Reaching the Children

"A LIFE WASTED...ALMOST"

EFFECTIVE HIGH SCHOOL DRUG PREVENTION PRESENTATION

I've designed a drug prevention seminar to be aimed at high school age yourth that has a real impact instantly and sticks with them forever. I am going to summarize why it connects and stays with them so well. I stand before them , a good looking , well dressed, clean cut speaker who tells them a story about a kid similar to them, having graduated high school and accepted to college to begin Aug. of 1997, and how by 2007 dispite having fooled most people, at one point even owning his own bar those who had known him growing up wouldn't have recognised him physically and long gone was that personallity that had made it almost impossible for anyone not to like him. Why? Because he had lost a lot of weight, and cheeks were really sucked in mainly because most of his teeth had rotted out.

I begin to explain to the kids that his problem was cocaine and meth and as i continue to tell them how it began and such i start by removing my glasses and setting them on a table in front of them and them more things that had gone on and them i turn around mess up my hair and when i turn to face them agian im holding my teeth in my hands and cheeks are sunk in. BOOM, at that moment they make the connection the story i've been telling is about me. It creates a shocking, emotional, and impactful moment. From there i go on to explain that it not only are you messing with your health but how almost every aspect of my life had crumbled around me. Lost friends, family, and more importantly i had lost myself.

Anyway, I think you have the general idea so to let you know more about me. I've been clean since 2007, and even though i got over the physical addiction fairly easily I had a hard time dealing with the horrible things i'd done while using and there was a lot of serious guilt and regret. I must have worn these feelings on my sleeve because one day out of the blue my mother asked me when i was going to get rid of the baggage and leave the past where it's at....draw a line in the sand and move on. And in that moment I realized and decided the only way i could do that was to share my demons and my past in a way that really shows them the dangers of drug use up close and has a long lasting effect mentally. I will be using the money raised for a variety of things. Starting with getting my actual complete script professionally put together and edited. I also need to put together marketing & booking information such as business cards, press releases, broshures, and marketing DVD that summarizes the seminar/assembly and answers frequently asked questions and such. And finally I will also need to buy a slide projector and screen for visual aids to be used during presentation.

I know this is my real purpose in life and I know without a doubt it will have a positive effect on those who hear my story but in order for that to happen i need to make sure i have the tools needed to produce an effective professional and accurate presentation. I thank you for your consideration and I appreciate your help.