Teens and Drugs
What is the real reason why students at HMS do drugs? Their has been many rumors going on at Heritage Middle School that many students have been using drugs at a young age. This has been going on since students begin sixth grade. They usually fall into doing this because of peer pressure,they see other kids doing it, and they simply think it's cool when in reality it's not. Although students know what are the effects of the usage of drugs but do it anyways. It has commonly seen that they are smoking more than drinking. But why?
Recently surveyed students most common answers where they they usually have around 1 to 20 friends that use drugs at HMS. The real question is why? Students at HMS respond with they fall into peer pressure or they just simply think it's cool. A former student at HMS said, "Neglected by families or like to be cool because of drugs" another said, "because they enjoy the feeling of being high". So what is the real answer is it because of family issues,what they think it makes them, or they like the feeling of it. Another question that was asked was what advice would they give to students that use drugs? Most of them just said, "don't do it" or "Its bad for you". One answer that really stood out was, "Don't do it you have a future ahead of you don't let this stupidity get to you" strong words and message.
Students were not the only ones that had to say something teachers at HMS were also surveyed and had some pretty strong answers towards this. Ms.Navolio a teacher at HMS says, "It saddens me to hear about my students using drugs. I worry that they are trying to find a quick release from their problems, which in the end will only cause them more problems. If they start depending on substances to feel good at such a young age, it could led them to bigger issues later in life." Ms. Leztizia another teacher at HMS gave advice of her own to students who do drugs. She said, "Think about what you really want out of life. Think about adults you know that use drugs. Is their life the way you would like yours to be in the future? Are drugs helping you meet your life goals." Great advice but why isn't any action happening?
Heritage Middle School should have groups with school counselors,teachers,students, and even parents should get involved. This should be a group that allows students to say what they feel and why was the reason they choose in doing drugs, and that's where they should have a lot of support to help them in any way possible.
Drugs can change people's life's physically and mentally and usually end in a very bad situation. A big change can happen at Heritage Middle School it just takes one person to start it all and it might just be you.
Jennifer Sustayta
10/24/15
A life Changing Moment
Students that participated in Rachel's Challenge last year got to attend We day which is a one year event. On April 30, 2015 We day came to Illinois and HMS was lucky to be invited. We day was presented last year in the Allstate Arena. Hosted by Selena Gomez and had many other star guests.Rachel's challenge was invited to We Day because students who participated in Rachel's challenge at HMS did many things to help people in need like fundraisers and many other things to help causes. We Day is an event that brought more than 15,000 youth groups to the Allstate Arena. Their was many motivational speakers, well known stars,and singers. Such as Tyrese Gibson, Ezra Fech,Magic Johnson etc. Tyrese Gibson talked about his childhood. Ezra Frech and Magic Johnson gave a speech and Johnson gave Frech tickets to sit with him at a game. It was a very emotional day for many people. Many adults and teens came out the Allstate Arena crying or laughing and huge smile on their faces.Students and adults that participated in We Day say that We Day helped changed communities and transformed lives.
The Trip That Changed My Perspective
It had only been two weeks and three days when I came back on the most amazing trip I had every been two. It was April 6 when my dad told me that we were going to Mexico again. This had to be the fourth time I've been to Mexico and I didn't want to go again. "You are going whether you like it or not", my dad said. "Ugh but we go almost every year", I whined. I knew what was going to happen it is almost predictable. First we go see my mom's side of her family then my dad's. After that we go to our house that we have in Mexico and have a little party. My uncle plays music and we all eat until we can't even walk anymore. I hate it so much. It's annoying and boring.
My mom was so excited to see her family again. I don't know why and so is my little brother mainly because he loves to go on the plane. I was not looking forward to this; I would prefer to stay home and do nothing then go with them. Then I realized that If I went I would miss a week of school. Which is not a bad deal. I get to leave the country again and get to miss school well I'm in.
It was August 25 and it was time to leave home and go to the airport. I was never really fond of airplanes... Ok I hate them they scare me and I just hate them soooo much. I have never gotten over me fear of planes EVER but this time I knew I had to it was getting old. I thought I'm to old to be scared of huge metal things that look like birds that fly in the air. Nothing scary about that right ? Well I pictured it in my mind I will get on that plane with no hesitation. I was wrong I hesitated as soon as I saw it. When it was my turn to step into the plane I stopped and froze. I couldn't feel my legs I mainly just stood their for a while.
The flight attendant told me everything was going to be all right but I know she can not tell the future. Then, my mom started to push me but I was holding on to the door the my dad started to push to and I could tell the flight attendant was getting annoyed so she started pulling me into the plane. As I thought my little brother was just laughing at me. It took a while for me to get on the plane but my arms where getting tired and I gave up. My seat was next to my mom and for my luck it was all the way in the back. So picture this me who is terrified of planes is sitting all the way in the back so if this plane burns down I would be the first one to DIE. As the plane took off I had to admit I was screaming inside my head and I cried a little. I looked out at the window and the sky looked beautiful. I thought I was in a painting. Millions of stars twinkling in the sky. I was trying to calm down, but their where so many noises. Children crying, the airplane turbine it was some adventure. I was getting tired of sitting in mid air for four hours.
