August 10

MN D.A.R.E. Talk – Lesson #7

Communication

Communication is:

 7% words

55% visual (body language, eye contact, etc.)

38% vocal (pitch, speed, volume, tone)

What does that mean?  People are not just hearing your words; they are focusing on how you are speaking. 

Does your body language and your voice show different emotions than what your words are saying? 

Have you ever been told you are being disrespectful but you are thinking that your words were not that bad?  What was your tone where you rolling your eyes?  Did you stomp out of the room? 

Have you been told you are yelling but you don’t think you were?  What was the forcefulness behind your voice?  Were you shaking your fist or pointing your finger?

Think about how you communicate:

*Words you use

*Body language you demonstrate

*Pitch, speed, tone, volume

How would you react to your own method of communication?

Be Mindful!  (in the present moment and listen)

There are (2) roles in communication:

  1. Sender – Send a concise message and listen to yourself
  2. Receiver – Correctly understand the message and listen to the sender

***Communication produces (2) different perceptions of the same conversation.  ‘

The other person may have heard or thought they heard something different than what you said. Who is right?

Let’s look first at the message:

  • Words have the power to hurt or heal.
  • Words can be used to manipulate, attack, sting, lie, control
  • If you attack…what is the result? (they will probably attack back or resent you)
  • We don’t have to tell everyone, everything we think.
  • We don’t have to be verbally abusive or allow ourselves to be verbally abused
  • Maybe you don’t talk enough
  • Maybe you talk too much
  • Do you ever apologize when you are rude or disrespectful?
  • Are you present in your communication or conversations?
  • Are our emotions taking over our mouth?
  • Do your words reflect self-responsibility, respect, victimhood, or blame?

Reflection: What do you see in the mirror?

***Look to see what the person is reflecting back, like they are in a mirror. If you are yelling, you will see a reaction similar to what you are giving. If they are not showing it on their face, they are feeling it inside. You are going to get a reaction back from how you talk to people.

If you are the Sender:  What do you want? (Message)

  • Know what you want.  

“When ___________happened, “I felt ________.

  • What do you need?

Clarify what you want the other person to change.

What do you want more of, less of, start doing, stop doing?  Where and when?  This is a behavior change, not a change in feelings or attitude.

There are (4) Parts of Saying What you Want:

  1. “I think” – Describe the facts of the situation without blaming or judging or attacking
  2. “I feel” – Describe your emotional reaction to the problem. 
  3. “I want” – Ask for something specific and behavioral. (Only one change at a time.)
  4. Self-care solution – How do “I” plan to take care of myself if the other person won’t cooperate. Meet your own needs.

Now let’s look at the Receiver (Listener):

  • Stop talking (do not prepare you next statement)
  • Listen
  • Try to understand. What are they trying to say?  What are they feeling?  What are they asking? 
  • Validate

Receiver DO NOT:

  • Rehearse – planning what you are going to say next…not listening
  • Filter – listen only to things important to you while ignoring the rest
  • Judge – evaluate the other person rather than trying to understand
  • Mind reading – assuming you know what they are going to say
  • Need to be right
  • Daydream
  • Advising
  • Sparring invalidating by arguing or debating
  • Derailing Changing the subject
  • Placating Agreeing to quickly

Negotiate Agreements:

  • Validate the other persons need or concern and contrast it to your own.
  • Ask for a compromise solution that incorporates both your needs.
  • Suggest alternatives.
  • Express yourself in a neutral voice.

How do you want to be treated?

How do you want to treat others?

Mindfulness:

Take hold of your mind—Non-Judgmentally

  • Don’t evaluate.  Just the facts
  • Form your opinion from the facts.
  • Open your mind

Us a Reasonable Mind   (our your words and thoughts reasonable…even possible)

Use a Wise Mind (Think before you speak)

Use an Emotional Mind (Think beyond your own emotions to the other persons emotions)

Show Respect

Take Responsibility

Reflect on your words and actions

Everyone Deserves Respect

What is your part in this?

