Becker School’s DREAM Team is a group of students and adults working side-by-side to empower their peers to be healthy and drug-free. They were founded in 2015 by students Megan Peterson, Rachael Tauer and Macy Eigen, along with parent advisors, Heather Eigen and Mike Tauer, and Assistant Principal Mark Kolbinger as part of the Sherburne County Substance Use Prevention Coalition.
Their mission is to promote healthy choices for teens by avoiding drugs and alcohol, especially in social situations. They also want their peers to be role models and leaders for the entire study body, especially younger students.
The DREAM Team holds numerous chemically-free events at city parks and at the school and have also participated in community events like the Becker Youth Expo. Currently, they have well over 40 active members and expect this number to only increase as word gets out about the impact the group has in local communities.
Recently, team advisor Jan Lefebvre — along with Becker student Hannah Bengtson — partnered to play mother/daughter roles in a powerful video available on the internet. The video demonstrates both a common approach and a “better” approach to dealing with substance use by students.
The Sherburne County SUP Coalition website says it’s best to talk early, talk often to ones children and teens.
“Finding out your teen used drugs definitely stirs up a parent's emotions,” the site states. “It can be a very confusing time. But the best way to help your teen - and to make sure they hear you - is to remain as calm as possible throughout the conversation. Also, it's as important, if not more, that you listen to them.”
The DREAM Team’s video does just that.
“Do not try to start the conversation when you can tell your child is drunk or high. Hold off until they are sober. You want to be able to have a conversation, rather than a confrontation.”
The video can be viewed at: www.facebook.com/SCSUPC/videos/1403479063059417 and more information and resources can be found online at: www.sherburnesupcoalition.org.
