Interview Answers

Interview with DP student: (Kayla Hestness)
1. What is DP?
DP is a 2 period class where you get to know 12 other students in your grade really well, you help and support each other in making a committment to be chemically free your entire senior year. You learn a lot about different drugs, and the affects they have on your body; and then you go and teach a group of 6th graders what you want them to know about not just chemicals, but other "life lessons" once a week.

2. What goes on in a normal day of DP?
at the beginning of the week we usually just take the first period to talk about what we did over the weekend; sort of like a "weekend check", and the rest of the week is either spent planning for our next lesson, reading a certain book (Tuesdays with Morrie), team building stuff and just getting to know each other better.

3. How has DP affected your senior year?
I've become really good friends with people that i may have never even talked to if it wasn't for DP. I've always had a committment to myself to not use any sort of chemical, but it's so much better to have a big group of people who you know have made the same committment as you to be chemically free.

4. How have you developed through DP?
I think DP has helped me become more open with people and just more outgoing in general. When you have other people to back you up on why you don't want to drink over the weekend, it just makes you a little more confident and stronger.

5. What is it like teaching 6th graders every week?
Sometimes it gets tiring and you really would just rather skip that day because you just don't feel like putting up with 6th graders attitudes; but then you just remember why you're doing it and you just hope that maybe you're changing at least one kids decision making down the road. It's so rewarding when they actually understand what you're saying and they thank you for being a great teacher; it all pays off:)

6. What connections have you made through DP?
Several. Some of my best friends have been made through this group.

7. Do you remember being in Drug Education as a 6th grader? If so, what did you take away from it?
i was homeschooled...so no:(

8. What affected your decision to apply for DP?
I figured since i already have stayed chemically free my entire life, it'd be really cool to have a group of people who had the same committment to support each other and people i know i could hang out with when everyone else was maybe not making such great decisions. It's one of the best choices I've ever made; I dont know if this year would be as great as it's been if it wasn't for my DP group.

Interview with DP student: (Laura Appleton)
1. What is DP?
DP is a program that puts seniors into leadership positions, in which they go to local middle schools and teach the 6th graders drug education. Among drug ed, we also teach about bullying and decision making. Its a program that is unique to district 196 and gives seniors the opportunity to be leaders and grow close to people who have many of the same values as themselves.

2. What goes on in a normal day of DP?
We are usually lesson planning for our teaching days, or learning about what we will be teaching the kids about later in the week. Fridays are usually our more relaxed days where we will go to "Friday Friends", playing games with our fellow classmates from the special education dept. or doing group bonding activities. Either way its a pretty awesome experience.

3. How has DP affected your senior year?
DP has made a major impact on my senior, it has given me the awesome opportunity to meet a bunch of new people and grow really close to them. A majority of the students in my class were perfect strangers to me, but now, their some of my best friends. Its also helped me to stay strong in my decision to remain chemically free. I have never used chemicals, and its incredible to have a group that will honestly support everyone else when faced with adversities that many highschoolers have to overcome.

4. How have you developed through DP?
I have learned to come out of my shell and just be more comfortable with me. This has happened through the close bonds with my fellow members. I never have to "fake" being happy or pretend to be having a good day. The always know what to say to make me feel better and being able to be real has really helped me to step up my leadership skills and discover who I am.

5. What is it like teaching 6th graders every week?
It's a great experience, although super nervous going into it, after getting to know all of my kids i can't wait for wednesdays and thursdays when i get to go back and teach them. I have become a role model to them and that is both a responsibility and a priviledge. Knowing i can make an impact on these kids lives is so amazing, I wouldn't trade it for anything in the world.

6. What connections have you made through DP?
Like previously stated, i have basically made a whole new circle of best friends. We all help each other through difficult times and in turn grow. I can see us all 30 years in the future still keeping up with each other. Its just a given at this point.

7. Do you remember being in Drug Education as a 6th grader? If so, what did you take away from it?
I really don't remember alot from Drug Ed in my 6th grade year, thats sort of my inspiration for this year in teaching the kids. I want to make sure to make a positive impact and have them remember DP as a great learning and growing experience.

8. What affected your decision to apply for DP?
I have remained chemically free my entire life and knowing that, as a senior, we are faced with a lot more pressure, it was a great idea to me, to have a whole group of people who thought and acted like me, to support me in that decision. I also loved the idea of teaching 6th graders, being that teaching is a career I may want to pursue in my future.

Interview with DP student: (Matt Lilledahl)
1. What is DP?
DP stands for Developmentatl Psycholohy and is a class where high school students go on a weekly basis to teach drug education to local sixth graders.

2. What goes on in a normal day of DP?
On a normal day of DP we do a variety of different things. Most of the time we are preparing for teaching by writing lesson plans, creating fun activities for our students, and studying the topics we will eventually teach our students. Other than lesson planning we also do a lot of different activities to get to know our classmates and get closer as a group. It has been a great experience forming friendships with the people in my DP group.

3. How has DP affected your senior year?
DP has had a very positive affect on my senior year. By joining DP I have made the choice to stay chemically free throughout the year. And at the same time I have made many memories from senior year that I would not have made if I would not have been in DP.

4. How have you developed through DP?
DP has helped with my leadership skills a lot. Every week when I teach the sixth graders it is my job to be a positive leader for them and it has really helped me improve upon my leadership skills.

5. What is it like teaching 6th graders every week?
Teaching sixth graders each week can be a pretty fun job, but it can be frustrating at times if the students don't cooperate. Overall though it is a really fun experience getting to know the sixth graders and serving as a role model for them.

6. What connections have you made through DP?
So far this year I have been pretty surprised about all of the information I have learned about in DP, and all of this information will be useful in my future.

7. Do you remember being in Drug Education as a 6th grader? If so, what did you take away from it?
I do remember being in Drug Education as a sixth grader. I think the thing I remember most is looking up to my teacher, and learning how to make the right decisions. I always looked forward to Drug Ed. in when I was in sixth grade.

8. What affected your decision to apply for DP?
I wanted to be in DP because I remembered Drug Education from sixth grade and I always wanted to be a drug ed. teacher when I was a senior since my experience in sixth grade. And I also wanted to be a role model for sixth graders in our community.

Interview with 6th grade student:
1. What do you like/dislkike about Drug Education?
Erika-Learning in groups
Isaiah-Dislike meeting in groups
Liam-Dislike: takes up gym time. Like: Learning

2. What have you learned from Drug Education?
Erika-Not to take drugs
Isaiah-Cocaine and Crack are the same thing
Liam: Excitablities

3. What can the teachers do to make Drug Education better/more fun?
Isaiah-more games
Liam: Make more fun work

4. What has been your favorite part about Drug Education so far?
Erika-The play.
Isaiah-Learning
Liam: The skit

5. Would you be interested in teaching Drug Education when you are a senior?