The Teacher Gloria Omolulu Institute is the latest school in Anguilla to hold a graduation ceremony following the conclusion of the six-month Drugs Awareness Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Programme conducted by Police Officers Augustina Carbon and Shawn Lake.
This first-ever graduation ceremony at Omolulu was held for seven first and second form students. The event was on Tuesday, this week, June 19, which marked the end of the D.A.R.E. Programme at that school.
The keynote address was delivered by Sergeant Randolph Yearwood. He said the training included such topics as Taking charge of your life; Your brain and body; Facts about drugs; Analysing advertisements; Decision-making; Key assertive behaviour; Practising resistance skills; Anger management; and social and legal responsibilities.
“I am certain that what has been imparted to you would not fall on deaf ears, but will serve as a reminder that drugs and violence are dangerous forms of unacceptable behaviour within our community. As young people, you should guard against this,” he told the students.
Sergeant Yearwood continued: “You have to be strong when temptations come your way. As youth, I know you live in a more complex and demanding society than what many of us older adults experienced. We, generally, did not face pressure to use drugs, but nowadays a substantial amount of illegal substances can be found in schools all over the world and, sad to say, even in our beautiful island of Anguilla.”
The senior Police Officer advised the students to be very careful of following a crowd or a self-appointed leader influencing them to use drugs or perform acts of violence or vandalism.
He urged parents to play an active role in the development of their children. “You can contribute by developing a close relationship with your children,” he advised. “Helping them to understand peer pressure; encouraging friendship with positive role models; getting to know your children’s friends and parents; knowing where your children are and what they are doing; teaching them assertiveness and to stand up for what they believe in; and praising their assertiveness when they act in such a manner.”
Sergeant Yearwood was extremely confident that the D.A.R.E. Programme would motivate the youth to become more vigilant, alert and independent of peer pressure.
