16 year olds aren't supposed to die. That's what I've been saying all week and what I've been hearing from the students at Mapleton High School. They lost one of their peers last Friday night, a young man who died in a single-car accident not far from his home. There has been plenty of speculation about what happened and how it all occurred. But as I have said to the students throughout this past week, it really doesn't matter how it happened. The end result is the same: this young man died, and many have lost someone who was significant to them. You can change the story that leads up to the crash, but the end result of the crash is always the same: Brian is dead. That is the part of the story that is hardest to swallow.
When someone so young dies, it causes everyone around them to be confronted with a reality that never seemed possible. To 16 year olds, nobody young ever dies. Old people die, animals die, even parents die - but 16 year olds don't die. This reality shatters the illusion they have been able to uphold for such a long time. It can be earth-shattering and life changing. It can turn your world, and your worldview, upside down. For these kids who have recently been confronted with this, that is definitely what has happened, and now they are left trying to reconcile this disruption in their lives and their world.
As adults, we need to support teenagers when a situation such as this happens. We need to reassure them that 16 year olds don't normally die. However, we also need to have a frank discussion about the risks teens take that can lead to outcomes like this. They need to know what puts THEM at risk, and what they can do to take control of their lives. Not in a preachy, Thou-Shalt-Not kind of way. In a "Hey - I really care about you and I don't want this to happen to you too, so let's talk about what you can do to avoid this outcome" kind of way. It's important to have these conversations and to make a point to talk with teens about death, about risks, and about grief. Because they are all a part of life, and life is sometimes hard. Let's help them figure out how to cope with these difficulties now so they can deal with them and learn good coping skills for the future. More than anything, we just need to be there: to listen to them, to hug them, to commiserate with them. Teens need to know we're here for them, and that we'll be here for them in the future. They just need to know they're not alone, especially at a time when they will feel most isolated. And they need to be reminded - 16 year olds don't normally die. So let's figure out how to make sure it doesn't happen again.
Rest in peace, Brian; you will be missed.
Showing posts with label teens. Show all posts
Showing posts with label teens. Show all posts
Thursday, October 28, 2010
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Teen Pregnancy Rates
Well, the data are in for 2008. To view how many teens gave birth in 2008 in each state, click here.
When looking at Ohio, I guess it's a good thing we are not statistically different than the national average. However, looking at each state's data and the information overall, the trends are disturbing. What shocked me as I looked at the data is how many non-Hispanic black teens and Hispanic teens are giving birth as teens. The rates are more than DOUBLE the rates of non-Hispanic white teens. That, to me, is shocking. So what does that mean? How do we interpret that? How can we impact these statistics? I don't know if I have the answers, but I at least think we need to be asking the questions. To me, so many issues come to mind: you have teens who a good majority are probably living in poverty, then giving birth as teens and thus re-creating the pattern and bringing the next generation into poverty. How do we stop this trend? I don't know. But I do know we need to figure it out. The cycle of poverty is discouraging and debilitating, and we need to do whatever we can to eliminate it. I just don't know if this society has the courage, the REAL courage, to confront it.
In Ashland County, our numbers are up some this year. I don't know what to make of that either, except that many of the teens giving birth this year are not ones that are known to Ashand Parenting Plus. That tells me we still have work to do because there are youth we aren't reaching. In our groups, the numbers are good; our rate is about 1% which is amazing considering 30% of teen girls are expected to experience a pregnancy by the age of 20. And remember, we serve many youth who are considered to be at highest risk for pregnancy! So, we are doing well. However, this study, and our numbers for births throughout the county in 2010 so far, show me we still have more to do. Job security, I guess, but I would still like to go be a greeter at Wal-Mart some day and work myself out of a job. There would be nothing more satisfying than the world not needing our services anymore!
On that note, don't forget to attend our Celebration Open House tomorrow, October 21 from 4-5pm at our building, 1763 St. Rt. 60 (by the career center, in the old Heartland Home). We are celebrating 25 years of service to Ashland County! Come by & grab a piece of cake. Help us celebrate the fact that we're still here! We'll be here as longer as we're needed.
When looking at Ohio, I guess it's a good thing we are not statistically different than the national average. However, looking at each state's data and the information overall, the trends are disturbing. What shocked me as I looked at the data is how many non-Hispanic black teens and Hispanic teens are giving birth as teens. The rates are more than DOUBLE the rates of non-Hispanic white teens. That, to me, is shocking. So what does that mean? How do we interpret that? How can we impact these statistics? I don't know if I have the answers, but I at least think we need to be asking the questions. To me, so many issues come to mind: you have teens who a good majority are probably living in poverty, then giving birth as teens and thus re-creating the pattern and bringing the next generation into poverty. How do we stop this trend? I don't know. But I do know we need to figure it out. The cycle of poverty is discouraging and debilitating, and we need to do whatever we can to eliminate it. I just don't know if this society has the courage, the REAL courage, to confront it.
