Students are required to write an essay to graduate from their D.A.R.E. program.
Below are winning essays from students.

Naomi S

     I have learned many things in the D.A.R.E. program., but one of the most important things I've learned in D.A.R.E. is that I'm not the only 6th grader who is going to have issues and problems with people trying to persuade you to do alcohol and drugs. But during the D.A.R.E. program I learned how to survive and handle that kind of stuff when the time comes. I enjoyed D.A.R.E. very much the experience of learning from a real police officer of the dangers of drugs and alcohol was interesting especially when she told police stories and showed and explained to us what her gadgets are on her police belt and last but not least when she answered all the curious 6th graders questions about anything they wanted to know about the law.
     One of the important things about D.A.R.E. was learning the dangers of drugs and alcohol and what it can do to your brain. We got to see pictures of brains that have been affected and damaged by alcohol and got to compare them with some that have not, in some there was a humongous difference and others there was not. That helped me to learn the importance of what drugs and alcohol can do to your brain. We also learned about the three R's (Respectful, Responsible, and Realistic) the three R's are sort of like a thought process you use when you're in a dangerous situation or when your angry. Like if I went to a party and there was beer and drugs and I wanted to know what to do I would use the three R's like if I thought I should just stay at the party and not drink I would think is it responsible, respectful and realistic if it wasn't all three R's then I would put it aside and look for another suggestion until I found one that works. Another interesting thing we learned is about the court process. Like for example there was a scenario where two girls brought alcohol to school for after a tournament at the end of the tournament the girls got the alcohol out and shared it with two other girls. Then we got to pretend that we were in court there was a judge, and there was two defensive attorneys and prosecutors. This made a huge impact on what I thought about these things, like I had no idea that drugs and alcohol would have such a huge impact on you like it does. And I had no idea that there was a thought process like the three R's that could help you that much when you're in a situation. And last but not least I had no idea that the court worked that way.
     I think it is important to stay drug and alcohol free because using drugs and alcohol can ruin your life and mess you up. It not only effects you it also effects the ones around you. And once you start it will be very difficult to quit it will take time money and tons of help and in the end it wont be worth even starting because it not only took up a bunch of time and money but it also hurt the ones around you.
     Here are the basic skills I learned in D.A.R.E. I learned drugs and alcohol are very bad for you and can make a huge impact on you and your life. I learned that when you are in a serious situation like at a alcohol party you need to stop and think about it. I learned that alcohol companies use stars and other methods to entice you to by alcohol. I learned the way the court works and finally I learned what all of the gadgets on the police belt do and how they work.
     I pledge that I will stay away from drugs and not underage drink I will try and make the best decisions when it comes time to make them. And I will not allow peer pressure to make me do the wrong thing.

Jackson J.

     Hi, I am Jackson and this year I have learned D.A.R.E. I have learned a lot this year about drug abuse, smoking and under aged drinking. I have learned a lot of skills. I know so much you could quiz me on it. Actually I will tell you what we have learned.
     At the beginning we learned about each other by asking questions like who has red hair? Or who likes to dance? Then we learned how drugs affect your brain. And what parts does a certain drug affect. That was certainly interesting.
     Then we learned about how many 8th graders did a certain type of drug. Did you know 93% of all 8th graders do not smoke cigarettes. Also 96% of the 8th grade do not inhale. 94% of 8th graders do not use marijuana. So not everybody does it.
     Then later we learned what to do in a real life situation by acting out the "ask if you want beer" scenario. We learned the three R's. They stand for Responsible, Respectful and Realistic. We also learned 1) Define the problem, 2) Generate alternatives (three R's), 3) Choose the best alternative, and 4) Act. That's what you are supposed to do in a real life situation.
     So I told you all about D.A.R.E. It was educational and Mrs. Shaq made it fun. She used Fire Cracker Arny. She also used some really cool cop stories.
     Now that I'm thinking about it ........ I promise to be drug free and to make good choices throughout high school and beyond. I also promise to obey the law. I hope my friends do the same.

Katrina B.

     In D.A.R.E. I have learned that if someone walks up to me and tells me to do something that is bad or that I don't feel comfortable with, then I need to say something that has the three R's and I need to make eye contact. My body language needs to be firm and I need to speak in a loud voice. These things have helped me to know what to do and how to make good choices in a bad situation. I have also learned that you need to think about things before you act and that it's best to have something to say planned out before it really happens. I think that this program is very helpful to kids in need.
     I've learned about the three R's, respectful, responsible, and realistic. The three R's have really helped me to think things through before I act on them. I've had my moments during D.A.R.E. and I've used the three R's and they've helped me to make better choices and those problems turned out okay. I also like to use humor while I'm using the three R''s.
     I thought that the body language stood out to me. I've learned that it is very important to look at the person your talking to straight in his eyes, stand firm, and speak in a loud voice. If you don't do these things then the person who is giving you the drug, alcohol, or cigarette will feel encouraged and won't back down. I'm pretty sure that this will help me if I have problems later in life.
     I have learned that drugs, alcohol, and tobacco can damage your brain permanently. It can affect important parts of your brain, like your pain. If it takes you five seconds to feel pain from something then that's bad. For example if you accidentally placed your hand on a stove burner and left it there for five seconds then felt the pain and pulled it off then you would have severely burned your hand. I've never known that those kinds of things are so horribly bad for you.
     I pledge that if I'm ever in a bad situation then I will use the three R's, have firm body language and most of all try to avoid places with alcohol at any cost.

Gustavo F.

