A group of Elon students received a touching reminder about making wise lifestyle choices. Read more...
Students at Andrews Elementary School created 400 cards as part of Red Ribbon Week, a national campaign to promote drug and alcohol awareness. On Friday, they presented their artwork to a dozen Elon students at their Burlington school. They also created friendship bracelets together.
With a theme of “portraits of healthy people,” the young students drew pictures of people running, lifting weights and saying no to drugs and alcohol. Some wrote messages on their cards, including “eat healthy, work out, be cool, go to school.”
“I think it’s really good to stay away from drugs because if somebody you really love does drugs and dies, you’ll really feel sad,” said one first-grader.
The cards will be distributed to Elon students who are enrolled in wellness courses. Wellness is one of four core courses required of all first-year students and includes substance education. Elon students plan to write the Andrews students thank-you letters.
Resa Walch, the university’s director of substance education, said Elon students were excited to connect with the Andrews students. “It’s a great way for Elon students to realize they are role models in this community and that the decisions they make about their health and drugs and alcohol are important.”
Freshman Tim Dobson agreed. “It really makes you think about the kids’ point of view, and by drawing a picture they can show you how much they care. I love my card. I’m going to hang it near my desk.”
“We are their role models,” said freshman Cristina Mayer after receiving her card. “It makes me want to embrace their message.”
“I just love kids because they have so much energy and really believe in what they’re saying,” said Jessie McCullough.