Are you getting what you are giving?

Are we projecting emotions on someone else?  Frustration, anger, fear

Apologize – Forgiveness

Forgive yourself and let go

Remember:

Past is passed

“The Present” is a gift we have

Future we cannot predict

Be in the present conversation.

Goal – listen, express needs, tone, forgive

Journaling. You can always write it down and leave it for a while before you open your month. Do not just react when you are angry.

Express Pride – Don’t just be critical and judgmental all of the time. If you are always negative, people will stop listening to you.

Let go.

You need to learn to forgive yourself and others and let it go. Forgive–everyone makes mistakes.

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July 25

MN D.A.R.E. Talk – Lesson #6

MN D.A.R.E. Summer Lesson #6 – DARE Respect

Dear Minnesota D.A.R.E. Students,

Welcome to Summer D.A.R.E. Lesson #6!  Grab your parent, guardian, teacher, or another trusted adult and let’s do another health & safety lesson!

Parent/Guardian, this lesson is about respecting others and to stop bullying and violence.  We have included several questions to start your family discussion.  REMEMBER—you are the most important role model in a child’s life.  Let’s get the discussion going!

Lesson 6 – “D.A.R.E. Respect”

What is Respect??

  • To hold in esteem (worth, value)
  • A sense of worth or excellence of a person
  • A way of treating or thinking about someone
  • You can show respect by being polite and kind
  • Upholding basic rights

How can we show respect?

Who deserves respect?

How do we receive respect? Demanded? Earned?

How does respect make you feel?

How do you think being disrespectful makes others feel?

How do you think showing respect impacts the way that person treats you or others?

Friendship

Let’s take a moment to discuss friendship.

Who is a good friend?

  • Someone you respect; they show you respect, and they respect others
  • Someone you can trust
  • Someone who is loyal
  • Someone who supports you
  • Someone you have fun and with whom you share interests
  • Other ideas??

Sometimes it is hard to make new friends.  How can you make or find new friends? 

Do you ever push people away because of what others say about them?

Are you ever afraid to stand up for someone else that others are talking disrespectfully about?

Do you feel others are treating you disrespectfully and no one stand up for you?

Bullying

Bullying is harmful behavior.  It can be physical (pushing, hitting, etc.), verbal (saying hurtful things), or relational (not allowing them to have a relationship with others or harming that relationship).  This is done by a person or a group that occurs again and again over time.  The bully(s) often targets someone who they feel has less power.

  • Bullying is done consciously (they know what they are doing).  It is intended to harm someone, cause fear, and create terror.
  • Bullying is not meant to be a onetime event.
  • Bullying is done intentionally to intimidate and to gain power over someone.

A bully treats someone abusively and uses force or stern language or behavior.

Traits of a bully—

  • Likes to have control and to manipulate (get them to do things) other people
  • Likes to use people to get what they want
  • Find it hard to see a situation from the other person’s point of view
  • Are concerned only with their own wants and pleasures not that of others
  • Tend to hurt other kids when parents or other adults are not around
  • Use blame, criticism, and false allegations to cover up their own feelings of low self-esteem
  • Refuse to accept responsibility for their actions
  • Lack the ability to foresee the short-term, long-term, and possible unintended consequences to their behavior.
  • Crave attention.
  • Bullies manipulate
  • Want to inflict pain and hurt on another
  • Do not care about the feelings of others
  • Cannot be trusted
  • May demand respect but do they really want it???

**Are they really a friend??

Cyberbullying

Cyberbullying can be through email, social media, text messaging, web pages, online gaming, etc.

Cyberbullying is accomplished by: exclusion, harassment, flaming (lead into a heated argument for public harassment), outing private information, phishing (tricking someone to share personal information), imping (impersonation).

There are laws and rules against cyberbullying that you must be aware of as a child and adult. There can be negative consequences for your actions.

Check out your school policies and rules.