     The D.A.R.E. program is totally cool. This program teaches me to be drug free.
     I'm going to talk about smoking, drinking/alcohol and making wise decisions.
     Let's talk about smoking first. Smoking is bad for your body and your brain. Your life is shorter when you smoke. You can kill people that don't smoke. Second hand smoke is one way that kills people that don't smoke. Second hand smoke is where somebody breaths in the smoke from a smoker. Smoking ruins your life and your family, friends, or relatives lives too.
     Now let's talk about drinking/alcohol. Drinking can mess up your body and your brain. You can get drunk if you drink too much. If you start driving while drunk your going to crash. You can also get really sick and die. Never drive while you are drunk because your putting other peoples lives in danger. Don't go drinking.
     Now lets talk about making wise decisions. When there is problem, you should use your brain. First you stop and define the problem. Then think of ideas that you could do. Use the three R's. They are Responsible, Respectful, and Realistic. Then choose the best decision that uses the three R's. Then you would act.
     I pledge to make wise decision on alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs because what it can do to your body and your life.

Phoebe H.

     I have learned a lot of things in D.A.R.E. I learned about the harmful effects of drugs and alcohol. I also learned how to say no and how to talk and look at a person without being timid. I also learned how to solve problems by using certain steps.
     The first thing I learned about was different kinds of drugs. Then, about what the effects of those drugs are. Something interesting that I found out was that alcohol is just as bad as some other drugs. This was helpful to learn so we can realize what could happen to us if we decide to do drugs or drink alcohol.
     In D.A.R.E. I also learned about ways to make good decisions. For example, if someone was to ask you to smoke, what could you do? I learned to define the problem, find your choices, pick on that has the 3 R's (Responsible, Respectful, Realistic), choose the best choice and then act. Lastly, you look back and see if you made a good choice. I think this was helpful so that when you get put on the spot you have some idea of what to do.
     D.A.R.E. has made an impact on me in many ways. I learned that really not a lot of people do drugs it just feels that way sometimes. I also learned to say "NO". One other thing I learned was how to speak with confidence.
     I have learned so many things in D.A.R.E. I learned just how bad drugs are. I learned about how to plan things that I should say when I get put on the spot to smoke or do drugs. I learned skills on how to speak so that I am respectful but make my point. Lastly, I am now aware of the things people and drugs can do to you.
     I really liked the D.A.R.E. program. It was a fun and educational way to learn about drugs and violence. i think it was good to learn about drugs and violence for many reasons. One reason is so that we know what to do before it happens. I am glad we did D.A.R.E. so now I'm prepared for whatever may happen in my future.
     I pledge to stay drug free my whole life, never smoke and make respectful, responsible and realistic choices.

Taylor M.

     Why do we have D.A.R.E.? We have D.A.R.E. to learn why we should never do drugs, abuse, bully, cyber bully and violence. If we learn these things now, we should remember it in our teen years. Officer Shackelford has spent a lot of her time teaching us not to do drugs and why.
     Body: What I learned in D.A.R.E. is that you have one body and YOU have one chance to take care of it. When we have D.A.R.E. you feel good and safe because you learn what not to do and how to react. we have seen people's brains when they have done drugs. It was all blue, it's supposed to be healthy and different colors. If you do drugs, sniff inhalants, or smoke it ruins your brain.
     In D.A.R.E. we have learned how to use body language such as posture, eye contact, and a strong voice. We have learned how to stand up for our self and to say NO. Officer Shackelford has shared us stuff that 8th graders do like drink, smoke, marijuana. It was amazing to see how many did. That's on thing I want to stay out of. In D.A.R.E. we could act out movies about drugs or people asking you for beer. And the class graded them on their posture, eye contact and strong voice.
     Conclusion: I am glad I am in D.A.R.E. It has taught me how to take charge in my life. We learned the three R's, Responsible, Respectful, Realistic way to handle a problem. I hope I will never do drugs and be drug free forever. Thank you Officer Shackelford for helping me learn to be healthy and to do the right thing.
     Pledge: I, Taylor, will be drug free, alcohol forever and stay healthy. It will be the cool and right thing to do.

Taylor D.

     D.A.R.E. is a program about drug abuse resistance. D.A.R.E. has helped many people including myself make the right decisions. The D.A.R.E. decision making model has also helped me. I know that when I have a problem I need to tell an adult I trust. I would not have known that before I started D.A.R.E. I would have tried to solve any problem I have by myself and it would possibly get physical. Now I know that a fight should never have to get physical. I have learned how harmful drugs and alcohol is and I have learned how I can stop people from doing the wrong thing without getting violent. I can help my parents and friends if they do make the wrong choice by helping them through the harm and pain they have put themselves through because of D.A.R.E. I will never forget all of the harmful things drugs and alcohol can do and now I know that if I do drink alcohol to only drink on special occasions. My D.A.R.E. officer and all she did for us she spent her time and her energy to teach us all of this stuff and I hope my friends will use the information to help themselves in situations like the ones we have talked about. I will never forget my D.A.R.E. officer she always helped us with our problems. My favorite D.A.R.E. lesson was when we talked about friends I had a lot of fun we did various fun activities. I have learned how to stop my friends from getting in deep situations like violence and predators because of D.A.R.E. I am really glad that we got to do D.A.R.E. instead of any other program. We have learned about everything including the harmful effects of tobacco.
     We also learned that we have to be responsible for our actions and if we choose to do drugs we may die. We have had so much fun and we also had the boring times like they lasted 2 seconds and then her comes the fun again. All of the class now knows that we have to be more careful than we have been before. We have lots of fun but I know now that I am responsible for my own actions so if I do drugs it is my fault not anyone else's so when someone is trying to make me do drugs say 'NO'. And that concludes my essay.

Claire M.

