The writing on the wall: Students promise to protect their own futures

Tuesday, October 23, 2012
Junior Lize Smith signs an office window, pledging to live a drug-free lifestyle, Monday, at Nevada High School.

By Lynn A. Wade

Nevada Daily Mail

Emmaly Ellis and Elizabeth Prewitt offered passers-by markers to use to sign a pledge to make healthy choices and to live drug-free lives; and Lize Smith came by and took them up on the suggestion early Monday afternoon.

Natasha Gardner signs the Red Ribbon Week pledge.

Emmaly and Elizabeth and Lize, later joined by another student, urged students passing by on their way to classes, "Sign anywhere. Don't you want to be drug free?" and "Go ahead, you won't be tardy," they urged.

Many students passed by. Some had already signed, some were hurrying to class. But many others stopped to sign the pledge, posting their names on the already-crowded office window in the foyer at Nevada High School.

Those who signed also received a red ribbon to wear -- the Nevada Elks Lodge No. 564 donated 3,000 of the ribbons, enough for all of the students and staff of the Nevada R-5 school district.

Seniors Silas Smith, in the background, and Dillon Smith, sign the Red Ribbon Week pledge.

The pledge drive marks the beginning of Red Ribbon Week, an annual event held each October to encourage students to choose a drug-free lifestyle. This year, the Youth Enrichment Services committee is spearheading the the week's activities.

Advisor Tommy Geeding said that YES is a group of high school students from Vernon County schools, including Nevada High School, that serves as a student advisory board to the Vernon County Youth Task Force, with the aim of accomplishing the two groups' shared goal of providing area youth "with positive opportunities and resources to combat destructive behaviors," information provided by Geeding explained.

Adults provide some guidance along the way, but the students are as heavily involved as possible and do much of the planning and behind-the-scenes work to make Red Ribbon Week activities happen. Lize, for example, was involved with coordinating Monday's pledge activity. Shelby Gundy, with the help of other YES students, led the decorating effort. There are many ways the YES students contribute, and Geeding said they are given as much of the responsibility as is feasible, because, "these are the future leaders of the community."

Freshman Makayla Lowe signs the Red Ribbon Week pledge.

Other activities planned for the week include themed days in which students are encouraged to literally put their support for Red Ribbon Week on when they're getting ready for school. Today's "Sock It to Drugs Day," in which students are encouraged to wear crazy socks or socks with sandals.

Wednesday is "Wear Red Day;" to be accompanied by an assembly featuring a presentation by Shawn D'Abreu, executive director of the Missouri Centers for Independent Living.

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