) We made it to the school, received our visitors passes, and proceeded to the gym where we would be presenting to the class of 6th graders. We had a PowerPoint presentation to go along with our speech. Shelby started talking like she was born for this and when it came time for me to speak I froze up. Shelby in turn rescued me and gave me a minute to build up my confidence. I thought to myself the reasons I was doing this and the important job that I held there that day , then when it was time for me to take over again it all came out. We didn't miss a beat. Every point was covered, the kids were all participating and enjoying every moment of the presentation. Everything then was worth it. The time, the difficulties, the setbacks; none of that mattered. What did matter was the look on those kids faces as we showed them what drugs could do to a person and their excitement to be drug free in the future. It was incredibly rewarding, and I enjoyed every moment of it. If only one child from that group remembered this presentation in the future and decided to be drug free because of it, everything would have been worth it.
After the presentation kids came up to us asking questions and hoping that when they got into high school they would have the opportunity to do what we were doing today. I was so proud to be a part of the startup of this group and to pave the way for others in the future. There is so much more for our group to achieve in the future, and I am excited for the opportunity to be a part of it. After this presentation I was asked to do a news interview along with Shelby for the local news. Each of these public speaking opportunities has been an obstacle for me, but working in this group has helped me to be open to all opportunities in regards to helping the people. I have pushed through my largest fear in order to try to make a difference in the world.
Neural Activity News Interview
http://www.nbc11news.com/localnews/headlines/Teens-teaching-teens-about-the-dangers-of-drugs-247931331.html
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