Before even touching the ground you could hear the wheels of the plane dropping. As they hit the ground the planes goes super fast it shakes the whole plane; until it slows down and stops. When we finally landed I might have pushed everyone and I was the first one to get out. I had brought no sweaters at all because I mean it's Mexico and Mexico is like a desert... I was wrong it was freezing I was so cold I didn't feel my nose anymore. I could feel the cold brisk air brush on my face as we were walking inside the airline. We finally went through the airline security and waited for a taxi once we found one just as I predicted we went to my mom side family then my dads thank god no party this time. I mainly went to Mexico because my mom and dad were part of a wedding and we had to be their. The wedding was all right I guess but the rest of the days I was bored out of my mind and all I heard around me was people talking in Spanish with that Mexican accent. I wanted to go home like NOW. We still had five days in Mexico and I was about to die of boredom. I got into a minor fight with my dad because I didn't want to go with his family because they are so nosey and always go through my stuff. My dad got so mad at me he took my phone away even though it doesn't work in Mexico but I still got mad.
Then my dad took us to this amusement park kind of reminded me of Six Flags but this one was called Selva Majica and I actually thought this was going to be fun... It was not most of the rides were not working but it just had to be that only the baby rides worked. Until we found one called "El Tornado" which in English is "The Tornado" well is was awful when I got on I was looking for the seat belts and the metal bar they put over you. Well guess what it had none...this was a very high ride it was big and had no belts or anything to keep you safe.I got off before it started and I just waited for my parents and my brother. Hey I am not a scary cat I am not going to risk my life on this dumb ride. I was so glad I did not get on that ride because you would not believe what happened to it. The ride got stuck... all the way in the top.
My brother was terrified and I was laughing most of the time. I knew it was dangerous but my laugher over powered me until my little brother slipped and he fell and was left hanging, dangling on the rim of the ride. As I turned, I saw people around us were shocked scared of what might happen. People were talking pictures and having conversations one to another. If my brother would let go he would fall from 5 feet above the ground. My parents where still above him. My mom was screaming and crying. My dad was yelling a me to try to catch him. Everything was going so fast I could not think right. To me everything was in slow motion. I knew he could not hold on any longer so I dropped all my stuff and went right under him. I heard him crying and telling me that he was scared. As he was right above me I felt his sweat down on my face. I told him to let go and I will catch him. He was terrified of letting go, he was scared he was going to get hurt. Until he finally did and we both fell hard on the ground. We were just lying on the ground and I looked up at the crisp blue sky. My mom and dad came running towards us and the both picked us up. I hurt by back really badly mainly because I fell right on a freakin ROCK. It gave me a huge bruise. When I tried walking I felt that I was going to collapse and I felt very weak. My brother got a lot of scratches and little bruises.
The manager came and apologized. "I am so sorry this has never happened before", said the manager. "How are you functioning these rides if one they are not safe", my dad yelled. I could tell my dad was really mad.After that they gave us our money back and payed the checkup that we had at the hospital. I could tell my dad was furious. "I am going to sue them", my dad said. "No dad it would only creat problems and this trip was meant to be relaxing", I told my dad. I have been taught since I was little never to hold grudges. I was just thinking can this trip get any worse.
My dad surprised us by taking us to Puerto Vallarta I never been their before so I had to admit I was kind of excited. We got on a bus and it was a four hour drive it was long but it was fun because we went through the mountains and it was beautiful. When we got there it was so blah... I pictured something much more better than that. We took a taxi to the hotel and I changed my mind very quickly it was beautiful. The beach was amazing. We got their late so we saw the Suns reflection of the multi colored Ocean water it was beautiful. The hotel was all amazing we had a wonderful view of the Ocean. I walked into the balcony and you could see the different color blues in the water. Every breath I took smelled like pure air from the Ocean. I was so tired that as soon as I jumped on the bed I fell asleep.
The next day my family went to the pool my mom,dad, and me raced from the end of the pool I could tell my dad wasn't mad at me anymore. My little brother can't swim so he just stayed in the shallow end. The next day we went to the beach and it was awesome although the waves were really strong and kept knocking me over and dragging me even deeper but it was still awesome I collected some shells while we were walking along the beach. Then we went to go eat at a seafood restaurant and the food was delicious. After that we went back to the hotel and it was late at night so we went to sleep.
The next day we were packing up all our stuff because the next day we leave back home. Just for my luck we had a PARTY... You got to be kidding me. Well, I can't believe I'm saying this but I actually had a really fun time mainly because I got to spend so much time with my family. I learned how to cherish every moment I have with them; and because I got over my fear of planes. After an amazing trip to Mexico I am finally back home with the rest of my family. Now I can't wait to see if we go to Mexico next year. Would you stay home or would you risk it like me?
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