Call the police if there are threats of physical harm to an individual, stalking or harassment, pornographic images, or extortion.

Be aware there may be crimes committed or lawsuits that come with very serious consequences.

Be aware that www=the worldwide web (the world can see); online information can stay out there forever; there is round the clock access; you are traceable (your path is recorded); you are not invisible.

Do not post personal material

Protect your passwords

Do not talk to strangers

If you are being bullied—do not retaliate

Save the evidence

Let’s think of a time when you have seen someone being bullied….

What happened?

When was it happening?

Where did this happen?

How did this person get away with it?

Who else saw this happen?

Why Do Kids Bully?

  • Because kids see others doing it
  • Because it’s what they do if you want to hang out in the crowd
  • Because it makes them feel stronger, smarter, or better than the person they are bullying
  • Because it’s one of the best ways to keep others from bullying them
  • To gain attention
  • To get what they want

The Victim

The one that is injured, destroyed, or sacrificed under any of bullying conditions.  One that is oppressed (subject to harsh and strict obedience) or mistreatment.  One that is tricked or deceived.

The Bystander

One who is present but not taking part in the situation or event; a chance spectator

They may not start the bullying, they might join in, or they might just stand by and let it happen.

Consequences to bystanders:

  • Fearful
  • Guilt
  • Anxiety
  • Lower school success

How Can We Prevent Bullying Together?

Friendship

Respect

Empathy (the ability to understand and share the feeling of another)

What to do if being bullied?

  • Always tell an adult and keep telling
  • Stay in a group
  • Try to make friends with other students
  • Avoid situations where bullying can happen
  • Act confident or re-build your confidence
  • Do not blame yourself
  • Do not resort to violence
  • Try not to show anger or fear.  Students who bully like to see that they upset you
  • Use humor, if this is an easy thing for you to do
  • If being bullied online, don’t reply.  Be sure to tell a family member or another adult
  • Join clubs or take part in activities where you’ll meet others

What NOT To Do If Bullied:

Don’t…

  • Do not think it’s you fault—nobody deserves to be bullied
  • Do not fight back or bully a person back
  • Do not keep it to yourself and just hope the bullying will “go away”, or to try to ignore bullying hope that it will stop or hope they start to pick on someone else.
  • Do not skip school or avoid clubs or sports because you are afraid—missing out on school or activities that you enjoy isn’t right.  You have a right to be there.
  • Do not think you are a “tattle tale” if you tell an adult that you have been bullied.  Telling is the right thing to do.
  • Do not hurt yourself.  If you become sad and depressed . Talk to an adult immediately and tell them how you are feeling.

How the Bystander Can Help:

  • Refuse to join in
  • Attempt to diffuse bullying situations
  • Get an adult to help
  • Speak up and/or offer support
  • Encourage the bullied to talk with an adult (teacher, supervisor, staff, neighbor, family, DARE officer, or trusted adult)

WHO NEEDS TO HELP?

We must do this together!

Kids

Parents

Guardians

Grandparents

Educators

Neighbors

Family Members

Trusted Adults

Friends

Law Enforcement

Community Leaders

****Let’s join together to make this a safe and comfortable world for EVERYONE!

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July 4

Stay Safe – Summer Lesson #4

Minnesota D.A.R.E. Talk Summer Lesson – #4

Staying Safe

D.A.R.E. Students:

Grab your parent, guardian, teacher, or another adult and let’s do another safety lesson!

Parent/Guardian, this lesson is about rules and laws to keep us safe.  We have included several questions to start your family discussion.

Staying Safe —

There are rules and laws that are designed to protect our rights and keep people safe.  Our schools have rules and our communities have laws that we need to, learn and respect, to keep ourselves and other safe. 

**What are some of the rules that you have at school and how to they protect your rights and keep you safe?  What harm could happen?