     I learned a lot in my DARE lessons. I learned about peer pressure, all the different kinds of peer pressure, and what you can do to make the right decisions. We learned different facts about alcohol, smoking, and marijuana. And finally, we learned about what DARE really means.
     First we learned about what DARE means. It means Drug Abuse Resistance Education. I wouldn't have guessed all of that but now I know.
     The next week our class learned how to simply flip the flap. Flipping the flap just is a way that I learned to remember the DARE decision making model. The DARE decision making model helps you make the right decision. The steps to it is...
                 Define - Describe what the problem or opportunity is
                 Assess - What are your choices?
                 Respond - Make a choice. Use facts and information you have gathered
                 Evaluate - Review your decision. Did you make a good choice?
     Some facts I learned that really interested me that I didn't know before was that .....
                 * 7% of 8th graders smoke
                 * There are over 200 known poisons in cigarette smoke
                 * Marijuana smoke contains 50-70% more of cancers causing chemicals than tobacco smoke
                 * Smokers have more colds and upper respiratory problems
                 * In the last 30 days, 16% of 8th graders drank alcohol
                 * the legal limit of alcohol in Alaska is 0.08 and 0.5 and over means you're dead
     I think it's important to stay drug free because if you do so you will have a long, healthy, and happy life.
     I had lots of fun learning all these helpful facts with my DARE officers. I think every school should have this awesome and educational drug program.

Zachery M.

     What I learned about DARE was how bad Alcohol, Marijuana, and Cigarettes are. Drugs are very addictive and ruin your life. I can tell you about alcohol, marijuana, and cigarettes.
     Alcohol can do a lot of damage to your body, for example it can mess with your brain. Like loss of self control, poor judgment, and it can slow reflexes. It is illegal for any one under 21 to drink alcohol. Do not ever mix alcohol with medicine because it is dangerous. Alcohol does not just effect you it can hurt people around you. Alcohol can make you do hurtful things to your family. Do not drink and drive because you will go to jail or even kill yourself or others.
     The second thing I will tell you about is marijuana. Smoking marijuana can cause breathing problems, short term memory loss, and can also slow coordination and reflexes. marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more of cancer causing chemicals than tobacco. Marijuana is illegal in the United States. Marijuana users have an increased risk of cancer.
     The last thing I will talk about is cigarettes. There are known to be 200 poisons in cigarette smoke. The poisons in cigarettes can dry your skin out and cause wrinkles and can also turn your teeth yellow. Smoking cigarettes can also cause breathing problems and heart disease. Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. Cigarettes contain a powerful and addictive substance called nicotine. More than 400,000 people die from tobacco each year. This is prevented by quit smoking or do not start.
     Those are just some of the harmful affects of drugs. Now that you know what could happen, STOP NOW!! I PLEDGE TO BE DRUG FREE!!

Laura S.

     In D.A.R.E. I have learned a lot. I have mainly learned about how to stay away from drugs. I have also learned about a lot of different kinds of drugs and what they can do to me if I use them.
     In the first eek of D.A.R.E. we learned what the two meanings of D.A.R.E. are. One meaning is Drug Abuse Resistance Education, another one is Define Assess Respond and Evaluate the D.A.R.E. decision making model. We also learned all the D.A.R.E. rules. We also learned about what is inside our D.A.R.E. planners.
     In week two we learned about tobacco. We learned that it can kill you and that tobacco kills over 400,000 people every year.
     In week four we learned about alcohol. We learned that alcohol can put you in a coma or even kill you. We also learned how to make a wise decision about alcohol.
     In week five we learned about alcohol ads. The most surprising thing about alcohol ads is that they put those ads on baby bibs. We also learned that those ads influence young people to try drugs by making them curious.
     In week six we learned about being a good friend and how good of a friend we really are. The qualities that I have as a good friend are honesty and trustworthiness.
     In week seven we learned why it is hard to say 'NO' to our friends and why it is important to make your own decisions. It is hard to say 'NO' to our friends because they are your friends and you might think if you tell 'NO' they will not want to be your friend anymore. It is important to make your own decisions because nobody else know what you want.
     In week eight the LAST week we talked about how D.A.R.E. decision making model could help me make good decisions by reminding me how to make decisions.
     To put everything I just wrote into a nutshell, I learned how to say 'NO' to drugs an what they can do to me. One mroe thing we also learned about Response Styles
                          1. Unsure
                          2. Demanding
                          3. Confident.
     Thanks for reading my D.A.R.E. Report.

Armoni E.

     These past weeks we had a D.A.R.E. class. The D.A.R.E. program was awesome and I liked the class. Officer Lowery taught me how to make good decisions on saying 'NO' to drugs. This is some things that I have learned about in D.A.R.E. I learned about these three things Marijuana, Tobacco, and Alcohol. This is what I learned about Tobacco. I learned that tobacco is a plant that you smoke, it causes breathing problems, you can have colds and upper respiratory problems, and did you know that you could have heart disease? The next thing I learned is about Marijuana. This is what I learned about Marijuana. I learned that Marijuana causes breathing problems just like Tobacco, it affects your b rain and your body, and it gives you short-term memory loss and the ability to concentrate. This is the last thing I learned about is Alcohol. This is what I learned. I learned that Alcohol is illegal for anyone under the age of 21, Alcohol can damage almost every organ in your body, Alcohol goes directly to your blood stream, and you can have slurred speech. Thanks for teaching me about the D.A.R.E. program. I really liked the D.A.R.E. program.
     My pledge is to not do drugs. I vow to not do any drugs and try my best to stay away from them and if someone offers me drugs I will always say 'NO'. Thank you Officer Lowery for teaching all of us.

Amy T.

     I have enjoyed learning D.A.R.E. with Officer Lowery and my class. Our class has learned lots of stuff about drugs the past few weeks. What I have learned is, what D.A.R.E. means Define, Assess, Respond, and Evaluate. I learned about how to make good decisions about drugs and other things. I have also learned how to say "NO" to drugs. If you are under the age 21 it is illegal to drink alcohol. I have learned that tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol., and how these three things can be dangerous to take.
     Learning about D.A.R.E. is very important because when I grow up, I will know that drugs are illegal, and it's not healthy for your body. Drugs are dangerous. I was really amazed to learn about tobacco because it can make your teeth yellow or rotten. It was good to learn how tobacco can damage your body.
     I have learned may important things from Officer Lower. We did amazing things together like writing topics on the board. My class watched this one movie about selling drugs and it was awful seeing how companies promote alcohol on clothes, signs, magazines, and on TV. We also learned about Peer pressure. Peer pressure is being pressured by your friends to do something that is wrong or something you don't want to do. I have learned lots and lots of stuff from Officer Lowery about tobacco, marijuana, alcohol, peer pressure, and being a good friend. Thank you Officer Lowery for helping me to know why I should stay away from drugs now and in the future. I, Amy, pledge to myself that I will always say "NO" to drugs.

