Annual back to school retreat nurtures local youth

The fifth annual Girl Power! "Back to School" Retreat took place last Saturday with special guests Miss Teen Louisiana, Whitney Breaux, and Miss Louisiana Teen Princess Emily Mourad.

The annual retreat is hosted by The Vernon Parish Safe and Drug Free Schools and Communities (SDFSC) program to encourage 9-14 year old girls to make the most of their lives. Its message is to support and nurture girls in order for them to be confident, fulfilled, true to themselves and to provide many opportunities for them to participate in sports, arts and other positive activities.

"Girls need to know that using alcohol, tobacco, and illicit drugs is unsafe. The evidence is strong that if we can keep teenage girls from initiating drug use there is less chance they will ever do so as adults," U.S Department of Health and Human Services Secretary Tommy Thompson said. Girl Power! is a national public education campaign that is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Service.

Mrs. Patricia Williams, one of the coordinators of the program feels the annual event is the type of activity the community needs to see more of.

"Girl Power is a very positive campaign for young girls," Williams said. "The values and meaning of girl power is a worthwhile cause," but needs to be available for young girls more than once per year.

Whitney Breaux and Emily Mourad, the guest speakers, helped to reiterate the words of Tommy Thompson and the program coordinators by encouraging girls to make positive choices by not engaging in alcohol and drug use, and protecting themselves against negative influences.

They were received with much enthusiasm from the group of about 75 young girls. They signed Girl Power! T-shirts and took pictures with the girls.

The program's girls looked up to Miss Teen Louisiana and Miss Louisiana Teen Princess because the girls are such strong role models. At only sixteen,Whitney Breaux advocates increasing HIV/AIDS awareness among teens through the Pay It Forward campaign and plays the harp.

Emily Mourad, 17, promotes the organization Helping Yourself while Helping Others. Both girls are seniors in high school and hope their message will be thought about by the girls when they make decisions in the future.

"Girls are learning a lot about growing up and decision making at Girl Power!," Mourad said.

"The adults are also learning as much as the girls (about the needs of young girls), which helps for planning the event in the future," Breaux added.

Everyone at the event was excited to have the young women speak to the girls. Mrs. Mickie Seastrunk was excited for the girls to have the opportunity to hear Breaux play the harp. To help the girls see other young women who are making positive choices about extracurricular activities is an invaluable opportunity for many at the program.

"The girls were really really inspired by their (Breaux and Mourad) presentations today," Williams added.

Other presentations included topics such as Eating Right, Building Good Relationships, Making Good Decisions, and Substance Abuse. The afternoon session focused on promoting physical health, sports and art.

Attendance was down some from the hundred girls who attended in years past, but many of the girls there this year had previously attended the program.

The girls were excited to answer questions, and get involved in participant demonstrations.