by Adriana Christianson
On Tuesday, May 22 students in grades 7 and 8 from Virden Junior High as well as Elkhorn and Oak Lake schools had the chance to watch a multimedia presentation by the Absolute Leadership Development. This non-profit organization carries the message that every student’s life has value and that their generation can make a positive difference in the world, to schools across Canada. The unique presentation was completely geared toward youth in a positive, high-energy atmosphere. A rock band known as Beauti, gave live performances involving a light show in between videos and speeches discussing serious youth and world issues. Members of the Absolute team told personal stories about overcoming challenges to do with alcohol and drugs, peer pressure and bullying. Video clips were incorporated explaining higher than expected statistics on bullying, self harm and suicide. Inspirational stories were also included, one advocating the Absolute Hero Holiday, a program which accepts youth ages 14 and older for trips to developing countries where they have the chance to provide aid to children living in poverty.
Absolute began on a small scale seven years ago with three people and one band, with the aim of reaching out to students with a hopeful message. With growing success, the organization has expanded to include two teams touring across the country to spread their message. Absolute team member Ryan Wood explained their vision is to empower new generations while addressing self-worth and world issues such as poverty. “We want to kind of take a positive approach and just really instill in students that they have value and they have a purpose and potential to really make a difference and change some of the issues that they are facing.”
“We want to make it relevant to where students are at,” Wood explained why the group mixes so many different elements in their presentation to attract a generation that is used to things changing really fast. “(It is) something that will engage them, because if I just went up there and talked for an hour straight it probably wouldn’t be near as effective.” In order to get a point through it helps to get students thinking on different levels and certain things will strike certain people differently. With students hearing the same messages quite often from their teachers, it is important to re-enforce these ideas in new ways. “We’ll come do it in a way that’s unique and a way that’s different and it will re-enforce something that they are hearing and get them thinking about it again.” Wood feels that you can’t really hear too much about issues as serious as suicide and bullying. “If you just stick your head in the sand and say we’ve heard enough about it then I don’t know if that would be the best approach.” The group does find that many kids seem to put up a façade of having everything together in front of their peers, but inside there is more of an emotional turmoil. “If you get through to one student then it’s all worth it.”
In his fourth year at the Virden Junior High, Principal Mark Keown understands first hand, the relevance of presentations such as this one. Keown attributes the continued support for these programs in part to the community sponsors, the Royal Purple and the Elks. Keown also believes the success of groups such as these lies in the connection the presenters are able to make with the students who are at an age when they will listen a lot better to people closer to their own age and tune into what they have to say.
“Certainly these are topics that are relevant to kids at this age,” Keown commented. He notices students facing issues such as these. “It was certainly an eye-opener when I came to this building, but certainly the number of cases where there are students that have suicide potential, self-harm, all those factors, we deal with them pretty regularly here.” He went on to express the growing need for community resources and support for the school to deal with these very real student problems. “Bullying and self-awareness that’s a huge part of their lives at this age, getting them through this stage, getting them to understand that there is life after middle years, that’s the big part, and that’s what we hope presentations like today bring.”
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