Amber G.

     During D.A.R.E. I have learned a lot of facts about Tobacco, Marijuana, Alcohol and a lot of other things. Hear are some facts about Tobacco, Marijuana, and alcohol. (Tobacco facts) Smoking causes breathing problems, heart disease, and lung cancer. Cigarettes contain nicotine a powerfully addictive substance. (Marijuana facts) Smoking marijuana causes breathing problems short-term memory loss and more colds and upper respiratory problems. Marijuana can also be addictive. (Alcohol facts) alcohol slows down the brain and body. Examples are poor judgment, memory lapses, and slurred speech. Alcohol can damage every organ in your body. Alcohol is illegal for anyone under 21. Mixing alcohol with medicine is dangerous.
     I have learned a lot of things in D.A.R.E. One of the things I've learned is to make choices like if someone asked you to smoke you have the choice to smoke or to not smoke. I've also learned about friendship and who are your real and true friends. You can tell who your real friends are, is they don't ask you to do drugs or smoke. I've also learned about peer pressure. Peer pressure is when you think negative about yourself.
     All the things I've learned are very important for my future and my present. I've learned how to make choices on about saying NO to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana. I've learned on doing other stuff than doing tobacco. I've also learned about friendship and how to chose your friends. We've also acted out on how to handle a situation when you are asked to do drugs, tobacco, alcohol, and marijuana.
     I, Amber G., pledge to not use drugs, alcohol, tobacco, or marijuana in the present and future. If I do I will know what I've done is a wrong for my body and mind and will try to stop when ever possible.

Kekoa M.

     What I learned in D.A.R.E. is that smoking/drinking can mess up your life and body. I learned that selling tobacco is illegal to somebody under  the age of 19. I learned that smokers have more colds and upper respiratory problems. I learned that smoking is the #1 cause of lung cancer. Smoking can cause yellow teeth and smelly breath.
     Over 400,000 people die each year from smoking. I learned that cigarettes contain nicotine, a powerful substance that causes addiction. I learned that there are more than 200 known poisons in tobacco. I learned how to define, Asses, respond, evaluate. I learned that marijuana users have an increased risk of cancer. Marijuana is illegal in the United States. There is more tar in marijuana than tobacco.
     Smoking marijuana causes breathing problems. Marijuana affects your brain and body. Marijuana can cause memory-loss and the ability to not concentrate. Marijuana smoke contains 50% to 70% more of some cancer causing chemicals than tobacco smoke. I also learned that it is true that one beer has as much alcohol as a glass of wine, and it is false that alcohol can only hurt you if you are the one drinking. I also learned peer pressure also. I also got to play as a character. I got to be James as on of them. I also had personal pressure situation.
     I, Kekoa, pledge not to smoke/drink or even do drugs. I pledge not to do force somebody to do drugs/drink/smoke/. I pledge to not sell drugs to anybody.

Issa Y.

     In D.A.R.E. I learned many things. I learned about drugs and by doing drugs it would kill you. It's not a good thing to do drugs. Many people do drugs because they are weird. Drugs have some unhealthy chemicals inside of it and it can kill you. Cigarettes give you yellow teeth. Your lungs turn black, and you will get cancer. There are some poisons inside of the cigarettes.
     Tobacco can give your skin wrinkles and it can give you bad breath. If you chew tobacco it will give you hard time to play sports. Some peoples die because of lung cancer and because the smell of another smoke gives them cancer.
     Marijuana can give you loss of memory and it will not let you concentrate. Marijuana can give you cancer too, and it is illegal to sell marijuana. It will also give you bad breath. Marijuana has more chemicals than tobacco smoke.
     If you drink too much alcohol it could lead you to death. Alcohol can cause your blood stream to disease. Alcohol can damage all organs in your body. Alcohol is illegal until age 21. If you mix alcohol with medicine it is very dangerous. any kind of beer, wine and liquor are alcohol.
     I, ISSA, PROMISE not to do drugs and smoke tobacco or drink alcohol.

Ying H.

     People like to do bad things, but Officer Lowery tells us to not do things like drugs. Drugs can get people or you a cold and upper respiratory problems. When you do smoking it gets your lungs bad and yellow teeth and bad breath. there are 200 known poisons in cigarette smoke. There are 400,000 Americans who die from smoking tobacco. Non-smokers can also die of lung cancer if they breathe other people's smoke.
     Smoking marijuana can affect your body and mind. It can make you lose short-term memory, the ability to concentrate. Marijuana contains cancer causing chemicals and is illegal to possess in the United States. If you drink too much alcohol it can slow down your body. You can make poor judgment and even loss of self-control when you drink alcohol. You can die from drinking alcohol and taking drugs. People who like to take drugs, marijuana, tobacco and alcohol are not good people.
     I'm Ying. I promise to Officer Lowery that I will not drink alcohol. And I will also not take drugs. Officer Lowery tells me about all bad things in drugs and alcohol. She also tells me about people who take drug and alcohol, so they are sent to jail. I promise that i will never do that for sure.

Teng

     In this report I'm writing what I learning in D.A.R.E., why it important, and how I feel. I learned that smoking and drinking alcohol is bad for your body. Many kids think that it is cool. Well, I found out some way to say I don't want drugs. Like say it is a bad thing, or say I'm going to Red Apple, so sorry. There are lot of ways to say no to tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol, or other drugs.
     Now I will tell why it is important. Your body gets worse. It might attack your brain. Those things will change your life into a bad life. Before making friends, see if they are nice or bad.
     This is how I feel. People who do drugs don't even care that we said that it is bad for your body. The kids think we are lying or something else. It is getting worse for all the kids. D.A.R.E. knows what is right or wrong for you so I feel they are cool.
     "I pledge I will never do something bad like that".