In Ashland County, our numbers are up some this year. I don't know what to make of that either, except that many of the teens giving birth this year are not ones that are known to Ashand Parenting Plus. That tells me we still have work to do because there are youth we aren't reaching. In our groups, the numbers are good; our rate is about 1% which is amazing considering 30% of teen girls are expected to experience a pregnancy by the age of 20. And remember, we serve many youth who are considered to be at highest risk for pregnancy! So, we are doing well. However, this study, and our numbers for births throughout the county in 2010 so far, show me we still have more to do. Job security, I guess, but I would still like to go be a greeter at Wal-Mart some day and work myself out of a job. There would be nothing more satisfying than the world not needing our services anymore!
On that note, don't forget to attend our Celebration Open House tomorrow, October 21 from 4-5pm at our building, 1763 St. Rt. 60 (by the career center, in the old Heartland Home). We are celebrating 25 years of service to Ashland County! Come by & grab a piece of cake. Help us celebrate the fact that we're still here! We'll be here as longer as we're needed.
Wednesday, October 13, 2010
Bullying
http://http//today.msnbc.msn.com/id/39620074/ns/today-today_people
Have you heard about the four students who suicided as a result of bullying in Mentor, OH? If not, click on the link above for information regarding the incidents and links to other related articles. News of this hit last week, and it has continued to dominate websites since then. I was listening to a Cleveland radio station the other morning, and they were discussing this story since Mentor is not far from Cleveland.
One caller who called in, a teen girl who attends the school, said it's not true - bullying is not occurring. She flat out denied anything of the sort going on. My question is: what planet is she on? Seriously - where is she living? I might not be a teen, but I am in a local high school/middle school every week, and I can GUARANTEE bullying is going on. Our group facilitators are in every middle school and high school in Ashland County, and I guarantee you: bullying is happening on a daily basis. Ashland maybe a small community, but I highly doubt it's that different from Mentor High School. I also highly doubt Mentor is "immune" from the bullying issue. So instead of debating whether or not bullying is "really" happening, let's assmue it is and stop debating THAT - and start figuring out what to do to change it.
In a related story, I attended a girls' high school soccer game last night between two Ashland County teams. There was quite a bit of pushing and shoving going on, significantly from one of the teams but the other team was not innocent. As the game progressed, it became more and more aggressive. Now I was sitting in the stands with the more aggressive team's fans, and I could hear the students cheering the girls on to be more aggressive and push the other team around. I expect some of that; they're teens and don't always know better. However, I started to pay more attention to the parents who I could hear laughing and joking when one of the other team's players went down - from a foul committed by their team. The biggest shock came late in the game, when one of the team's players received a yellow card for obviously and maliciously attacking the other team's player from behind. Having played soccer, I know this is the type of attack that can break someone's leg. The students cheered, and the parents laughed. One parent even said, "I'm so proud. It's not even my daughter, but I'm proud of her." In disgust, I got up and left the stands.
Now I ask - is it any wonder we have girls getting into fights more frequently than even the boys at this point? Is it any wonder bullying is such a significant issue? If we have parents encouraging and PRAISING their teens for essentially sucker-punching girls on a soccer field, then why would they not beat the crap out of someone for making a smart remark? Indeed, they might even get a "I'm proud of you" from their parents when they get home.
We all need a wake-up call. Parents, be accountable to and for your kids. And kids, be accountable for standing up when someone treats someone else badly. If you don't do it, then who will? But if you DO stand up for someone, think of who else might do it for someone else, and just think about where that might lead. No one else should die just because someone wants a good laugh that day. Stick up for someone & someone might stick up for you.
Have you heard about the four students who suicided as a result of bullying in Mentor, OH? If not, click on the link above for information regarding the incidents and links to other related articles. News of this hit last week, and it has continued to dominate websites since then. I was listening to a Cleveland radio station the other morning, and they were discussing this story since Mentor is not far from Cleveland.
One caller who called in, a teen girl who attends the school, said it's not true - bullying is not occurring. She flat out denied anything of the sort going on. My question is: what planet is she on? Seriously - where is she living? I might not be a teen, but I am in a local high school/middle school every week, and I can GUARANTEE bullying is going on. Our group facilitators are in every middle school and high school in Ashland County, and I guarantee you: bullying is happening on a daily basis. Ashland maybe a small community, but I highly doubt it's that different from Mentor High School. I also highly doubt Mentor is "immune" from the bullying issue. So instead of debating whether or not bullying is "really" happening, let's assmue it is and stop debating THAT - and start figuring out what to do to change it.
