Youth Ambassador: Shreya Lal
Red Ribbon Week at Mills E. Godwin High School was held from the 21st to the 25th of October. The annual national campaign was started in remembrance of the legacy of the Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Enrique “Kiki” Camarena, who was tortured and killed in Mexico. The Herren Project chapter at Godwin began organizing the initiative on its campus a few years ago to raise awareness surrounding substance use and push students to embrace a drug-free lifestyle. Throughout the week, students and faculty worked together to create interactive events and activities to educate the student body and reinforce the importance of a healthy lifestyle.
Creating a Lasting Impact
As we began brainstorming ideas for the event, we wanted to focus on activities that would effectively and widely impact our student community – “How can we make this week enjoyable and informative?” Through each collaborative event and activity, we focused on different aspects of the mission of Red Ribbon Week and the Herren Project, such as substance use prevention and mental health awareness. To represent Godwin’s commitment to a drug-free and healthy lifestyle, we started the week by distributing red ribbons, pins, and bracelets to the student body. This was meaningful as it created a uniform message that Godwin is focused on a project to improve student wellbeing. In line with this commitment, students were offered to sign a pledge representing their commitment to a drug-free lifestyle throughout the week. We felt this pledge could be significant in making a difference in students’ lives as they further understood the true effects of substance use and were taking steps to make healthier choices. Later in the week, we hosted a “Red Ribbon Week Carnival” with interactive booths for students to actively receive information on the dangers of substance abuse. Discussions typically revolved around mental health, underage drinking, vaping, opioid misuse, and coping mechanisms. Students would play games such as guessing numbers while wearing “intoxicated” goggles (simulated with Vaseline-smeared lenses) or speaking to Herren Project Club members about coping strategies. The club also hosted a Wellness Walk around the school’s track on Friday. The Walk had over 300+ students participate. Throughout the track, Herren Club members held posters detailing the importance of a commitment to a healthier lifestyle.
Connecting to The Herren Project’s Mission
Red Ribbon Week at Godwin was designed to be more than passive information delivery. Through the week’s events, students would see the importance of a healthy lifestyle beyond substance use. By providing a platform for conversation, education, and a collective commitment, the Godwin Herren Project club ensured that the message of Red Ribbon Week would be discussed beyond the week itself. By helping students understand the different behaviors involved in substance abuse and allowing them to meet other students to learn about and share their journeys in creating healthier lifestyles, we hoped that these activities would cause students to become more mindful and aware. We believe these events were fundamental in showcasing the true dangers of substance abuse and the importance of healthy decision-making. We will continue to promote Herren Project’s values of substance use prevention, mental health awareness, and community.