Jasmine

     D.A.R.E. is a fun class and it makes you think about the choices you can make. It's cool one day I will be a healthier person because of the information I've learned. I swear to try to be a good person and I don't want to do drugs because drugs can ruin everything. I would like to make positive choices with my life. School is important and my family especially a college education. I want to remain drug free.
      Some of the things I learned in D.A.R.E. is about drugs how they can hurt me and you. Marijuana is illegal. and once you do it you'll be stuck to it. Don't get stuck! Marijuana users get bad cancer, marijuana affects your ability to do sports and the loss of the ability to concentrate. I pledge to keep my family from doing drugs!

Deanna M.

     DARE had taught me that smoking marijuana causes breathing problems, and people who smoke it have more colds and upper respiratory problem. Marijuana affects your brain and body and effects the way you think. Marijuana can give short term memory loss and loss of the ability to concentrate. Smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer. I learned that more second hand smokers die than the people smoking it. Smoking and playing sports can make you suffer from shortness of breath. I learned what DARE stands for: D stands for define, describe the problem, challenge or opportunity. A stands for assess, what are your choices? R is for respond make a choice, use the facts and information you have gathered. E stands for review your decision, did you make a good choice? That is what DARE stands for.
     DARE is good for kids who needs help saying no to drugs and alcohol, and help kids from making bad decisions. That's all the reasons I pledge to be drug free.

Steve

     What I learned about tobacco, in D.A.R.E. is that more than 400,000 Americans die from tobacco related causes each year and most of them began using tobacco before the age of 18.
     It's important not to smoke tobacco, because you can get black lungs, a hole in your throat, cancer, and you can die from smoking tobacco.
     Another thing I learned from D.A.R.E. is about alcohol, it slows your brain and body down, it goes through your blood stream and increases your risk of a variety of diseases. Also, alcohol can damage every organ in your body and if you are with others who are drinking, there is an increased risk of injury, car accidents, and violence.
     It's also important not to drink alcohol, because if you drink too much and you get drunk, you might get in a fight with others or you can get in a car accident. About 17 percent of eighth graders do drink and 83 percent of eighth graders do not drink. Can you believe that!
     The last and final thing I learned in D.A.R.E. is about marijuana users have more cold and upper respiratory problems and it affects your brain and body.
     It's important to keep all three of these things I talked about away from children, especially marijuana and alcohol. If somebody pushes you around and try to make you smoke marijuana or drink some alcohol. Just walk away, tell somebody, or just say no to the person offering you the stuff.
      So stay in school, don't do drugs, and make right choices.
     I pledge not to smoke tobacco, marijuana, not to drink alcohol, and never do drugs ever in my life.

Emily

     What I learned is what alcohol does to you when you drink it. The other thing I learned is what tobacco and marijuana do to you.
     What alcohol does to you is that it can damage every organ in your body, loss of coordination, slowed reflexes, loss of self control, poor judgment, memory lapses, slurred speech, lead to coma and death, and alcohol goes directly into your blood stream and can increase your risk for a variety of diseases.
     Tobacco can cause heart diseases, lung cancer, breathing problems, and upper respiratory problems.
     The health effect of marijuana can do is breathing problems, short term memory loss which you can't remember everything, loss of ability to concentrate, and marijuana can be addictive.
     I promise that I will stay away from drugs and never ever drink alcohol nor do marijuana or tobacco. I will be healthy and will not have diseases. I will be drug free forever and ever.

Jonathan M.

     I pledge... to never do drugs like tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol. I will not drink beer or liquor. I do not want to do any drugs. When someone ask me "do you want drugs", I'll say no! If someone tried to make me do drugs I'll say no! I don't like drugs. I don't want to have a bad life by doing drugs. I want to have a good life and go to college. When I grow up, I'll stay away from drugs. I don't want to smoke when I grow up because if I smoke my lungs will turn black and you could get lung cancer and get a hold in your throat. When I grow up I would not do drugs like beer or even liquor. Those things can get you drunk and you can get crazy. Beer is super bad because you can get drunk and if you drive on the highway you can die and get into a car crash. I will never do drugs or cigarettes or liquor because those things are very bad. Cigarettes are very bad they can kill you and you can get lung cancer. The smoke from the cigarettes can kill people because they can smell the smoke. When you smoke people can smell the cigarettes in your mouth.

Fredrico

     I have learned many things from D.A.R.E. I have learned about drugs and decision making. I'm sharing some of the things I learned.
     When you smoke you are causing your whole body to have problems. Your lungs will turn black, you can lose self-control and your brain will be damaged.
     I have also learned about how people want to do drugs. People get pressured or they wonder how it is to do drugs. Some people get addicted. Advertisements try to make drugs look cool.
     Through all the lessons I have learned about drugs, alcohol, and people have died from it. You must make decisions and think about them too before thinking about smoking or drinking.
     I pledge that I'll be always drug free throughout my life and to make good choices.

Brittany P.

     This year I learned a bunch of things about drugs. I learned to not take them. And also they aren't good for me and my body. I also learned that tobacco has Rat poison and toilet bowl cleaner in it.
     All these things we learned was very important to me. I hope and I know that I will never use drugs or any type of drug that is not good for me. I also learned things I never knew before I took the DARE class. Mrs. Lowery told us funny but sad stories about people who took drugs. We also played games with her. It was a awesome experience with her and the class. I hope I learn not to use drugs and other harmful things to me and my body.
     I, Brittany, commitment from this day on to never use any painkiller, drugs or other such things. Because I know its bad for me and my body my community and humanity.

Sina T.

