Post by Marc LeVine on Jan 29, 2007 18:58:08 GMT -5
Anytown program helps develop leadership skills
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - Five Freehold High School students are serious about making important changes in their school.
The students, who are members of the Anytown USA delegation, attended the Dec. 18 meeting of the Borough Council to tell the members of the governing body what they had learned during a visit to an Anytown USA camp.
Under the guidance of FHS student assistance adviser Kevin Flynn and Assistant Principal Scott Liptzin, Gregory Lopez, Ashley Trocle, Alexis Roldan, Andrew Goetz and Paul Weiner were given the opportunity to learn skills ad gather knowledge they can pass on to students at their school and that they can employ throughout their lives.
The purpose of the Anytown USA program, according to its Internet Web site, is "to educate young people for effective leadership in a pluralistic society." The program, founded in the 1950s, helps young people move on to responsible leadership positions in their community, state and nation.
As delegates to Anytown, the students shared ideas, feelings and their individuality. They also learned to better understand themselves and others. Anytown delegates experience the diversity of the cultural, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds represented at the camp, according to the Web site.
The camp offers workshops, seminars and special events. Participants are encouraged to express their creativity and their individuality while learning to better understand and respect the creativity and individuality of others.
Andrew, 17, of Freehold Borough, compared the camp experience to an emotional roller coaster.
"We learned about the cycle of prejudice and how children are raised to believe in certain things. They take these beliefs with them through life and pass them on to their own children," he said. "We also talked about social and racial injustice and how it is important to understand that offensive phrases may have a deep impact on people."
Andrew said the program also discussed leadership skills and cultural education.
"It was a life-changing experience," he said. "It allowed us to open up and express ourselves in a new way."
Ashley, 17, of Freehold Borough, said Freehold High School has a very diverse environment.
"The culmination of the elite medical sciences, computer sciences and culinary programs, along with the general student body and the English as a Second Language students has allowed for our school to be exemplary of a diversified school. Our school is by no means perfect, however. There are things that should and hopefully will be addressed and changed," Ashley said. "We learned that while the individual is important, the value of community is paramount. The strengthened bonds between one another have led to stronger minds. We, in fact, are not an island. As part of our plan, we have involved the student body with the formation of an activities committee that has created a similarly passionate environment like that of Anytown."
Alexis, 17, of Freehold Borough, described one of the activities that is meant to bring the young people closer together. The activity is called Mix-Up Day. She said the national event asks students to sit with different people during their lunch period in school. Mix-Up Day was held on Nov. 17.
"The purpose of this activity is to break down the cliques at our school. By walking into our cafeteria, it is rather apparent that tables have been divided into stereotypes and certain groups. For example, minorities will sit in one corner, the medical sciences students in another, and athletes will be opposite to all of them. Mix-Up Day attempts to break down these barriers and create a more familial and wholesome environment," Alexis said.
When the event was held, the Anytowners walked through the cafeteria, introducing themselves.
"We served as catalysts to the event while watching active participants help in Mix-Up Day and its goals. It was a booming success and we hope to achieve an even greater outcome during the next run," she said. "Anytown has come to Freehold Borough and we were determined to make it known."
Gregory, 16, of Freehold Borough, said attending the Anytown camp gave him a different outlook and a better understanding of people from different cultures, ethnicities and races.
"I feel as though I am an ambassador of good will now against racial discrimination in our society. We want to focus on trying to educate the next generation to prevent these things from existing at all," he said.
Anytowner Paul Weiner, 16, of Marlboro, said the program focused on the value of respect and community. He said each individual's ideas have value. He said the delegates meet regularly with Liptzin or with Principal Linda Jewell to discuss ways to implement many of the skills and ideas they learned while at the Anytown camp.
"The delegates themselves are a diverse group," Paul said. "Greg is a member of Los Latinos, Ashley is a member of the National Honor Society and ADAPT, Alexis is a member of the National Honor Society and ADAPT, and I belong to the Card Club and the Science Club."
Seeing the delegates relating together is the best advertisement for diversity in young people.
"By going to the student leaders we are trying to make people aware of what we are trying to do," he said. "We want to let them experience a part of what we do and we hope that the message will radiate from us to them."
