Students Share Concerns About

Underage Drinking

By Eliza Hallabeck

“Completing your high school education is obviously an accomplishment to celebrate,” wrote Newtown High School student Austin Rafley in a recent letter addressed to the graduating Class of 2012. “For many, it will be the last time you are around your peers. Like I said before, this is a huge reason to celebrate, but no reason to put your future goals and aspirations on the line.”

Austin was one of multiple students who wrote letters recently after Newtown High School guidance counselor and high school Fusion group co-coordinator Jeff Tolson asked for the students to write letters to their fellow students about the dangers of underage drinking.

Fusion is a junior and freshman mentoring program at the high school, and Newtown Youth & Family Services (NYFS) Community Coordinator Kaitlyn Johnson co-coordinates the group with Mr Tolson. The student-written letters were then shared with The Bee by Ms Johnson to help spread the message of underage drinking prevention.

Ms Johnson explained the effort was meant to help the graduates see their fellow students care about them and care about their safety.

The letters, Ms Johnson said, also help support a NYFS effort to keep the focus of underage drinking prevention in the forefront of student minds. NYFS is in the second year of a four-year grant called the Partnership for Success through the Department of Mental Health and Addiction Services, which provides money to help prevent underage drinking through programs and initiatives, like the multiple efforts NYFS made this past school year and the letter writing campaign.

“Dear upperclassmen,” wrote Katie Wojok, “Your high school graduation is one of the milestones that signifies your becoming an adult. Graduation is a symbol for all the hard work, time, and effort you have put in over the past four years. Don’t ruin it by drinking.”

The Newtown High School graduation Class of 2012 is set to graduate during commencement exercises at Western Connecticut State University’s O’Neill Center on June 20.

Another student, Alexa Reyes wrote, “Do you know the effects of drinking? Or that by taking too much alcohol even once can your ruin your life? Well it can, and during an important time, graduation, it will not only be embarrassing but also damaging. Ending up like Lindsey Lohan is not a great future, dying young is nobody’s game plan.”

Overall, 16 students wrote letters that were shared with The Bee for publication. The letters are available in full with this story at www.newtownbee.com.