     DARE is very important, it helps you learn. DARE stands for: define-that means describe the problem, challenge or opportunity. A stands for Assess-means what are your choices. R stands for respond-meaning make a choice, and use the facts and information you have gathered. Finally, E it stands for evaluate-meaning review decision, and did you make a good choice?
     Officer Lowerie is a very good person, and she wants us to be safe, and know the problems we are discussing in case we might be in that kind of situation. I learned alot from Officer Lowerie. One thing I knew that was really disgusting is that in Tobacco theirs rat poison and toilet bowl cleaner is in it.
     I really believe that if we pay good attention we might know that we shouldn't do drugs. I really knew alot of things from DARE that I never knew before. It's important for everyone. Also graduation means alot to me because that's when you know that you did things you learned, and that tells you how much you learned. I learned that smoking causes breathing problems. Also, smokers have more colds and upper respiratory problems, and causes heart disease. Also, smoking is the most common cause of lung cancer, and also tobacco affects your body's development.
     I, Sina pledge to be drug free because I know drugs are bad for me, my school, my country and to stay away from alcohol, tobacco and other harmful drugs that are bad for me. Amen

Shantell M.

     Lately I have been thinking about all the bad drugs and alcohol out in the world and about all the people who have tried them. I personally think that I have learned alot about alcohol and drugs such as you can get lung cancer or die of to much alcohol and you can hurt your body. From learning about drugs and alcohol I know not to try them. Here are some drugs I have learned about, marijuana, cocaine, crack, meth, inhalants, heroine and many others.
     Most of these drugs can kill you right when you first try it because you may get addicted. These drugs can give you lung cancer, brain damage, and poisoning. I would rather stay sober and un-high than get addicted to drugs or alcohol because they can mess up your life.
     From the things I have learned about alcohol and drugs, I don't think I ever want to try them. I don't want to die from cancer or too much alcohol. I feel bad for all the people who have tried them and got addicted just because of the type of people they hung around. I don't ever want to get high or drunk because bad things may happen to me and I could get a seizure or lose control of myself and I don't want these things to happen so I am not gonna try drugs.
     This is my decision and I hope that all my friends will follow me to but for the ones who don't I won't give up my good life just to help them even though it may be one of my best friends because if they do drugs near me or if they smoke I won't help them because they are going down the wrong path. I hope I will never fall into the wrong hands of friends because I don't my life to be messed up.
     I Shantell promise to never smoke or drink. I have learned that I may die from these thing and I want to be drug free for the rest of my life so I promise that I will choose better friends if they choose to smoke because they will lead me the wrong way so I promise to always be drug free and sober.

Nia W.

    During the last two months I've learned to ask myself before I make a bad decision. I've learned that there are 200 known poisons in a cigarette. That made me never want to smoke. I learned that alcohol can damage every organ in your body. Which made me realize how dangerous alcohol is. I've heard that marijuana is illegal. So I will never have anything to do with it. It even has more tar than tobacco does and is way more dangerous. In the two months I've learned how to use the D.A.R.E. decision making model to help me in a hard time so I will always make a good decision. So now I know what to do and how to do it. I pledge to be drugs, tobacco and alcohol free. Because I know it's bad for me.

Cadi W.

   In DARE, I learned a lot about making healthy choices. I learned to read the labels on the medicine I take and to never use a spoon from the kitchen to measure medicine. I also learned about all the facts of tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol. Now that I know the facts, I can make the right decision.
   In DARE, I learned about tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol. Smoking tobacco can cause breathing problems and heart disease. It also kills 400,000 people each year. That's more than 1,000 people each day! Marijuana is illegal in the U.S. and people who use marijuana have an increased risk of cancer. Alcohol causes loss of coordination and it slows down the brain and body. It is important to know these facts because now you probably won't smoke and if you remember these facts, then you can tell others about drugs.
   I learned how to say no. I learned that a true friend will understand when you say no to them and I know how to say No confidently. Another thing I learned was how to make my own decisions. The DARE decision making model could help me make decisions by giving me steps on how to make good decisions. This is important because we need to make our own decisions because if we don't, we're letting others make them  for us.
   In DARE, I learned about inhalants. Inhalants are smells from chemicals in things like Sharpies, gasoline, and air fresheners. This is important because you could kill yourself with inhalants if you're not careful.
   I also learned about medicine in DARE. I learned that it can be harmful when abused and shouldn't be measured with a spoon from the kitchen. This is important because you may hurt yourself if you misuse medicine.
   DARE had an impact on me because I realized that I can say No. I was afraid to say no because I was afraid my friends be upset if I said No. Now I feel confident when saying no because I know my friends will understand. I thank DARE for all the facts on drug abuse and making good choices.
   Basically, I learned about the affects of drug abuse. I learned how to make wise decisions and how to say no. I also learned about Inhalants and what they can do to you. Another thing I learned about is that medicine can be dangerous if abused. I learned all the facts about tobacco, marijuana, and alcohol.
   I, Cadi W., will pledge to never abuse drugs. I will never smoke, drink, or use marijuana. I will make my own decisions and will say No whenever I want to.

Lindsay P.

   I think DARE is really neat. it taught me a lot about drugs, alcohol, tobacco, marijuana, and how to say NO! I also learned the difference of over the counter drugs and prescription drugs. These skills helped me make healthy choices because we learned the facts and found out how bad things can be when you abuse them. I like DARE because I learned something while having fun.
   Marijuana is illegal no matter how old you are and it's also really bad for you. When people use marijuana they have an increased risk of cancer. There is also more tar in marijuana smoke than in tobacco. If you smoke marijuana it will affect your brain and body. Marijuana can also cause breathing problems so if you smoke marijuana you may DIE.
   In other places you can't smoke or buy tobacco under the age of 18. But in Cordova you have to be 19. Cigarettes contain a powerful substance called, nicotine, that causes addiction. In 1 year over 400,000 people die each year from tobacco related causes! There are also over 200 known poisons in tobacco. if you smoke you can get yellow teeth or smelly breath.
   Alcohol is dangerous because you never know how much is too much because it's different for everybody. If you do take too much you can go into coma. Alcohol is also dangerous because it doesn't hurt just the person who had alcohol. If the person who had too much alcohol is driving they may cause a wreck and wound or kill someone. Alcohol can also slow down the brain and central nervous system. Because alcohol affects a teenage body more than an adult body anyone under 21 aren't allowed to have it.
   I learned about many drugs and other things that can be dangerous for me if I abuse them. I also learned I can say NO, even to a friend, because if they're really my friend they would understand. I also learned about the difference of over the counter and prescription drugs. If you have a medicine with alcohol it could cause the medicine to work wrong and poison you. I also learned that one beer has as much alcohol as a glass of wine.
   I, Lindsay P. swear to NEVER to have marijuana, or tobacco, and to NEVER abuse drugs in any way.

