Nicole Petranchuk
LaFayette senior inducted into peer leadership program
LaFayette Junior/Senior High School senior Emily Long wants to help her peers make good decisions and lead healthy lives.During a September 8 ceremony held at Rosamond Gifford Zoo, Emily was inducted into the Heart of New York Teen Institute (TI) as a member of the program’s Senior Youth Staff. Part of Central New York’s Prevention Network, TI is designed to empower teens with knowledge, skills and confidence so they can advocate for positive change within their schools and communities.
“Emily has worked very hard for this recognition,” LaFayette Jr./Sr. High School Counselor Kristeen Cool said.
This is Emily’s third year participating in TI and her second serving as a youth staff member. During her sophomore year, Emily attended the program’s annual conference where she participated in presentations, experiential workshops, small discussion groups, and prevention planning sessions to learn about topics pertinent to adolescents and young adults, including substance, alcohol and tobacco abuse. During her junior year, Emily was selected to help manage conference activities and small-group discussions.
“She seemed to really fall in love with the program’s positive, non-judgmental climate,” Mrs. Cool said.
This year, as one of four senior youth staff members, Emily will help to run the 30th Annual Teen Institute Conference which is scheduled for November 10-13 in Penn Yan. To prepare for the multi-day event, she is facilitating meetings and training sessions for youth staff, attending overnight leadership trainings and engaging in LaFayette CSD’s Teen Institute activities.
“Emily is exceptionally dedicated to the ideals of Teen Institute and its purpose within the community,” Mrs. Cool said. “She deserves this opportunity very much.”
As part of this year’s conference, Emily and a team of LaFayette CSD student participants, under the supervision of team advisers Mrs. Cool and Kelly Fredericks, will develop an action plan unique to their school community that offers students strategies for navigating adolescent challenges and promotes healthy decision-making.
LaFayette Teen Institute is now on Facebook. Like their page at www.facebook.com/LaFayetteTI for photos, program information, important news and more!