**What are some rules at home and why do we have them? 

**Do adults have rules? 

**What is the difference between a rule and a law?

**What are some laws we must follow? 

**What might happen if there were no rules or laws?

**Who enforces laws in our communities?

**When would you need to call a police officer or a deputy?

A “victim” is someone who is hurt, tricked, or treated in the wrong way.   

**Can you think of some important ways we might be able to prevent becoming a victim? 

We need to know how to act or react in unsafe situations.  There are (4) important ways to say “No.”

  1. Know – recognize unsafe and dangerous situations around you.
  2. Say No!
  3. Go
  4. Tell

Try to remember what the person looked like, what was said, and important information like a license plate number.

**Think of situations that you could be confronted with and how you could handle it.

Here are some important safety rules to remember:

  • Check first with your parents, guardian or other trusted adult before going out, helping anyone, accepting anything, or getting into a car.
  • Never stay out after dark unless with a trust adult
  • Lock your doors when home alone.  Remember there is safety in numbers.
  • Avoid dangerous places and situations. 
  • Use buddy system
  • Know important information like your – name, address, parent’s name, phone number, emergency contact person’s name and phone number.  Discuss with parent/guardian who are trusted adults in your life. What is a safe house and where are they located?
  • Know how to call 911.

Can you think of other safety rules your family has?  Do you need to make some more rules to be safe as you grow older?

(Review) Lesson #1 – The D.A.R.E. Decision Making Model

In the first lessons we discussed how we can use this model in making decisions.  Let’s try to use it today.

D  –  Define the problem.  What is the situation or challenge we are facing?

A  –  Assess the situation.  What are the options we have available?

R –  Respond.  Make a choice.  Use all of the pros, cons, facts, and information you have determined during the assessment.

E – Evaluate.  Did I make a good decision?  What did I do right?  What could I do different?  We can always learn from our mistakes.

The more you practice the easier it will be.  Parents continue to use the D.A.R.E. decision making model for other decisions.

STAY SAFE!

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June 26

Minnesota D.A.R.E. Talk Summer Lesson #3

“Rules of the Road”

D.A.R.E. Students:

Grab your parent, guardian, teacher, or another adult and let’s do another safety lesson!

It is summer and we are back outside walking, running, skateboarding, rollerblading, and biking.  You MUST remember there are rules that you need to follow to stay safe.

Parent/Guardian, you need to make sure you set a good example and you need to follow the rules.  These are pedestrian safety rules from the Minnesota Safety Council

  1. Wear bright colored clothing during the daylight hours and if walking when it is dark, carry a flashlight and wear reflective clothing.  Stay clear of buses, hedges, parked cars or other obstacles before crossing a roadway.
  2. Know what traffic control signs mean.  Don’t enter a crosswalk while the “Don’t Walk” sign is flashing.  Be alert to turning vehicles even if the “Walk” signal is on.
  3. Always walk on the sidewalk; if there is no sidewalk, walk FACING traffic. This enables you to see any oncoming traffic. Walking in the same direction as traffic forces you to rely only on your hearing to warn you of approaching vehicles.  This also makes you slightly less visible to drivers.
  4. Joggers are pedestrians too.  Joggers should run on sidewalks or pathways; it’s considered illegal to run on roadway pavement if alternatives are available.  When no alternative is available, joggers should run facing traffic.

Especially for children:

**Adults often overestimate a child’s ability to walk and cross streets safely.  Children under age 10 do not always have the necessary skills to judge the speed or distance of oncoming traffic. In addition, their peripheral (side) vision is 1/3 less than adults’.  Children often act quickly and behave unpredictably in traffic situations.  Here are some tips to keep children safe.

  • Don’t let children play in streets or driveways; they are difficult to see.  Adults should always supervise children when outdoors.  Young children are often hit by vehicles that are backing up.  Older children should be taught never to dash into the street; always stop at the curb.
  • Teach children the proper way to cross the street and explain traffic control signals.
  • Use reflective material on children’s outwear.  Do not allow hoods or umbrellas to block a child’s vision.
  • Set an example for children.

