Students from two classes at Salt Point Center attended the Dutchess County Youth Health Rally at Heritage Financial Park, which brought together students from middle schools, community organizations and local leaders for a day focused on wellness for youth.
After motivational speaker Ken Nwadike, Jr., also known as the “Free Hugs Guy,” asked students how they would help their communities if they were given $100,000, he shared that he would donate it to the Los Angeles homeless shelter he grew up in as a way to give back. He started the Hollywood Half Marathon in 2012 to raise money for youth homeless shelters, where he raised $1 million in the inaugural year. He shared what his message of kindness looks like.
“Sometimes it’s just looking over at someone next to you and checking in if they’re OK … that’s the way
we’re supposed to be toward one another,” Nwadike said, encouraging the students in attendance to be kind and befriend one another. “Form some friendships, maximize the opportunity you have here.”
Ryan Doyle, Funeral Director of Timothy P. Doyle Funeral Home, shared how addiction cost him his career in law enforcement and nearly his life. “For me, the change really came when I realized I was the problem,” Doyle shared. “I had to get vulnerable and honest.”
Now in his fourth year of sobriety, Doyle attends Alcoholics Anonymous meetings, talks to a therapist and sees an addiction specialist once a month and hopes that his story will persuade kids to not become addicted to drugs or alcohol. “For the longest time, I used to always think that all I have to do is stop drinking and stop doing drugs and my life would be amazing; that was the biggest lie I told myself,” Doyle said. “Without the drugs, without the alcohol, I’m left with myself, the feelings and everything that made me drink and do drugs … Today it’s a blessing.”
Students also had a chance to explore activities that can help them get into and stay in tip-top shape and met representatives from organizations such as Mental Health America of Dutchess County and the Brain & Body Coalition to learn about the services they provide.
It was the first time SPC students attended the rally. Health Teacher Susan Briggs-Lopane noted that she wanted them to get the chance to socialize with students from other schools, as well as hear the guest speakers’ extraordinary life experiences. “Some lessons I hope students learned are that no matter how hard life is, you can turn your life around and make a positive experience,” Briggs-Lopane said. “All students have a voice and can do good things for their community.”
While the students did not know what to expect at first, Briggs-Lopane noted that they had fun learning about the different organizations in attendance and what they can do to keep positive when different situations arise.
“Overall, it was a good educational experience for the students,” Briggs-Lopane said.
Aon Austin, a student in Timothy Sheehan’s class, performed in an obstacle course, which he passed with flying colors, had fun trying his hand at CPR, and liked hearing the positive speeches Nwadike and Doyle gave.
“I got to pound on someone’s chest doing CPR,” Austin recalled. “It was cool and I got new bracelets.”