Drugs just aren’t an option for a group of 44 Grade 6 Lake Cowichan Secondary School Students.
During the students’ graduation from the Drug Abuse Resistance Education (DARE) program, Tuesday, May 31, students pledged to remain free of drugs.
The graduation ceremony capped off the 10 week program, during which time Lake Cowichan RCMP Cpl. Krista Hobday has been dropping by the classroom to teach students about the negative consequences of taking drugs and abusing alcohol.
In order to graduate, students had to complete an essay that outlines what they learned while taking part in the program, as well as what their pledge is.
The top four essays were read during the graduation ceremony.
“I’ve learned different ways to say no,” graduate Tanner Cummings said.
“The next time I’m about to do something incredibly dumb, I’ll use the DARE decision model.”
The model is as follows; Define, what is the problem; Assess, what are your choices; Respond, make a choice; Evaluate, review your decision.
Cummings pledge to not do drugs, and to only drink alcohol when he’s of legal age, and to keep his body in good condition.
Graduate Chailyn Vensel’s essay outlined how un-cool doing drugs actually is.
“It might seem cool at first if your friends are doing it, but it’s not,” she said, adding that her 10 weeks taking part in the DARE program have helped her understand how dangerous drugs and alcohol can be.
Katie Ferguson, who helped Stevie McKenzie emcee the graduation, wrote about the simplicity of saying no to drugs.
“The smallest thing, like walking away, can keep you from drugs,” she said.
One must combat a combination of personal pressure – basically a devil on one’s shoulder, and peer pressure, such as teasing.
“I wish to never try drugs,” she said.
For graduate Nic Brown, the decision to not do drugs is an easy one.
A hockey enthusiasts, he wants to keep his body in good condition so he can keep playing the sport he loves, as best he can.
“I love sports, and drugs would ruin my body,” he said.
This was Cpl. Hobday’s fifth year teaching the DARE program for Lake Cowichan Secondary School Grade 6 students, with each year’s class proving excellent to work with.
“They have left a good impression on me that we are in good hands,” she said, of this year’s graduating class.