Drivers—

***Minnesota law REQUIRES you to stop for crossing pedestrians at every intersection, even those without crosswalk or stop lights. 

  • Follow speed limits especially school zones.
  • Be extra careful around school buses.  When red lights are flashing you MUST stop.  Wait a few extra minutes after the bus is gone to make sure there are no children present.
  • Give older adults plenty of time to cross the street.
  • Be alert while turning corners.  Look for pedestrians.

Activity with Parent/Guardian:

Take a walk to talk about every traffic control signal/sign you see; discuss what they mean.  Use the D.A.R.E. Decision Making Model to help you make the proper choices.

Lesson #1 – The D.A.R.E. Decision Making Model

In the first lessons we discussed how we can use this model in making decisions.  Let’s try to use it today.

D  –  Define the problem.  What is the situation or challenge we are facing?

A  –  Assess the situation.  What are the options we have available?

R –  Respond.  Make a choice.  Use all of the pros, cons, facts, and information you have determined during the assessment.

E – Evaluate.  Did I make a good decision?  What did I do right?  What could I do different?  We can always learn from our mistakes.

The more you practice the easier it will be.  Parents continue to use the D.A.R.E. decision making model for other decisions.

STAY SAFE!

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June 2

Minnesota D.A.R.E. Talk Lesson #2

Summer Lesson #2

“How to Get Help”

D.A.R.E. Students:

Grab your parent, guardian, teacher, or another adult and let us do another safety lesson!

  • Let’s start by reviewing Lesson #1 – The D.A.R.E. Decision Making Model

In the first lesson we discussed how we can use this model in making decisions.  Let’s try to use it today.

D  –  Define the problem.  What is the situation or challenge we are facing?

A  –  Assess the situation.  What are the options we have available?

R –  Respond.  Make a choice.  Use all of the pros, cons, facts, and information you have determined during the assessment.

E – Evaluate.  Did I make a good decision?  What did I do right?  What could I do different?  We can always learn from our mistakes.

  • Now let’s use it to learn about what to do when we need help. 

What is an emergency? 

****It is when you or someone else is badly hurt or in danger.

Let’s think of some situations when we need help and make a decision:

**Example:

Define the problem:  You just locked yourself out of the house. 

Assess the Situation:  Are you sure the house is locked and you don’t have your keys?  Does your family have a spare key somewhere else?   (Parents-Discuss this with your child).  Can you call a parent or other trusted adult? (Parents—who are the trusted adults they can contact.  Do they have access to a phone?)  Is this an “emergency” or are there other options.  (Parents—Discuss the options and what would make this an emergency) What is an emergency?

Pick a response – What did you choose?

Evaluate your decision – Would this have been the best choice?

Example:

Define the problem:  You are home with your mother and she is very ill and faints.  You cannot wake her.

Assess the situation:  What are your options?  Is this an emergency?  Definition of an emergency—you or another person is badly hurt or in danger.  What can you do?

Pick a response— What response did you choose?

Evaluate your decision—Would this have been the best choice?

911 or 0

Discuss with your child other situations and help decide which are an emergency.

Discuss with our child who they should be calling first when they need help and who are the other trusted adults they can call. 

Where are their names and numbers? 

Where is a phone they can use?  Do they know how to use it.

If these people are not available, they can dial 911 or 0. 

Dialing 911 or 0

  • Report the situation
  • Give your full name
  • Address (Do they know the address where they are located???)
  • What is their phone number?  Include their area code.
  • Clearly describe the situation.

Practice by pretending to call 911 in an emergency situation.  Parent you can be the 911 operator.  Use the situations you came up with earlier in this lesson. 

The more you practice the easier it will be.  Parents continue to use the D.A.R.E. decision making model for other decisions.

STAY SAFE!

