Dear Friend,

Now that Spring Break has come and gone, the end of the school year is near. Classrooms are full of countdowns, anxiety, and energy—both nervous and excited. We are coming up on final exams, prom, and for lucky seniors, graduation. As a school counselor, this time of year is one of the busiest seasons. I speak to young adults about serious decisions they must make. I speak to parents about navigating the next steps of college, career options, and more. And I speak about making choices about the future, which include those decisions about saying NO to underage drinking and making sure that the decisions they are making are calculated and safe. As a member of Responsibility.org’s Educational Advisory Board, I know that there are resources I can share with families to navigate this time of year safely and effectively.

Right now, if there are two things I can recommend the most, they are to talk and to listen. This is the season of decisions. It’s the season for setting goals. It’s the season for taking risks. And it’s the season for celebrating the hard work that has gone into their careers as students so far. 
  

As you head out to shop for a prom ensemble, place orders for graduation caps and gowns, and make plans for this summer, remember that your kids are still kids. They still look to you for advice, guidance, and support. Discussions about alcohol are critical to make sure your high school student is armed with resources to make calculated, mindful choices at prom, graduation, and beyond.

1. Empower them to make good decisions. Peer pressure is real. Practice good decision making at home so that your teen is ready when the time comes. Role play is a great way to make sure they have their words prepared.
2. Examine family/personal values. Review what is expected as your teen represents themselves and your family in the community. Emphasize those values and beliefs that make them who they are.
3. Discuss risks, goals, and short- and long-term consequences. The decisions made today affect the way the world looks tomorrow. “Keeping your eyes on the prize,” as they say, can help reduce impulsive actions or reactions.
4. Talk about how to get out of a bad situation. A text message, a code word, a ride share app on their phone. Let your teen know that they can and should reach out for help if they are uncomfortable, insecure, or feel unsafe.
5. Encourage self-advocacy. Teach your teen that “NO means NO” and that applies to alcohol, sex, and any other risky behavior. Once they can advocate for themselves, they can also be a voice for others.
6. Remind them that the rules are the rules. Underage drinking is illegal. Sometimes just reiterating the rules—the rules of your family, your school community, or state and federally mandated ones—can help encourage kids to stay on the right path.

And remember that your school counselor and other educators, parents, and community leaders are your partners in this journey—we are all in this together as we navigate these milestones of development, preparation, and growth. 

Mr. Brian Coleman was the 2019 National School Counselor of the Year and the first African-American winner of this prestigious honor. He was also a 2019 Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Upstander Award recipient for his commitment to LGBTQA+ youth advocacy. He is the Counseling Department Chair at Jones College Prep where he has overseen counseling programming for seniors and freshmen, sophomore sexual health education, JCP’s student mentorship program, and the school’s LGBTQA+ student organization JonesPride. Coleman is a proud graduate of Northwestern University as well as DePaul University where he was named the College of Education’s 2019 Alumni of the Year. He enjoys all things unicorn, most things theatrical, and a good amount of professional wrestling! Brian Coleman is also a member Responsibility.org’s Educational Advisory Board.