Assembly addresses middle school issues
By Sophia Fischer sfischer@theacorn.com

Hormones, changing bodies, depression, peer pressure and selfesteem were among the topics addressed during a performance for eighth-grade students and their parents at Medea Creek Middle School.

The Jan. 10 program, called "Someone Like Me," featured four professional actors portraying middle school students facing difficult and confusing adolescent issues.

Through comedy, skits and music, the characters addressed the question "am I normal?" in the face of changing bodies and the effect of hormones on emotions. The 35-minute program leads up to the answer- things change and that's normal.

Medea Creek has hosted the assembly, offered by Kaiser Permanente's Educational Theater Program based in Eagle Rock, for about four years. More than 125 teens and adults attended this year's event.

"The assembly powerfully addresses health and wellness for adolescents in a very real and relevant way," said Amanda Bagheri, Medea Creek assistant principal. "Our students really pay attention to Kaiser's presentation. It is frank and supportive, which is why I believe parents also respond so well to it."

In one scene, a character reads the private journal of a fellow student, discovering that she is considering suicide because "nothing feels right," her parents are fighting and she just wants to give up. She imagines what would be said about her at her funeral and realizes it wouldn't matter because she wouldn't be alive to hear it. She calls a crisis hotline for help.

Another scene depicts how friendships change during the teen years and that it's common and normal as people's interests develop and they find things in common with others. The actors also discussed sex and the importance of abstinence because "who wants to be a baby's daddy now?"

"It's important to let middle schoolers know that they are not ready developmentally or emotionally for the consequences that come with having sex," said Stephen Gregg, program director for "Someone Like Me."

Students were offered extra credit science points for attending, which some teens and parents admitted was the initial reason they came.

"I got more out of it than I thought I would," said Karen Kopstein, parent of student Jason Kopstein.

Dave Hirsch's son, Sam, didn't want to attend the assembly and didn't need the extra credit but decided to come when he heard his friends were attending.

"It was especially valuable for him and his friends to hear together because friends are where they get their information, or misinformation," Hirsch said.

Christina Coleman and Brittany Gabriel, both 13, attended the assembly and found it valuable.

"Sometimes you don't know what to do, or how to handle certain situations," Christina said. "The show made it easy to understand from a teenage perspective what to do."

After the performance the actors answered questions and encouraged students to talk to their parents or adults they trust about any issues of concern. The advice the actors gave students included the following:

•Talk to adults. They will get you the correct information and guide you in the right direction.

•On peer pressure: If you don't feel comfortable doing something, no matter what it is, don't do it.

•Find outlets for the frustration you may feel. Find things you enjoy doing.

•Stick with people who treat you right. If someone doesn't respect you, he or she is probably not a good friend.

•If someone is putting himself in danger get help for him or encourage him to talk to an adult. In the long run, helping others is more important than their anger toward you for taking action.

•Mistakes are normal. Everyone makes them.

•It's normal to have mood swings, to feel happy one day and sad the next. Friends can feel the same way and may be your friend one day and not the next.

•If you are around people who are drinking or doing drugs think of the possible consequences if you participate. Call an adult and get out of the situation.

•If a teacher or friend is being unkind, talk to them about how you feel.

"Someone Like Me" is one of five free presentations offered by Kaiser to students throughout Southern California, according to Gregg. Among the programs is "The Amazing Food Detective" addressing childhood obesity and a conflict resolution assembly for elementary school students; another, geared toward high school students, discusses sexually transmitted diseases. Kaiser has offered such educational theater programs for the past 15 years.

"As an HMO, Kaiser has an interest in keeping people healthy and prevention is a big part of that," Gregg said.

The "Someone Like Me" actors perform the show at about 15 to 20 schools a month. Last year they appeared at 170 schools reaching 51,700 students and 3,100 adults. The show is currently being rewritten by the original writer Kisha Palmer to strengthen the storyline, according to Gregg.

At the end of each performance the actors provide cards to students with a crisis hotline phone number they can call for help if they need it.

The California Youth Crisis Line is (800) 843-5200. Callers may remain anonymous and all discussions are kept confidential. The 24-hour hotline is available to people between the ages of 12 and 24.