Recruited from area high schools, STATS members first of all, have a strong belief in the message that saying "no" to sex until marriage is the healthiest choice for teens. Second, they've got the courage to stand up in front of their peers and tackle the tough issues of sex today. When the media - music, movies, TV, etc are saying, "go ahead, everyone's doing it", teens need to be strong enough to fly in the face of today's culture. And third, they care. It makes a difference to them that younger teens are buying into an unhealthy lifestyle and they want them to know that everyone's not doing it. With these qualifications out of the way, here is the path our STATS members take.
In September, we hold our annual STATS Kick-Off. This is a time when we show video clips of the previous year and talk about what it takes to be in STATS. This includes:
a teacher or principal recommendation
a personal interview
academic eligibility
ability to miss school one day a month
exceptional attendance
ability to stand up and speak publicly
attending the annual training retreat
time for creating and practicing new material for team presentation
signing a one-year commitment to stay abstinent from sex, drugs, alcohol, and tobacco
Whew, If that sounds like a lot, well, it is. But holding out for quality students is worth it and has been a key to Muskegon STATS serving as a vital health component for our county and beyond!
No comments:
Post a Comment