Newsletter MADD Teen Influencer June 2023: Summer Fun!
Summertime with
Healthy Habits for Summer 2023 Start summer on the right foot with healthy activities that help with your overall wellbeing.
Congratulations to the Class of 2023! Our graduating Teen Influencers share a message with their fellow graduating class of 2023.
MADD!
Ben's thoughts on his experience with the Teen Influencer Institute as both participant and presenter.
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Healthy Habits for Summer 2023
by Kelly Halliburton, MADD Teen Influencer
Healthy activities can brighten up your summer and encourage self- fulfillment. Continue to benefit your well-being after the school year ends! Teenagers with healthy habits are less likely to use substances or face serious intoxication. Here are the best practices to start this summer!
1. Breathing and Relaxation Techniques Often, stress overcomes our lives in a variety of ways. Being in a constant state of anxiety hinders our quality of life. Try guided meditations and deep breathing! Unlike some healthy activities (such as visiting the gym), these can be practiced anywhere. Inviting family or finding meditation groups can make these techniques fun. Often, meditation and relaxation are linked to mindfulness. Everyone is guilty of not being in the present. Try examining the environment around you and use your five senses. What do you notice that you haven’t seen before? This pattern of thinking can make meditation easier. It is difficult to be still at first, so it is crucial to be patient with yourself.
MADD Teen Influencer
June 2023
2. Meet with Friends Social activity is essential for your well-being and enjoyment of life. Humans are social creatures, after all. Try meeting your close ones over summer break. A few examples of healthy activities to share include visiting the movie theaters, window shopping, and walking in your local park. Be sure to avoid any situations that may involve danger or alcohol consumption. If your friends are unavailable or live far away, an alternative may be to reach out to your relatives/ family members. Family picnics and dinners are other forms of healthy social activity. An additional alternative would be attending community events. You may even make new friends! 3. Swimming The summer heat brings the perfect opportunity to swim. It is a refreshing and enticing activity. Beaches, local lakes, and community pools are a few locations where you can swim. Make sure to bring another person to look after you, especially if you are not a proficient swimmer. There are many summer programs that encourage physical activity or provide swimming lessons. If you have not learned to swim yet, this can serve as a special opportunity. By forming healthy habits, teenagers can improve their well-being and social life. Being connected to others and exercising are essential to pursue a healthy lifestyle. Have fun this summer and don’t forget to try new things!
MADD Teen Influencer
June 2023
Summertime with MADD! 2
By Ben Haworth, MADD Teen Influencer
Summer is finally here. Now that school is out, we all have to choose how to make the most of our free time. Although it might not seem like the summer break you’d been planning, spending time volunteering with local organizations in your community can fulfill you in ways you never imagined. I began volunteering as a MADD Teen Influencer the summer before my freshman year of high school, when I was first introduced to the MADD Teen Influencer Institute as a participant. At the time, I had no idea the positive impact being a MADD Teen Influencer would have on my life and the many ways it would prepare me for my future. The MADD Teen Influencer Institute is an intensive 5-week program designed to train and develop peer-to-peer educators. After completing the institute, graduates are prepared to represent MADD on a
local and national level and provide the youth perspective for underage drinking prevention programming as MADD Teen Influencers. The Institute has been held every year during the summer since 2021. The program is meant to combat various safety concerns related to traffic and alcohol, with youth voices being the front and center. Last year, I contributed to the program as a presenter, but, the first year, I was just a participant. As a participant, I learned about MADD and its mission. I also learned about education through the power of the community along with the Power of Youth initiative. Throughout the five weeks, we were given the opportunity to learn everything from alcohol and traffic safety, to social media
MADD Teen Influencer
June 2023
Join our virtual 2023 MADD Teen Influencer Institute! This is an intensive 5-week program designed to train and develop peer-to-peer educators. Participants will develop valuable skills, network with professionals and other youth, and earn community service hours. Youth ages 11 to 19 are welcome Thursdays, 3:00pm - 5:00pm on the following dates: Week 1, July 13th: MADD 101 and Power of You(th) Week 2, July 20th: Public Speaking Week 3, July 27th: Alcohol & Traffic Safety Week 4, August 3rd: Social Media Best Practices Week 5, August 10th: Final Presentations best practices. A year later, I loved being able to give a presentation on the dangers of alcohol and traffic safety, inspiring my audience and encouraging others to stay safe. This was a huge leap forward for me. I was finally a part of something rather than just someone watching in the background. This summer, I will be giving another presentation at the Institute. Going into my third year as a MADD Teen Influencer, I hope to take on more responsibilities and tasks, giving me a greater sense of place in my contributions to the community. There’s no better way to spend your summer than volunteering for a cause you believe in!
Click the icon to the right to register!
Ask A Teen Influencer Looking for some advice? Each month our MADD Teen Influencers will offer helpful tips based on questions submitted by other teens. You can submit questions anonymously with the link below or by clicking on the icon to the left. TINYURL.COM/MADDTEENADVICE
MADD Teen Influencer
June 2023
Congratulations Class of 2023! By Ryan H., Graduating MADD Teen Influencer 3
"My name is Ryan. As I am approaching the end of my teenage years and heading off to college, I feel that MADD has been a very enriching experience for me and I have genuinely enjoyed being an influencer and educating my peers and the community about the dangers of drinking and driving. My message would not be complete without thanking my fellow influencers. Thank you all for being supportive, engaging, and fun. It was a pleasure to have worked with all of you. Also, thank you Ms. Estelle for your tireless effort and hard work to make this program have the biggest impact on our youth. Also, thank you for organizing all of the fun events, they were so engaging, educational, and meaningful! Congratulations to the Class of 2023!"
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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