ESSAY CONTESTS www.TheCitizensWhoCare.org "Through My Eyes" - II Essay Contest - Drugs Brief Overview: BHHS seniors write a non-fiction essay, anonymously or giving their name, about drugs for October (Red Ribbon Month regarding Substance Abuse). This would include illicit drugs, prescription drugs (prescribed for you like Ritalin or using someone else's prescription), inhalants, and dip. Some idea starters: How drugs has affected my life? Whether it's scary or positive, feel free to share it. Remember to take it to the next level and tell us how it changed you. Are you dealing with peer pressure to experience drugs? How do you say no? Tell us more than just what you say or that you just walked away! Tell us what you do to avoid the pressure to experience drugs and how you handle yourself in a situation where you are offered drugs. How you have helped a friend stay drug-free or how you have helped a friend to stop using drugs? Are there specific ways you and your friends have avoided using drugs?. What do you know about the dangers of underage drug use? How often do you see pro-drug content in movies, in songs, on clothes or elsewhere? How do you guard yourself against these kinds of messages? How old were you if and when you first tried an illicit drug? What got you to try it? Essay Details: Entry Deadline: September 17. Length between 250 and 1,000 words, typed, double spaced, plus an electronic copy in the body of an e-mail. Judges: Winners selected by Words & Pictures Book Club & friends. Judges decision is final. Awards: Grand Prize of $100 and three runner-ups, receiving a $30, $20, and $10 gift certificate from Wild River Pizza. Each of these essays will be published in a Saturday edition of The Pilot during the month of October. And remaining entrants will receive a $5.00 gift certificate from either Fred Meyer or Hot Shotz. What is the purpose of the project? To get the students involved in drug awareness and to let the community see the issue from their perspective. And to encourage the police and judges to take a "No tolerance" stance and dole out serious consequences to illegal manufacturers, sellers and users of illicit drugs. Why is it needed? The public doesn't get to see the impact drugs have on our students from their perspective. It's time to listen. What problems will it address? The generation gap of knowledge, and the magnitude and the seriousness of the growing drug problem in BHHS and Azalea Middle school. How will you know the task was successful? When the community as a whole stops saying, "We don't have a drug problem" until they actually aren't problems anymore. Sponsors: The Pilot, Wild River Pizza, Fred Meyer, Hot Shotz Espresso, Words & Pictures and an anonymous group of Citizens Who Care. (www.TheCitizensWhoCare.org ) For questions or comments contact Gordon Clay at 541.469.5124 Think about it! TheCitizensWhoCare.org was developed and is maintained by Gordon Clay Through My Eyes™ is a registered trademarks of Gordon Clay ©2007-2011, www.TheCitizensWhoCare.org/essaycontest-drugs.html