Teen Maze Shows Students Reality of Dangerous Behaviors
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Students, parents, and community members had an up close look at the harm that can come from reckless behaviors and substance abuse as they attended the annual Teen Maze last week. The event was sponsored by the Tri-County Family Connection and held Tuesday, March 14, and Wednesday, March 15, at Brewton-Parker College in Mount Vernon.
Local families and individuals were invited to experience the Teen Maze Community Night on March 14, as Maze participants explained the dangers and possible outcomes of unsafe sex, alcohol and drug usage, and drunk driving. These same behaviors were highlighted again on March 15, as 7th graders from Treutlen Middle School, Wheeler County Middle School, and Montgomery County Middle School came to discuss these dangers and witness several skits showing realistic depictions of these scenarios.
The skits were put on through a combined effort of the Jeff Davis High School Drama Club, Montgomery County Sheriff’s Office, Toombs-Montgomery EMS, and others who worked to make these dangers seem real to the youth. The skits first began with the scene of a party, where a combination of drugs and alcohol led to issues, such as overdose and sexual assault, before being interrupted by the police. Students were then shown how police and paramedics would handle this situation, and what possible consequences could come from the event.
This scene soon transitioned to the scene of a fatal car accident caused by a drunk driver, as students filed outside to watch the police, paramedics, and morticians respond to the crash. An actress playing the distraught mother of a child killed in the accident also was featured in the scene, as she cried and screamed for responders to helpherchild. The last scene returned to the auditorium where the audience watched the drunk driver being sentenced to 20 years of jail time and his mother being taken into custody for contempt of court, as she repeatedly cried, “He’s a good boy, he just made a mistake.” This scene featured roles which were played by members of the Department of Juvenile Justice, who then spoke to the students on the relevance of the drama.
Students ended their experience with 6 short classes (less than 10 minutes each), where they heard from organizations, such as The Refuge, Department of Public Health, and others, about making good choices and avoiding dangerous behaviors.
Tri-County Family Connection Executive Director Theotis Summerset, Jr., commented on the event. “There is nothing like seeing the faces of young and still maturing youth opening their eyes to a reality happening all around them.”
SEEING THE DAMAGE FIRSTHAND – The students also witnessed the damage their choices may make on the people that they love, as they watched an actress portray a distraught mother of a child killed in the crash.
