PEERS is on t.v.!

ulead photo in brazil indiana

The PEERS Project is going around the state with uLEAD organizing leadership retreats for our PEERS leaders.

Through this retreat they learn how to get along with others, how to problem solve and what does it really mean to be a leader?

This retreat will come to Indianapolis for our PEER leaders on November 19, 2013.

Watch it here: http://www.wthitv.com/web/wthitv/news/education/battling-bullying-before-it-begins

Welcome PEERS Intern!

nicole mcdonaldThe PEERS Project would like to welcome Nicole McDonald to our staff as she works with us over the 2013-2014 school year.

Nicole is from Herron High School and participated in PEERS last school year, Herron’s first year to implement The PEERS Project.

Nicole says that, “PEERS has shown me that I have a voice and that doing what is right is a character choice I need to always embody.”

We’re looking forward to a great year together!

yolo, peersproject, goals, media, peer pressure
You Only Live Once

Have you ever heard of the term or saying, “YOLO”? YOLO means, “You Only Live Once.” Kind of dumb isn’t it? I agree. Well people first started hearing YOLO when Drake, a hip hop artist, first said it in his hit song, The Motto in late 2012. When people, such as teens first heard it, it became very catchy. It was also being played a lot on the radio. Which is how the media gets your attention by repeating those catchy jingles.  It was more directed towards teens. Teens began to use YOLO as an excuse for everything. For example, a teen could hit a car in a parking lot and think it would be okay. Then that’s when they yell the term, YOLO. Basically YOLO means do everything to the extreme because you might not be alive to do it tomorrow. That term was taken  way  out of control. The term also figured out its way to be apart of every sentence in someway. YOLO was a daily and frequently used word once it was first heard in Drake’s song, “The Motto”. The term YOLO was then featured on clothing, hats, and even phone cases. This was all in the hands of teens who thought it was so cool and began to come more popular.

If you do use the motto YOLO make sure that you are truly ceasing the moment through making good choices and not living once to just choose destructive behavior. A bad choice could not only affect your life forever but could also hurt someone else…even death.

Guest blog by: Jalen, 17 years

A young PEERS’ mentor from Elkhart Community Schools  speaks from her heart and the power of the PEERS Project message. She recently texted this message after being involved with the PEERS Project and standing up for what she knew was right. This decision led to a positive choice which will affect her life forever. Had she not stood up for what she knew she needed to do, although the relationship ended, she might have been the girl which got pregnant and might have had to drop out of school and not obtain her goals of going to college. She stood up to catch her dreams for the future.

abstinence, peersproject, indiana, peer facilitation, teen positive influence network

Parents Corner – Sexting

In PEERS we stress the importance of healthy relationships.  Our mentors help younger teens to understand that healthy relationships are based on mutual respect, not just physical attraction.   In a healthy relationship, teens do not pressure each other into doing things that could be hurtful like drinking, smoking, using drugs, having sex or oral sex or even sexting.

Cell Phone - Dangers of SextingSexting is sending sexually explicit text, photos or videos via cell phone or the Internet.  Sometimes teens share pictures voluntarily, but often times they are pressured into it.  Although more and more teens (and even tweens) seem to be sexting, it is a very big deal and here’s why:

  •  Sexting betweens minors is a felony and can have serious, lifelong consequences.  Teens that send or receive explicit pictures can be charged with possession of child pornography.  If convicted, they can be labeled as a sex offender for the rest of their life.
  •  Once photos or videos are sent, some teens use them to bully, harass, intimidate or embarrass the sender.  And once the pictures is out there, it will never go away.
  •  “Sexy” photos that are meant only to be seen by a boyfriend or a girlfriend end up being forwarded.  The truth is, one   photo could easily reach hundreds and even thousands of other people in just a few hours via websites and cell phones.
  •  To stay safe, teens should never send or post sexually provocative pictures.  If they do, they are risking their future college or employment hopes and their reputation with family, friends, teachers and anyone else who could see the photo.
  •  Not only should teens refuse to be pressured into sending explicit pictures, they should never open or forward explicit pictures from others.  Teens should also talk to their friends who sext and encourage them to stop before they get into serious trouble.  If necessary, a parent or other responsible adult might have to get involved.  Good friends look out for each other and try to keep each other safe.

The bottom line is that sexting is a huge deal and a very serious crime.  No “hot” picture or “sexy” video will be worth the consequences a teen could face for sending it, receiving it or forwarding it.