Jeremiah L.

     The Drug Abuse Resistance & Education program (D.A.R.E.) has taught me a lot about drugs. The program has taught me how companies advertise drugs and how to deal with pressure to use drugs. I have also learned about the three R's (respectful, realistic, and responsible). This report summarizes what I have learned about in D.A.R.E.
     I have learned that there are different symptoms when using each kind of drug. For example, drinking alcohol makes your pulse slow and makes you have slurred speech, staggering, slow reactions, and you have poor judgment. I have also learned about the different parts in the brain. In the brain, there is the pain center and the brain is a key factor for coordination, balance, vision, movement, and for thinking and feeling. Using drugs negatively influences all parts of the brain. One thing that I learned and found especially interesting is that drug companies use humor, research, and having fun playing sports to advertise drugs. It is clear to me that no matter what they say about the drugs, they all affect your health. As a result, I have learned possible refusal responses. If someone asks me to smoke, I know what I will say to them. I will say, "No! You can get lung cancer!" or "Don't you want to live a long life?" I do realize that it is important to respect what other people say and not to say anything rude about someone behind their back.
     D.A.R.E. has also taught me that if your are really mad you should take a deep breath or talk to a friend about what happened. This will help you calm yourself before you do something really dumb. I also now know that if someone says everyone is smoking that it isn't true, only they are. I have learned that not that many kids use drugs. D.A.R.E. has also taught me to use the decision making model before making a decision. For example, if someone asks me to smoke I know to use the decision making model to help me make a decision. The decision model explains that first, you must find your choice, second you have to find the choice that follows the three R's, next you choose a decision and finally you have to act out the situation.
     Learning about D.A.R.E. has also helped me know what to do in a tight situation with drugs. I must make a responsible, respectful, and realistic choice. Like if, my friend says, "lets have some beer", I will know the facts about alcohol and will be able to have the courage to say no using the key assertive behaviors, (eye contact, firm voice, and an I message) thanks to the D.A.R.E. program. It has especially helped me learn how to act out the scenarios. I have learned how to act if someone asks me to steal, smoke, or drink beer.
     That's just some of the stuff I have learned in D.A.R.E. Drugs are everywhere, in shops, on the streets, in parties, in school, and many oth4er places. D.A.R.E. has taught me how to avoid drugs and how to deal with situations where people try to get me to use them. D.A.R.E. is an easy way to get the facts straight about drugs and to learn what to do if someone asks you if you want drugs.
     I, Jeremiah L., pledge to make wise decisions about drugs.

Tasha B.

     In DARE, Officer Wendy taught me about different types of drugs, such as marijuana, alcohol, cigarettes, inhalants, and more. Now I know the consequences of choosing to use drugs, and how to prevent from using them. Now, I know that drugs affect everyone, and have learnt how to make good choices, by staying away form them.
     Alcohol, it's a fatal drug. Teens and adults drink this awful substance. I would never drink it, because it slows your body down, and it generates terrible odors. I don't want to smell bad! If I were a drinker at let's say...8th grade, I would be making an uncommon decision. Only 16% of 8th graders DO drink alcohol. I would not win any popularity contests if I was a drinker in 8th grade! It actually affects teens more than adults, yet it's illegal for anyone under the age of 21. Overdoses can cause serious damage-like death, to teenagers and adults. It not only affects you, but it can affect others, for example, a drunken driving incident. The driver harms more than himself in a crash. Alcohol can even promote cancer, which can be insanely deadly.
     Decisions are a huge part of our lifestyles. If you were to make a bad decision, it could haunt you for the rest of your life. If you were at a teen party, (for example) and you choose to be cool and smoke cigarettes, that might be the reason why you got addicted, and a few years later developed cancer. You will never have the same lungs again. That's why you make good decisions. People may use peer pressure to make you do something you may or may not want to do. It's your choice. There can be good peer pressure, such as your study buddy telling you to fill out your assignment sheet. There can be bad peer pressure, such as someone getting you to try cigarettes, like one of the previous scenarios. Now it's up to you to make a good decision.
     I always use the DARE decision making model before making and important decision. First, I define the problem, like figuring out whether it's a problem, a challenge, or an opportunity. You also need to figure out what the real situation is-not what you wish it could be. Second, I try to generate alternatives that are responsible, respectful, and realistic. I try to find choices that have the "three r's", and if they don't, just set them aside. After that is finished, you choose your best alternative. Which choice was the best out of all of them? Whichever one that was, you choose it. Lastly, you act out your decision. Hopefully, it was the best one!
     I have enjoyed the DARE program immensely. I now know the harms of drugs, and how to keep a healthy body. I hope that more people realize what harmful things drugs do to the body. I dare you to be drug free, and I pledge to use my knowledge from DARE in real situations.

Cara C.