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May 27

Minnesota D.A.R.E. Talk Lesson #1

Minnesota D.A.R.E    Talk

Summer Lesson #1

“D.A.R.E. To Make Good Decisions”

Dear Minnesota D.A.R.E. Students,

If you are, have been, or are looking forward to being involved in the D.A.R.E. program…Welcome to Summer D.A.R.E.!  We are going to spend time this summer working on safety issues and other special activities.  This may be a review for some of you but please remember what you have learned and share it with others.

Lesson 1 – “D.A.R.E. To Make Good Decisions”

In D.A.R.E., we use a simple model when we have a problem or situation where we need to make a decision.  Use this model throughout these lessons and as you go through each day.

D  –  Define the problem.  What is the situation or challenge we are facing?

–  Assess the situation.  What are the options we have available?

R –  Respond.  Make a choice.  Use all of the pros, cons, facts, and information you have determined during the assessment.

E – Evaluate.  Did I make a good decision?  What did I do right?  What could I do different?  We can always learn from our mistakes.

***Following is a D.A.R.E. Family Talk Lesson that you can do with your family. 

Please make good choices and stay safe!

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August 24

Internet Safety Tips – by Will, MN DARE Youth Advisor

Will-Durie-280x350

MN DARE Youth Blog

by Will

     The Internet: it is something in today’s world that one cannot escape. It is used for nearly everything– communicating, shopping, sharing photos, news, research, and countless other activities. As a matter of fact, you are most likely reading this on the internet right now. As the internet is an everyday tool that nearly everybody uses, it’s easy to forget that it is not always as secure or safe as you would hope. A hacker could obtain your personal information from your doing something as simple as clicking on an ad or sharing a photo online. Don’t get me wrong- this isn’t possible with every photo or ad, but there are specific things that you should avoid doing while using the World-Wide-Web that will help you to stay safe in the digital realm.

    

     The first step in staying safe online is securing your web accounts with a strong password. According to the FBI, you should change your online passwords several times a year, and you should also have different passwords for different accounts. This will prevent a cyber criminal from guessing your password and accessing your information. Some sites offer two-factor authentication (TFA), which is additional security that goes beyond just using a password and incorporates requirements such as using an additional PIN that changes periodically, or even only allowing a login at a particular place or time. If you have the option to use TFA, do it. Once your password is secure, it is a lot harder for hackers to gain access to personal information.   

    

     The next step in being safe on the internet is watching what you post on social media. Once something is posted online, it is no longer considered private and can be used for criminal purposes. Even if you think nobody but your friends is going to see a post or you have a private account, it is best not to post something if it is risky or contains personal information.  Also refrain from using foul language or posting something that might be inappropriate or offensive. Hackers don’t care about this, but future employers do. If they see something that they don’t like, the employers might not hire you for a job that you otherwise might have gotten. When you put something up on the internet, it never goes away, even if you delete it, so be careful. 

    

     One more thing you should watch out for is online scams. Pop up ads, links, or giveaways are often ways criminals use hack or infiltrate your device. They could be telling you to fill out a survey for an entry to win a free vacation when actually they are just stealing your information. Ads that seem too good to be true are probably too good to be true.  Nobody is actually selling brand new Ray Bans for $15. It is another scam to possibly get your credit card number. 

     

     Online chat rooms also attract criminals. Child predators can pose as kids and talk to you through a fake name and photo. Watch out for this. Do not share any personal information about yourself on chatrooms with strangers, even if you think the people you are chatting with are just harmless kids.  Serious predators can use your information to track you down and find you in real life.  Your best bet is to simply stay out of websites or apps that allow you to communicate anonymously with strangers. 

    

     All of these points can make the Internet seem like a scary thing, but it doesn’t have to be. It can be an extremely helpful tool when used safely and securely. Be cautious when using social media and remember that once you post something, it is no longer private and will never go away.  Beware of cyber-criminals and the scams they put online. Secure your accounts, don’t give away your personal information, and listen to your gut while surfing. If you follow these steps, you should be able to freely roam the web while being fairly confident that you are safe. 

