3. Thesis
• Peer counseling is a system in which
students will talk to one another about
their problems, such as alcoholism, drug
abuse, sex, divorce, pregnancy, and
suppressed emotions in order to help
maintain a positive atmosphere.
4. • “The brick walls are there for a reason. The brick
walls are not there to keep us out. The brick walls
are there to give us a chance to show how badly we
want something. Because the brick walls are there
to stop the people who don't want it badly enough.”
47. Conclusion
“I’ve never understood pity and self-
pity as an emotion. We have a finite
amount of time. Whether short or
long, it doesn’t matter. Life is to be
lived.”
Editor's Notes
\n
As a student here at Upper Merion, I see students struggling with issues everyday. After experiencing Challenge Day, it made me realize the problems that students go through everyday, and I had no idea. It made me open my eyes to certain situations and made me have a different outlook on others. It has made me want to make a difference and help students who feel like they have no one to talk to, So by starting the Peer Mentoring group I can do so. \n
\n
\n
There are many issues that teens struggle with each day, whether its problems at school, at home, with their body image, drugs, alcohol or sex. Students who struggle through these things commonly lack confidence and are scared to speak to someone about their problems. Peer mentoring allows students to talk to others about their problems and receive positive feed back in order to resolve their problems. \n
One main issue that students struggle with is alcohol abuse, whether its with themselves, or with loved ones at home. Teens who grow up with alcoholic parents tend to feel a lack of love because they are often chose second, and alcohol comes first. Students who struggle themselves with alcohol abuse often use alcohol as a way out. Alcohol does not solve problems, but in their mind it does. \n
Alcohol is most common and abused drug in the United States. People aged from 12 to 20 years drink 11% of all alcohol consumed in the United States. More then 90% is consumed by binge drinking. The average underage drinker, drinks more then an adult drinker. In 2008 approximately 190,000 emergency visit rooms visited by underage drinkers or related to drinking. Gives distorted feelings, yet i feel as though people are there real self while drunk.\n
Another struggle that I see is is problems with Marijuana, it is the most highly common drug for high school teens and lower. It goes around schools, the streets, anywhere you can think of. It’s like a virus no matter how much you try to get rid of it, it keeps getting stronger and stronger. Its multiplied through out the streets.\n
Marijuana is the most common illicit drug in the United states. It has decreased from 27% in 1999 to 21% in 2009.\n
Teen pregnancy is sometimes unavoidable, girls and guys are attracted to each other it is life. There will always be a natural attraction towards one another. Sometimes condoms are not used, sometimes the birth control is not enough. Rape could be a factor in the situation. However you want to look at it. Pregnancy is scary. Pregnancy could cause depression and changes thought processing and hormones. It is a big shift in your life.\n
3 out of 10 girls get pregnant at lease once by time they are 20. There are 400,000 teen births which makes the united states the highest teen birth rate. It has decrease by 2% so that is a start of hopeful news. Reasons for getting pregnant as a teen are, growing up in single parent home, lower socioeconomic status, parents with low level education, violence or abuse, and low academic education.\n
Kids that have had parents divorce feel very alone and a lot of times the kid feels as though it is his or her fault but it is not. Kids may feel angry, frustrated and sad. You might even be protective of one parent over the other. you also may feel abandoned afraid, guilty. Some may feel relieve because there might have been a lot of tension and fighting or abuse going on at home. You may have to go through many changes such as moving, different schools, the talk about the other parent, custody issues, court.\n
“1st marriages-50% end in divorce, 67% for second marriages, 74% in 3rd marriages. According to “Jennifer Baker” of the “(Forest Institute of Professional Psychology,)” Springfield Missouri”\n\n“In America 1st - 41%, 2nd-60%, 3rd-73%”\n\n“If Marriages have children then there is lower rate of divorce, but 66% of all divorced couples are childless”\n
\n
Women, men, kids, animals should never have to go through abuse whether it be physical or mentally. Nobody should have to get disrespected, the only time i feel as though there should be violence is if you are self protecting yourself. Some abuse leaves scares and some do not. There is so much different abuse it is hard to control it.\n
1 out of 11 people report they get physical abused by a date. Abuse can be emotional, physical, sexual. It can occur in friendships or relationships. Physical abuse is confined or punching, kicking, pulling hair, chocking, slapping. Emotional abuse teasing bullying and humiliating others. Not recognizable because it leaves no marks. Threats are another form. Sexual can happen to guy or girl, you should never be forced in to doing anything sexual. The way to get out of a abusive relationship is to realize you should be treated with respect and never abused.\n
There are two basic types of emotions. (Love and Fear.) Every other emotion is connected too those two basic emotions.\n
Will elaborate on each topic.\n
\n
\n
so what can we do about it? \n
HIGH SCHOOL IN CALIFORNIA, WHICH HAS A FULLY FUNCTIONING PEER MENTORING PROGRAM. THEY HAVE ABOUT 30 KIDS IN THE PROGRAM. THEY HAVE THEIR OWN WEBSITE AND SHIRTS AND DATES, TIMES, DIFFERENT TOPIC TALKS.\n
THE PEER COUNSELORS GO DOWN TO THEIR MIDDLE SCHOOLS AND HAVE DISCUSSIONS WITH THEM ABOUT DIFFERENT TOPICS.\n
Located in Indianapolis, Indiana also has another fully functional website and program as well. Mostly focused on the freshmen as well as the whole school. They organize the freshmen dances and help transfer students. \n
Greg BamrickGuidance Counselor/Peer Mentoring CoordinatorCathedral High School \nThere peer mentoring program, is a class. They take it through the school year. They keep a journal and notes through the course and they get graded for it as well. During the summer the kids go to a retreat for 1 day and get trained.\n\n\n
Peer counselors\n
The Seniors will work with the freshmen and transfer students year around. They do not do too much of the general peer mentoring, just more towards the freshmen.\n
Located in Manassas, VA\n
Mike Dufrene, created a Peer mentoring program. He is a school administrator and head basketball coach. He has about 200 students signed up from sophomores to seniors, in his program. They work with elementary school students and 5th-6th grades as well. The peer mentoring kids help the kids with any issues they need and just help them through things. Some kids quoted that they love the program and with teaching the kids they learn a lot about themselves as well. Dufrene always wanted to make a difference. He has found a way. He also worked with special olympics and summer camps when he was younger.\n
