Nazarene Kids Tell Truth on Teen Issues at Expo
The school year is fast winding down and while most students are already looking forward to summer camp, visits abroad or just generally hanging out, there’s still lots to learn. Today our neighbors across the street at Nazarene High School invited us to their first-ever showcase of activity, a school expo. In addition to the usual displays of prowess at mechanical engineering, the sciences, business, arts, food and nutrition and even Math and English, these youngsters wanted to bust a few myths for their classmates about the regular issues affecting Belizean teenagers today – from crime and violence to teenage pregnancy to personal hygiene. News Five’s Aaron Humes reports.
Aaron Humes, Reporting
There was a little of something for everyone at the first-of-its-kind school expo organized by Nazarene High School. Established a half-century ago, the school has produced its share of positive contributors to society, and the current crop of students was eager to show off what they have learned in class. School counselor Jeniecia Sanker says the lessons also have practical effect on their lives.
Jeniecia Sanker
Jeniecia Sanker, Counselor, Nazarene High School
“What we are doing, we are showing a truth side to it; and so what we mean by that is that many times, young people struggle with all the different lies that society throws at them – lies about drugs, about sex, about teenage pregnancy, about relationships, about even their body, hygiene and stuff like that, they don’t get the proper information. So what happened, we collaborated [on] all the different issues that a young person faces and show the truth side of it – so all of us are displaying the truth today: the truth about the gangs, the truth about loving your body, the truth about these important things that you need to know about.”
For example, as most of these young people’s parents know, it takes a lot of money to raise a baby to adulthood, but practically nothing to make one. This young lady broke it down for us.
Student
“A female can become pregnant from sexual intercourse after she has begun to ovulate; ovulation occurs after the onset of periods. Pregnancy in females under the age of twenty – nowadays most females [who] get pregnant under twenty years old; Can you afford pampers? Can you afford wipes, formula, baby stuff etcetera?”
How about personal grooming and hygiene? We were told of the dangers of cotton swabs and why it’s a good idea to invest in looking your best.
Amanda Tate
Amanda Tate, First Form, Nazarene High School
“A healthy tip is you don’t use cotton swabs because they push back the dirt in your ears. One tip is cotton swabs may seem harmless enough, but they can be dangerous when used to clean your ears. Cotton swabs may puncture your eardrums or burst your eardrums so you might need to use a tweezer or a hair curler.”
Manuel Flores
Manuel Flores, First Form, Nazarene High School
“Grooming means neat and tidy appearance; we have the two types of grooming. Physical and the metaphysical grooming. The physical is about the skin, hair and personal hygiene; the metaphysical is all about personality, body language and manners. This is a picture of how somebody can look if they practice proper hygiene; they will look neat and presentable. And then we have some characteristics here of a person will have if they are actually practicing proper hygiene – the person will improve [their] memory and learning; make them look powerful; reduce back and neck pain; make you look taller and slimmer; and increase hormones, improve breathing and improve mood.”
Aaron Humes
“So you practice all of this stuff?”
Manuel Flores
“Yes, we do; and we are encouraging young persons and adults, anyone who wants to practice proper hygiene; we have a lot of chemicals that we use to practice proper hygiene and they are very important in our needs.”
Aaron Humes reporting for News Five.
