Newsletter MADD Teen Influencer December 2024: Impaired Driving Prevention Month
Public Speaking
Happy Holidays!
Holiday Safety
Willow shares five tips for staying safe during the holidays, including how to avoid alcohol and drugs.
Ben gives advices on delivering speeches and doing public speaking in general and for a good cause.
Happy Holidays from our MADD California family to yours!
1 by Willow Roberts, MADD Teen Influencer As the holiday season approaches, we know it brings about a time for celebration, family gatherings, and many cheerful moments! However, it also comes with an increased risk of alcohol and drug-related accidents. The holidays are a time to come together, but it is also essential to keep safety in mind. Safety Tips For The Holidays!
Tip #1: Plan Ahead When attending a holiday party, family gathering, or any other festive event, planning how you’ll get home is crucial. Remember to designate a sober drive, use public transportation, or book a ride-share service! A little planning can save lives! Tip #2: How to Say No Often during holiday gatherings, family members may try to pressure the younger family members, whether as a joke or genuinely. Remember to be direct and honest when refusing. Being clear and
MADD Teen Influencer
December 2024
honest when refusing. Being clear and straightforward is one of the best ways to avoid confusion and keep the situation comfortable. For example, using your age as a reason will give others a clear explanation. You can also offer alternatives such as having a soda or another non-alcoholic drink. Stay confident in your decision and true to your choices to enjoy the holiday season stress-free!
Tip #3: Avoiding Peer Pressure The holidays often bring social gatherings where alcohol and tense situations are present, and peer pressure can sometimes make it harder to stick to your decisions. Stay firm in your choice to remain sober, and don’t be afraid to set boundaries. Surround yourself with people who respect your decision, and don’t feel obligated to participate in unhealthy behavior to fit in! Tip #4: Talking to Teens and Loved Ones With the holidays approaching, talking to your teens and other loved ones about the dangers of impaired driving and other dangers is one of the best ways to prevent accidents. Be open, honest, and non-judgmental in your discussions about the risks of drinking and driving. Encourage them to always have a plan for getting home safely and remember to set boundaries in uncomfortable situations.
Ask A Teen Influencer Looking for some advice? Submit questions anonymously with the link below or by clicking on the icon to the left. MADD Teen Influencers may respond to your question on the next episode of Healthy Teen Talks! TINYURL.COM/MADDTEENADVICE
MADD Teen Influencer
December 2024
Tip #5: Watch for Warning Signs If you are driving during the holiday season, be on the lookout for signs of impaired driving. Look for erratic behavior such as swerving, inconsistent speed, or running red lights. If you spot a driver showing signs of impairment, call local authorities immediately. Reporting these drivers can help prevent accidents and make our roads safer for everyone!
By following these simple tips, you can ensure to enjoy a season free of tragedy, and stay safe, sober, and spread have a fun and safe holiday season. Enjoy a season free of tragedy, and stay safe, sober, and spread the joy!
Public Speaking 2
Tips for Improving Speech Writing &
by Ben Haworth, MADD Teen Influencer
Very few individuals are not afraid of public speaking. It is one of the greatest and most common fears. Nerves can kick in, and often just the thought of standing in front of a group of strangers can send even the most confident person into a bundle of nerves. I have spoken in public for MADD several times over the years, but I haven’t always been a confident speaker. As someone who had great difficulty making eye contact as a child, I am not immune to the doubts that go hand in hand with making a speech. Here are my tips to help ease those anxieties and learn to deliver a fantastic speech.
Organize your speech so that it suits your purpose. For MADD, I often do research well in advance of writing my speech. Create a plan with the topic and specific points you want to hit throughout. It is also important to get the audience’s attention within the first 30 seconds.
MADD Teen Influencer
December 2024
Know who you are speaking to. The speech is not about you. Learn as much about your audience as possible. Are they kids? Teens? Parents? Craft your speech to help you organize and discover your motivational statement to make the greatest impact. Try not to read unless you have to. For me, this is probably the most difficult. It’s easy to hide behind a sheet of paper. The more you practice, take pauses when appropriate, and try to make eye contact, the more you will connect with your audience. It’s okay to be nervous—but practice a lot! Sometimes nerves are a good thing! It can help keep you on your toes and make you more alert. The solution to nerves is to practice until you feel comfortable enough, and look at your notes again right before you start. Watch for audience feedback. If they look bored, they probably are. Adjust accordingly. You might need to cut a sentence or two out of your well- planned speech just to keep things interesting. Delivering speeches for MADD as a Teen Influencer, I’ve learned the power of building up confidence both in myself and my message to the youth in my community. I am reminded that each impassioned speech I deliver may save a life that could have ended too soon. Going back to a speech I delivered at our annual Teen Summit recently, I reflected on my time as an influencer and the honest conversations I've had with my peers. While sometimes difficult, it has shaped my future path in that I have chosen never to drink alcohol, not only because of my family's struggles with alcohol, but because of the destruction that comes with it.
Nominate an Influencer of the Month! Do you know an influential teen who is a great role model? We would love to spotlight them! Click on the icon to the left or use the link below to share why they should be MADD's Influencer of the Month!
TINYURL.COM/MADDIOTM
MADD Teen Influencer
December 2024
This is a call to action to my peers. You can help prevent child and teen substance abuse. Teenagers have the power to be role models for each other and to younger family members. It’s okay not to drink and smoke and give in to peer pressure. Share your decision with others and be proud of your choices not to drink, smoke, or use drugs. People who start drinking or doing drugs at an early age can face severe, persistent problems throughout their lives. Do not allow yourself or your friends to be another teen statistic--become a part of the change in your schools and your communities. Become a MADD Teen Influencer if you can. It is not enough to tell teens not to drink and drive. We have the power to positively impact our communities and end impaired driving for good.
MADD's mission is to end drunk driving, help fight drugged driving, support the victims of these violent crimes, and prevent underage drinking. The purpose of the Teen Influencer Group is to provide leadership development for teens by training them to be peer-to-peer educators. These teens provide MADD with the youth perspective and use their voice to educate the public. By reducing and then eliminating underage drinking, these teens will help MADD end drunk driving.
@MADDCalifornia
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