Teen Summit during the short week before Thanksgiving gave students a chance to tackle teen issues from all sides. The Student Advisory Committee had worked with principal Tracy Gleghorn to put together speakers and programs with the goal of helping students learn to make good choices.

“Based on how I saw students involved in the process, I think it was very effective,” Spanish teacher Cindy Eppes said. “I think it would be a good thing to do every year.”

The biggest activity had to do with putting together a whole-school video about making good choices. Students broke into class and organization groups on both days to create posters and other visuals to use in the video, which was filmed on Friday afternoon as well as a full-school segment the following week.

“I thought they put a lot of effort into the posters,” librarian Melanie Menefee said. “They addressed a lot of problems facing today’s youth.”

Filming the organizational segments was a challenge for students in multiple groups, because each group was filmed in a different spot and wore their own t-shirts. Running back and forth to change made the activity a little hectic.

“It was crazy because I had to figure out which one I had to be at that time,” junior Sarah Burchfield said. “It was stressing me out so I just went to the closet class.”

Other activities included a motivational speech from college football player Dominic Miller, an assembly with two prisoners currently incarcerated for long sentences, and improv skits by the theatre group. The topics covered by the students included eating disorders, the dangers of social media, and texting and driving.

“I think it really well; it was really nerve racking to go in front of the school, but I think everyone did a great job,” junior Kendall Morales said. “I hope that they actually listened to what we were saying, and I hope they realize that a lot of the topics are major issues for teens today.”