Minority Students

The following was written by a student at Watertown High School. It wasn't because of race, gender or religious beliefs that made her a minority. What made her a minority was what she believed in! Wouldn't it be nice to see more of these minority students become the "norm"? I think there are more of these students who simply for whatever reason want to remain in the shadows of others who remain at risk due to the choices they make. These minority students should be looked up to as they are role models for others who find it difficult to stand up day after day in living drug and alcohol free and practicing abstinence. You might be a minority, but so was Martin Luther King Jr. He continued throughout his life to take a stand for equal rights of minorities.

I Am the Minority

“He dares to be a fool, and that is the first step in the direction of wisdom.”

-James Huneker

The smoke filled the air as the drinks were passed from one person to the next. No one worried how they would find a ride home; no one cared if they got caught. They did not have anything to lose. All except for me, if I would consume just one alcoholic beverage, if I breathed in just one breathe of smoke, I would feel completely lifeless. My life would have no meaning behind it. On Friday, or Saturday nights, I’m the girl that stays home and watches movies, the kind of girl others would want to look up to. Instead others feel the need to put me down. I’m the outcast, I’m the different one, and I am the minority.

To fit in is everyone’s dream in high school, to be noticed by that special boy, or girl. To be surrounded by a group of peers that are all amazed by your accomplishments, while others sit and are jealous of you. My dream is not so simple. I’ve never been the girl striving for the spot light; I have not been searching for accomplishments others would be proud. Instead, my journey entitles a more proficient dream. I live for lessons others have past on for me, I live for making myself proud of the young women I have become, I live for the ones that have loved me from day one, I live for creating a strong and stable future.

If I could improve myself in anyway possible, I would fix what others have made me become. A scared and timid girl, a girl without a face in a crowd, the girl with no voice but the one she sings to herself.

Getting back on your feet is one of the most difficult actions to do when people keep preventing you from standing. When I talk about my greatest pet peeve I always bring up the same thing. My pet peeve is that the people in your life that have hurt you the most, will never truly know how much they hurt you, and have affected your self pride. The more I hear the negative remarks the more I lose my self worth.

Building up my confidence was never easy. I relied on my family members and my closest friends. My family watched me grow up, they watched me suffer through grade school, they punished me when I made mistakes, and they always reminded me that beauty came within.

It wasn’t until this year that I felt completely beautiful from the inside out. I always knew my personality would shine, and now I finally walk with my head held high. I can now say I have competed with some of the most talented, intelligent, and beautiful young women in Wisconsin. I competed in the Miss Wisconsin Teen Pageant. When people think of pageants they think of the word superficial! I got to know these women and hear their high school, and college stories and I respected them, as they showed me respect. I will hold on to the memories and grow from this experience, because someday I believe I will wear a crown!

Throughout high school it was never about the stories you could tell, it was never about the most friends you thought you had, but it was about the journey you had along the way. My journey started with a shy young girl, a girl that was pushed thru the halls in high school, a girl who none of the high school boys seemed to notice, a girl that was scared. Now I have broken out of my shell, I have gained so much pride. I am not scared. I am the girl others underestimated, but now I truly shine!

The smoke filled the air, as the drinks were passed from one person to the next. The mood suddenly died out. They began to worry where their future would end up. They all took the same path; all except for me. I choose to live my life differently. While others sat and judged me, I stepped out of my comfort zone. I transformed into a young adult. I am now walking more confidently; I am now chasing any dream I can. I am the different one, I am the minority.

Youth At-Risk, of what!?

It's before 6:00 AM and too many months have passed since my last article in "Thin Blue Line at WHS". I apologize for this! This article will address the often misused term "at-risk". We hear "at-risk" all the time within our schools and society, but what does it really mean? This is my opinion only and one that I feel counselors, teachers, parents, businesses, students should consider very closely the next time they hear the term, or choose to say, "I'm not at-risk", because I think you are.

We hear the term, "at-risk" so often I feel we tend to miss the point. The term is counter-productive. We have become immune similar to all the sex and violence seen in the media. No longer does the term "at-risk" impact us. We have been taught that "at-risk" youth are those that use drugs, commit crimes, come from broken homes, where drugs and alcohol is misused. Though I agree with part of the previous statement, "at-risk" encompasses so much more! Ask yourself, "Who's at-risk?" What comes to mind? Aren't all students "at-risk"? You may disagree and say, only those that choose to be "at-risk" really are. Research shows that at-risk youth struggle with complex issues and scenarios that are brought on by peers, mentors, family members, and difficult social environments. Now, if you consider the previous statement and visit the highlighted link, doesn't ALL youth fit into being "at-risk"?

If all youth is "at-risk" then why aren't "we" doing more to prevent destructive behavior? Are we part of the problem or solution to "at-risk" youth? I would like to believe we are part of the solution. It's time we make an honest effort to address all youth, tell them that it's okay to be "true" to themselves, their believes, their morals. It's okay to make good choices, though acknowledge it is very difficult at times to do the right thing and make the right decision. There exists many temptations that pull youth away from making healthy choices, don't be the one tugging!

We have all heard kids say, "Well, everyone's doing it!" As parents we tend to blow this off and say, "Not everyone is doing it!" In a child's mind if many of their friends are making poor choices it seems to them that everyone "is doing it". One of youth's fundamental needs is to be accepted, to fit-in, to be part of the larger picture, to be wanted by their peers. Should youth not partake in "risky behavior" others may tease them and shun them away. Have you ever been selected last in a game? How did you feel? Some students feel this every day of their educational life and beyond! Again I ask, "Do you want to be part of the solution or part of the problem?"

All students are "at-risk". They are at-risk of not passing math class, or not being selected for the school musical, not making a varsity team, not having homework completed, not being asked to a dance, not being chosen for student council, not graduating, not getting a part-time job, not passing their driving test, not fitting in. You get the picture. Every child finds throughout their life, the feeling of "not-fitting in" and the difficult choice of what to do next. The next decision they make could change their life forever! We need to be there, to offer our assistance, our guidance, our help, our encouragement.

Now that you want to be a part of the solution, what can you do? Well, you alone may find the road difficult to travel, like a child, by yourself, so enlist others to help. Tell students to make decisions that protect who they are and not who others want them to be. Daily messages should be heard throughout schools that help students feel they are empowered to say, "NO". To say "no" to at-risk choices. These messages should be included within schools daily announcements, newsletters, homerooms, within school clubs and other co-curricular activities. Students need to be told that it's okay not to fit-in, if by not fitting-in means to be true to themselves. Other students need to be told not to pressure their friends into risky decisions and to encourage others to make good choices. Have you ever thought that students who encourage their friends to make poor choices only do so because they don't want to be the only ones?

Youth are "at-risk" throughout their educational life and beyond, the same goes for us. As we age, we tend to deal with stress and pressures differently because we are more mature, we tend to cope better with disappointments. Let youth know that there are "at-risk" stressors that they can take control of by making good choices and others they can't. In a world full of uncertainties, take charge of what you can and like who you are.

The High School years are difficult enough without students putting pressure on each other. Help out where you can and continue to do so, students we appreciate your help!

The pressures facing our youth today is much greater than it's ever been!