BY CLARE MARIE CELANO
Staff Writer
FREEHOLD - Five Freehold High School students are serious about making important changes in their school.
The students, who are members of the Anytown USA delegation, attended the Dec. 18 meeting of the Borough Council to tell the members of the governing body what they had learned during a visit to an Anytown USA camp.
Under the guidance of FHS student assistance adviser Kevin Flynn and Assistant Principal Scott Liptzin, Gregory Lopez, Ashley Trocle, Alexis Roldan, Andrew Goetz and Paul Weiner were given the opportunity to learn skills ad gather knowledge they can pass on to students at their school and that they can employ throughout their lives.
The purpose of the Anytown USA program, according to its Internet Web site, is "to educate young people for effective leadership in a pluralistic society." The program, founded in the 1950s, helps young people move on to responsible leadership positions in their community, state and nation.
As delegates to Anytown, the students shared ideas, feelings and their individuality. They also learned to better understand themselves and others. Anytown delegates experience the diversity of the cultural, ethnic, religious and socioeconomic backgrounds represented at the camp, according to the Web site.
The camp offers workshops, seminars and special events. Participants are encouraged to express their creativity and their individuality while learning to better understand and respect the creativity and individuality of others.
Andrew, 17, of Freehold Borough, compared the camp experience to an emotional roller coaster.
"We learned about the cycle of prejudice and how children are raised to believe in certain things. They take these beliefs with them through life and pass them on to their own children," he said. "We also talked about social and racial injustice and how it is important to understand that offensive phrases may have a deep impact on people."
Andrew said the program also discussed leadership skills and cultural education.
"It was a life-changing experience," he said. "It allowed us to open up and express ourselves in a new way."
Ashley, 17, of Freehold Borough, said Freehold High School has a very diverse environment.
"The culmination of the elite medical sciences, computer sciences and culinary programs, along with the general student body and the English as a Second Language students has allowed for our school to be exemplary of a diversified school. Our school is by no means perfect, however. There are things that should and hopefully will be addressed and changed," Ashley said. "We learned that while the individual is important, the value of community is paramount. The strengthened bonds between one another have led to stronger minds. We, in fact, are not an island. As part of our plan, we have involved the student body with the formation of an activities committee that has created a similarly passionate environment like that of Anytown."
Alexis, 17, of Freehold Borough, described one of the activities that is meant to bring the young people closer together. The activity is called Mix-Up Day. She said the national event asks students to sit with different people during their lunch period in school. Mix-Up Day was held on Nov. 17.
"The purpose of this activity is to break down the cliques at our school. By walking into our cafeteria, it is rather apparent that tables have been divided into stereotypes and certain groups. For example, minorities will sit in one corner, the medical sciences students in another, and athletes will be opposite to all of them. Mix-Up Day attempts to break down these barriers and create a more familial and wholesome environment," Alexis said.
When the event was held, the Anytowners walked through the cafeteria, introducing themselves.
"We served as catalysts to the event while watching active participants help in Mix-Up Day and its goals. It was a booming success and we hope to achieve an even greater outcome during the next run," she said. "Anytown has come to Freehold Borough and we were determined to make it known."
Gregory, 16, of Freehold Borough, said attending the Anytown camp gave him a different outlook and a better understanding of people from different cultures, ethnicities and races.
"I feel as though I am an ambassador of good will now against racial discrimination in our society. We want to focus on trying to educate the next generation to prevent these things from existing at all," he said.
Anytowner Paul Weiner, 16, of Marlboro, said the program focused on the value of respect and community. He said each individual's ideas have value. He said the delegates meet regularly with Liptzin or with Principal Linda Jewell to discuss ways to implement many of the skills and ideas they learned while at the Anytown camp.
"The delegates themselves are a diverse group," Paul said. "Greg is a member of Los Latinos, Ashley is a member of the National Honor Society and ADAPT, Alexis is a member of the National Honor Society and ADAPT, and I belong to the Card Club and the Science Club."
Seeing the delegates relating together is the best advertisement for diversity in young people.
"By going to the student leaders we are trying to make people aware of what we are trying to do," he said. "We want to let them experience a part of what we do and we hope that the message will radiate from us to them."