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April 19

2017 Minnesota DARE Poster Contest

Minnesota D.A.R.E. Announces 2017 Statewide Poster Contest Winners

Golden Valley, MN—Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc. would like to announce the 2017 Poster Contest winners. The first place winner will be throwing out the opening pitch at the Minnesota Twins Game on May 7, 2017. This year’s winning poster belonged to Ben in Stewardville, MN.  His DARE Officer is Deputy Mark Chambers.

This year’s theme was “D.A.R.E. To Be A Leader.” The contest was open for 5th or 6th grade D.A.R.E. students, statewide.

Minnesota D.A.R.E., Inc. received entries from all around Minnesota. The top entries will receive special DARE prizes. These winning posters will be put on display at the State Capitol in the North Corridor the week of April 24th and will be posted on www.mndare.org – Kid’s Blog and Minnesota D.A.R.E.’s Facebook page in the future.

Minnesota D.A.R.E. (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is a prevention and education program that advocates and educates for healthy and safe children. D.A.R.E. serves young people and their families teaching the skills to make positive decisions, provides education on safe and healthy lifestyles and gives the tools to enable them to resist engaging in negative and violent behaviors. Over 25 million students have been reached worldwide and over 60,000 Minnesota students receive instruction annually.

2017 First Place Winning Poster:

Ben H.  (Stewardville) – Taught by: Deputy Mark Chambers – Olmsted Co. Sheriff’s Office

2017 Winning Poster

2017 Winning Posters

 

1 – Ben H. – Olmsted Co SO (Stewardville) – Officer Chambers

2- Meredith H. – Olmsted Co. SO (Byron ) – Officer Strum
3- Malakai W. – Bemidji PD – Officer Hunt
4- Olivia T. – Bemidji PD – Officer Hunt
5- Savannah T. – New Hope PD – Officer Korth

6- Charley N. – Moorhead PD (Reinerstson) – Officer Dahl

7- Alexis F. – Rice Co. SO (St. Dominic’s) – Officer Estrem
8- Charlese W. – Olmsted Co. SO (Byron) – Officer Strum
9- Alma Q. – New Hope PD – Officer Korth

10- Ellie C. – Chatfield PD – Officer Landorf
11 –Jonnae S. New Hope PD – Officer Korth

12- Erainne D. – Bemidji PD – Officer Hunt
13- Tyler S. – Olmsted Co. SO (Eyota) – Officer Johnson

14- MayAnne R. – Benton Co. SO (Foley) – Officer Dalton
15- Alexis W – Olmsted Co SO. (Dover) – Officer Johnson

16- Will H. – New Hope PD – Officer Korth
17- Abby S. – Kasson PD – Officer Kasel

18 – Audrey H. – McLeod Co. SO – Officer Geiken

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March 13

Consequences (by Will – MN DARE Youth Rep.)

 

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I heard an interesting segment on the radio a while back.  It said that everybody when they are young does something that he or she is told not to do out of sheer curiosity.  For example, sticking your tongue to a frozen pole in the winter.  They find out that their tongue sticks, and it hurts when they rip it off the pole.  They saw for themselves the reasons why people had forewarned them about it.  Now, imagine that you stick your tongue to that pole but it never comes off.  It controls every aspect of your life and you cannot get away from it; you’re stuck.  For some people, drugs and alcohol are that pole.  They are told not to do it, but do it anyway.  But the consequences for using substances are a lot worse.

My name is Will Durie.  I am the new DARE youth representative for my state, Minnesota, where I have lived all my life.  I am a sophomore at Hibbing High School.  I play baseball and basketball, run cross country, participate in math team and knowledge bowl, and sing in the choir.

I became involved in DARE in elementary school, like most 3rd-6th grades in America.  It was my first real education about substance and abuse.  DARE taught me how to deal with stressful situations and was a tool that I used when I was in a position where I felt uncomfortable.  During my time as the DARE youth representative, I will be writing on a range of topics for the DARE blog.

 

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