In a related story, I attended a girls' high school soccer game last night between two Ashland County teams. There was quite a bit of pushing and shoving going on, significantly from one of the teams but the other team was not innocent. As the game progressed, it became more and more aggressive. Now I was sitting in the stands with the more aggressive team's fans, and I could hear the students cheering the girls on to be more aggressive and push the other team around. I expect some of that; they're teens and don't always know better. However, I started to pay more attention to the parents who I could hear laughing and joking when one of the other team's players went down - from a foul committed by their team. The biggest shock came late in the game, when one of the team's players received a yellow card for obviously and maliciously attacking the other team's player from behind. Having played soccer, I know this is the type of attack that can break someone's leg. The students cheered, and the parents laughed. One parent even said, "I'm so proud. It's not even my daughter, but I'm proud of her." In disgust, I got up and left the stands.
Now I ask - is it any wonder we have girls getting into fights more frequently than even the boys at this point? Is it any wonder bullying is such a significant issue? If we have parents encouraging and PRAISING their teens for essentially sucker-punching girls on a soccer field, then why would they not beat the crap out of someone for making a smart remark? Indeed, they might even get a "I'm proud of you" from their parents when they get home.
We all need a wake-up call. Parents, be accountable to and for your kids. And kids, be accountable for standing up when someone treats someone else badly. If you don't do it, then who will? But if you DO stand up for someone, think of who else might do it for someone else, and just think about where that might lead. No one else should die just because someone wants a good laugh that day. Stick up for someone & someone might stick up for you.
Wednesday, April 7, 2010
US Teen Birth Rate Declines
A new article from the Washington Post highlights the teen birth rate has decreased 2% since it increased 3% in 2006. Confusing as it sounds, the good news is that the teen pregnancy rate is no longer INCREASING, which was a huge, growing concern (no pun intended!). To read the full article, click here.
So what does this mean? For us in Ashland County, it doesn't mean much because our rate has continued to go down since 2006, after a brief but significant spike. We already knew our rate was decreasing (to our lowest rate ever of 36 births to teens in 2009), but it is nice to see the rate start decreasing across the country again. With all of the attention teen pregnancy has seen lately, through shows like MTV's 16 and Pregnant, The Pregnancy Pact on Lifetime, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and MTV's Teen Mom, I was beginning to wonder if the media was in fact perpetuating this increase without even realizing it! Luckily, I think we see this is not the case - but it does beg the question: is there ever a danger with too much information, with too much exposure? Does presenting all of this content make it somehow more acceptable and therefore condone it? I don't know. What I do know is giving ACCURATE and REALISTIC information is the best way to get a message across. Obviously, The Pregnancy Pact was an drama exaggerated from a real-life situation. Even though the movie bore little resemblance to the actual story, it still portrayed itself as being close to the "truth". At least with MTV's programs, they are able to show bits and pieces of the real-life stories of these girls: the ups, the downs, and the heartbreaks and disappointments.
Ah, more to come another day on the new season of 16 and Pregnant. Until then, read the Washington Post article and surmise your own thoughts as to why: 1. the teen pregnancy rate went up; and 2. why it has now come back down. Here's to an even lower rate for 2010!
So what does this mean? For us in Ashland County, it doesn't mean much because our rate has continued to go down since 2006, after a brief but significant spike. We already knew our rate was decreasing (to our lowest rate ever of 36 births to teens in 2009), but it is nice to see the rate start decreasing across the country again. With all of the attention teen pregnancy has seen lately, through shows like MTV's 16 and Pregnant, The Pregnancy Pact on Lifetime, The Secret Life of the American Teenager, and MTV's Teen Mom, I was beginning to wonder if the media was in fact perpetuating this increase without even realizing it! Luckily, I think we see this is not the case - but it does beg the question: is there ever a danger with too much information, with too much exposure? Does presenting all of this content make it somehow more acceptable and therefore condone it? I don't know. What I do know is giving ACCURATE and REALISTIC information is the best way to get a message across. Obviously, The Pregnancy Pact was an drama exaggerated from a real-life situation. Even though the movie bore little resemblance to the actual story, it still portrayed itself as being close to the "truth". At least with MTV's programs, they are able to show bits and pieces of the real-life stories of these girls: the ups, the downs, and the heartbreaks and disappointments.
Ah, more to come another day on the new season of 16 and Pregnant. Until then, read the Washington Post article and surmise your own thoughts as to why: 1. the teen pregnancy rate went up; and 2. why it has now come back down. Here's to an even lower rate for 2010!
