DARE Graduations!

I was fortunate enough to attend the DARE graduations at McMillan, Liberty, Viewmont, and Parkside this past month. they were all AWESOME!

I LOVE the everything about DARE! I love what it teaches kids, I love how it gets to their level, I love how it teaches them what's in drugs, I love how it teaches them ways to say know, I love how it teaches them the effects of drug on your body and your life, and most of all we all love officer huber, don't we?!

It goes right along with my platform of crime prevention and awareness. DARE is crime prevention. Most of the crime problems in Murray stem directly from drugs. Whether people are high and just acting dumb, or stealing so they can get money to get their drugs, it's just BAD BAD news.

What I taught the kids in my speech at the DARE graduations is that "DRUGS ARE LAME!" haha I made them yell it too! I showed them pictures of myself over the years and how much I've changed. I showed them my artwork over the years and how things I once thought were cool aren't really my favorite things anymore. Then I told them that many things do change, especially your friends. But one thing that never changes is the fact that DRUGS ARE LAME! and no matter what people tell you they're NEVER cool! I hope they always remember that, they promised me they would! And I hope with everything that I have that they keep that promise.

Sargent Fandaco gave a very powerful speech at the graduations. He told the kid that there were 3 types of kids in their classes. One group of kids would never do drugs no matter what he did or how much money he spent. Others will experiment drugs no matter what he does. This really gave the kids a shock, it's statistically proven that some of those kids WILL do drugs. It was such an eerie feeling to me to look at that clean class of 5th grades and know that some would throw their life away. And I think that really stuck with them. But then Sargent Fandaco talked about how the third group were those that were the maybes. He may be able to change their mind when he tells them the truth about drugs. He said if he can save one kid from ruining their life, it was all worth it. I think that made the kids realize how much their lives are worth. Fandaco really gave an oustanding speech and he gave it very forcefully and I hope the kids always remember it.

At one of the graduations, liberty I think, one of the men from the district came (please forgive me for totally spacing his name right now!) and he told the kids a story:
There was a carpenter who built homes his whole life. He learned from his building mistakes and eventually became a master of carpentry. Right before he retired, his boss asked him to make one more house. He was tired and cut some corners and didn't do his very best on the job. When he was done, his boss handed him some keys and told him the house was his retirement present. he had earned it.
Can you imagine how dumb that carpenter felt?
Whether you're religious or not, you have to know that you're here for a reason. If you don't do your very best, what are you doing? there is no reason to be here if you're not taking care of yourself and then taking care of others.
I loved this story and it will always help me when I think I can be lazy, because I can't. Every single thing that I do shapes and builds me up. If I cut corners and am lazy in building my character, I'm not going to be worth anything. But I know my worth and that's why I do my best in all that I do, and I hope you all do too!

Another speech that was a wee bit awkward for myself was Superintendent Tranter's. At Viewmont, he brought me up in front of everyone and asked me if I was liking being Miss Murray, what my favorite part was, what I'm doing in school, and what I'm planning on doing with the rest of my life. I was glad I had answers for all of them (LOVE it, being with the kids, graduating from the U of U in business entrepreneurship and minor in leadership, own a salon for young girls and their moms) He then used me as an example. There is NOTHING in my life standing in my way. I can do what I want because I am drug free. If I would've gotten into that stuff earlier in life, there's NO WAY I'd be where I am today! I was glad he did that, because I think that's something I needed to realize and be grateful for too! He finished up his speech with the fact that they all needed to strive to be like me! I felt so funny and yet so awesome. I'm not gonna tell anyone to be like me- I'm definitely not perfect, but I can tell you to try your hardest, set goals, and don't let anything get in the way! If your mind can dream it, your hands can achieve it!

I'm so grateful for the DARE program and I'm excited to speak in the last 5 elementary school in may!

Oh, and for those of you kids who I promised pictures, just let me know which ones you want and I can email them to you. Please e-mail me at MissMurray2010@gmail.com!