Degree earning/earned:
B.A. in Political Science (Public Policy focused) and B.A. in Human Services
Career:
Internship with National Alliance to Prevent Underage Drinking (which is staffed by *and my paycheck comes from* the Center for Science in the Public Interest)
Washington , DC
Alcohol Policy Intern
The project I’m currently working on is really exciting! Washington DC is constructing a new baseball stadium for the Washington Nationals and I’m working to prevent alcohol advertisements from appearing anywhere on the field, the scoreboard or other areas of the stadium that are frequently picked up on television. The theory behind this project is that baseball should be a family-friendly event, and alcohol advertisements shouldn’t be part of the fabric of the game. These ads are influential to an underage audience and these types of advertisements create a positive association between baseball and drinking. NOYS Meetings attended, and memories of those events:
I’ve attended… maybe 5 NOYS meetings since August 2004, representing SADD as a member of the Student Leadership Council, as Student of the Year, and as Youth Advisor to the SLC. I love the opportunity to meet, interact, and share ideas with youth from all across the country that are involved with a wide variety of youth safety organizations.
Why is youth safety and health important to you?
Through high school and now in college, I’m frequently surrounded by peers who aren’t making all the best decisions- and are really putting themselves at risk. It’s so important to continue spreading the information we know regarding alcohol use, sexual health, eating disorders, etc to our peers. Posters hung in residence halls and pamphlets handed out by Student Health are nice, but classmates are more likely to really listen and learn from a peer than from glossy publications.
What are you doing now to address youth safety and health concerns?
My internship with CSPI is allowing me be at the foundation of starting something big, and something groundbreaking, regarding the regulation of alcohol advertisements at sports stadiums. On campus, I’m using some of the information I learned through NOYS meetings and am starting a Gamma (of Bacchus and Gamma) organization within GW’s Community of Fraternities and Sororities. This summer I started working with FACE (an organization based in Michigan ) and its “Take It Back” initiative to give student groups around the country the materials they need to identify a community need and act on effecting change in their communities. I’m still involved with SADD, and am going to be involved in the planning of the 2006 SADD National Conference which will be held in Louisiana .
What was college peer pressure like?
Surprisingly, I think there is less pressure in college to drink than there was in high school. Underage drinking is much more prevalent and is part of almost every party or social event on campus, but my choice not to drink is much more respected. A student who was vocal about their position to resist drugs and alcohol in high school was labeled “the beer police”, and now party-goers constantly approach me when they’re told I’m not drinking and comment on how cool they think it is I’m having a great time without using. My decision not to drink is really respected by my college peers, and even supported by them.
Lessons learned and advice for current NOYS youth:
It’s so hard to stay in touch with the people you meet at NOYS meetings because we’re all so busy in our lives at home, but really make the effort to shoot a random email or send a Facebook message when you have the chance. It’s very surprising how often I run into someone I met through NOYS, or meet someone who is also connected with a NOYS friend. These people are going to continue appearing in your life as we all keep working towards our goals of promoting youth safety, so take the time to reach out. |
