Above the Influence

Submitted by: Kelsey Wooten

GCSAC Prevention Educator

Above the Influence is in full swing! For those of you who aren't familiar with this youth campaign -- the GCSAC collaborates with schools in the area to bring awareness of positive and negative influences that can affect the youth in our communities. The Above the Influence campaign gives students tools they need to rise above negative influences. The program is comprised of high school students who seek leadership opportunity and strive to live above life's obstacles and hardships.

In the month of December, Ashley, Alma, and Ithaca high school students used their leadership skills to educate fifth graders. They broke into small group sessions which included two portions: In the first portion, high school students talked to the fifth graders about peer pressure. They discussed what negative and positive peer pressure may feel like and then informed the younger students on what they can do if they are faced with such peer pressure. In the second portion, the high schoolers delved a bit deeper into discussion. The two age groups discussed the affects of negative and positive influences in their lives, in and outside of school. Each group session concluded with fifth graders reflecting on what they want to "live above", some examples we saw were "drugs", "bullying, "smoking". Although the group sessions were set up to benefit the younger students, the older students walked away feeling equally impacted.