Friday, February 5, 2010
Back in action!
Well, after a long hiatus, I have decided it is time to attempt this again. Maybe it was watching the movie "Julie and Julia" that inspired me, maybe it was my passion for helping teens make better choices in their lives. Hard telling - but I am back to sharing my thoughts on the world of teens, sex, drugs, rock-n-roll, and all that good stuff. We'll see where we end up!
One of the things that has inspired and impassioned me has been the Lifetime movie "The Pregnancy Pact." I had been fascinated about this story when it first appeared in the news, and we had several discussions about it at work. It had faded into the background until I found a website, www.gloucester18.com. I was again fascinated, except this time it was the REAL story from the girls at the school who had become pregnant. They did a documentary on this story and have put together what looks like a great movie in the voice of the girls. Unfortunately, they need to find a distributor and have not found one yet. The film is being screened in Massachusetts soon (wish I lived closer!) and they will continue to try to find someone to distribute the movie. I so appreciated finding this website before seeing the Lifetime movie, because it showed how sensationalized the movie was. If you go to the Gloucester 18 website, there is a great blog that describes the differences between the Lifetime movie and the true documentary. It is a good lesson in remembering TV is mostly fiction, even if it is "ripped from the headlines."
Check it out and tell me what you think. And let me know what issues or topics you think we should cover. I realize I might be blogging to no one right now and maybe for awhile, but let's get this party started and get the discussion going. Talking about sex is one way to help reduce teen pregnancy - so let's start talking!
One of the things that has inspired and impassioned me has been the Lifetime movie "The Pregnancy Pact." I had been fascinated about this story when it first appeared in the news, and we had several discussions about it at work. It had faded into the background until I found a website, www.gloucester18.com. I was again fascinated, except this time it was the REAL story from the girls at the school who had become pregnant. They did a documentary on this story and have put together what looks like a great movie in the voice of the girls. Unfortunately, they need to find a distributor and have not found one yet. The film is being screened in Massachusetts soon (wish I lived closer!) and they will continue to try to find someone to distribute the movie. I so appreciated finding this website before seeing the Lifetime movie, because it showed how sensationalized the movie was. If you go to the Gloucester 18 website, there is a great blog that describes the differences between the Lifetime movie and the true documentary. It is a good lesson in remembering TV is mostly fiction, even if it is "ripped from the headlines."
Check it out and tell me what you think. And let me know what issues or topics you think we should cover. I realize I might be blogging to no one right now and maybe for awhile, but let's get this party started and get the discussion going. Talking about sex is one way to help reduce teen pregnancy - so let's start talking!
Thursday, October 18, 2007
Birth Control in MIddle Schools
Here is an interesting article I found on birth control being offered in a middle school in Maine, possibly without a parent's consent. It is an interesting debate that will likely increase, but the issue of middle school children engaging in sexual activity is something we all should be talking about -- because it is happening more than anyone would like to know and more than the kids will admit. Not all risky sexual activity involves just intercourse, so this only deals with one aspect of the issue. I hope this will encourage parents to talk to their kids about sex so they learn to set and keep their own limits. To read the article, click here.
Monday, August 6, 2007
Beautiful Disaster
You can watch the video for this song by going here.
This was a song that was played for me recently, and it really hits on some of the struggles young girls are having right now, especially during teenage years. The song struck a chord with me, and hopefully it will you too. Below are the lyrics so you can hear the song for yourself:
This was a song that was played for me recently, and it really hits on some of the struggles young girls are having right now, especially during teenage years. The song struck a chord with me, and hopefully it will you too. Below are the lyrics so you can hear the song for yourself:
She loves her mama's lemonade, Hates the sounds that goodbyes make. She prays one day she'll find someone to need her. She swears that there's no difference, Between the lies and complements. It's all the same if everybody leaves her. And every magazine tells her she's not good enough, The pictures that she sees make her cry.
And she would change everything, everything just ask her. Caught in the in between of beautiful disaster, And she needs someone to take her home.
She's giving boys what they want, tries to act so nonchalant, Afraid they'll see that she's lost her direction. She never stays the same for long, Assuming that she'll get it wrong. Perfect only in her imperfection. She's not a drama queen, She doesn't want to feel this way, only seventeen but tired.
She would change everything for happy ever after. Caught in the in between of beautiful disaster, But she just needs someone to take her home.
Cuz she's just the way she is, but no ones told her that's ok. And she would change everything, everything just ask her. Caught in the in between of beautiful disaster, And she would change everything for happy ever after. Caught in the in between of beautiful disaster, But she just needs someone to take her home And just needs someone to take her home.
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