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!