     In D.A.R.E. I have learned a lot but some things that will stick with me through out my life are:
     1. What to do to say NO!
     2. What the 3 R's are
     3. What the real percentages of the use of drugs, alcohol and inhalants.
     Saying NO! is hard especially to your friends. Some things I learned in D.A.R.E. to do when saying NO is to make eye contact with the person, use a clear voice, use an "I" statement and use a good reason to refuse. For me it would definitely be hard to say No to my friends because well I don't want to lose them or hurt they're feelings. In D.A.R.E. the class has practiced saying NO in role-playing. So in real life when it happens you can know what to do. But even in role playing it was hard so I can't imagine what will happen when it happens to me. If it does all I have to do is try to speak clearly, make eye contact, tell the person a reason why not to do it and tell the person why I don't want to.
     The 3 R's represent Responsible, Respectful and Realistic. It means when I have to make a decision it should be what's best for me and the 3 R's. I want my decision to be the 3 R's because then I know what is a good decision with good consequences not bad. I want my decision to be responsible so I know I'm not doing anything stupid and something with bad consequences, respectful to others and me around me. I also want my decision to be realistic so the decision is not going to be fake or something.
     Some people say that everyone is smoking it or drinking it but the real truth is not everyone is. The real percentage of 8th graders who do drugs or smoke cigarettes or sniff inhalants is really amazingly low. When people offer you those things they usually say something like "everyone is doing them" or "You'll be cool and popular" but that's not true. Really guess what the percentages are? For cigarettes 93% of 8th graders DON'T smoke cigarettes so only 7% smokes it. For 8th graders who DON'T drink alcohol the percentage is 84% so only 16% does. For 8th graders who DON'T sniff inhalants the percentage is 96% so 4% does. 94% of 8th graders DON'T  do marijuana and 6 % does. The numbers that don't do any of those things really impressed me. I didn't realize how good they were.
     So in conclusion some of what I learned in D.A.R.E. is what I would do to say NO and what I learned to say, the 3 R's for decision-making and the percentage of what people do and don't do alcohol, inhalants, cigarettes and marijuana.
     I promise to do what's best for my body and me. For example not smoking cigarettes or doing drugs.

Alex C.

     For the past months I've been doing dare. In dare I learned tons of stuff about the brain and how smoking and drugs affect it. I know that underage drinking makes your brain bad and how people die from puking up alcohol and drowning in it. All that info makes me realize the danger of using those stuff. I will never use drugs.
     Some stuff that I learned are that most 8th graders do not use drugs and do not drink. When drinking, people lose their balance function and the memory function in the brain. I know the 3 Rs: respectful, responsible, and realistic. Using those steps I can make sure that if a situation occurred, I can be safe. I can also use an I statement.
     The reason I think that the fact that most 8th graders don't do drugs is important is because most people may think that 8th graders do smoke and use drugs, but most of them do not. An impact it had on me was the fact that it is not OK to do drugs and that was an impact. The 3 Rs are important because people need to know good stuff to do and bad stuff to do in a bad situation. The I statements are important because then people can know that you're serious in your statement. Those are some of the details about what I have learned.
     The skills I have learned are the I statements, eye contact strong voice and everything else that makes up an I statement. I've learned the three Rs, which are respectful, responsible, and realistic. I know the dangers about drugs and alcohol and plan to use those skills to say no to them. Those are just some of the many skills I have learned to say NO!
     I pledge to never use drugs or alcohol or cigarettes and to always say no. I also pledge to use the 3 Rs and use the I statements when saying no.

Katrina A.

     On the S team, we did Dare. We learned what drugs can do to your body. I think that Dare has probably change dmy life somewhere down the line.
     It taught to be strong and courageous to say no. Even when I'm old enough to drink I am going to make myself mentally ready. The life of me is in my hands and Dare has made sure that it will be a safe one.
     In Dare we got to meet a real live police officer (Officer Wendy). She spent time with us and we got to do skits and talk in our groups. I personally felt Officer Wendy lived for us to learn all this stuff and not stop.
     She taught us how to say no in a way thats not mean. She also told us that parents will find out. I am glad we have a scholastic officer that can teach us about this stuff.
     I know that I have always keep promises and will keep my body safe. I thank dare in so many ways.
     I pledge to never ever use drugs when they are not given to me by a doctor or drink and drive.

Madison T.

     Dare has been a learning experience for me. I learned so much through out the last few months. Some of the several things that I have learned is that saying no is really hard. One other thing is that if someone says that everyone is doing it (trying to convince you) it's not true. Then my last fact is do not ever run from a police officer.
     When dare started truthfully I was not really that excited. It sounded like something that would be easy to pass. But when we started to actually talk about drugs and problems we will most likely encounter, I started to understand that this was a serious class. As for instance I never thought it would be really that hard to say no to something. I noticed that when we started to haft to act out situations. The reason why that is a skill you must learn is that, that skill may end up saving your life someday. Just that one word "no". What I also learned to follow up with the skill saying no is that there are many respectful way's to say no following that three R's (respectful, responsible, and realistic) So not only do you need to say no to something's, you need to know how to say no.
     Not only did I learn how to say no in this class I learned how people will try to convince you to do whatever they are trying to make you do. Some people may try to tell you that everyone is doing whatever it is, but truthfully only 26.7 percent high schoolers smoke. Then only 23 percent drink. So truthfully when someone says that it's not even close to the truth. It's important to know this because it will help you understand that if you do that one thing it wont make you that much cooler. The only thing it will do is make your life much tougher to get through.
     The other last thing I would like to share is that if you ever run into a situation were you are some where and the cops come don't run. Not only will you get into bigger trouble you may die. How is probley what you are wondering. You see when you go to a party you are going to be tank tops and shorts or something like that. So if you run and hide in the woods you may freeze to death. Your best choice is just to take some of the blame. Even though you may of had nothing to do with it you never should argue with the officer. This small fact you may think you know not to do already, but in reality you may end up running away from a officer.
     All of the skills that I talked about are important to know about. The one thing they all have in common is that none of them are going to be easy to do if you run across that one problem. The reason why I chose these three facts or details to share with you is that I think that these are some of the more important things to know.
     I commit myself and my life to follow the three R's and rules of DARE!

Jeremiah W.

     Alcohol is one of the most common problems you will find anywhere.  It is also one of the deadliest things.  If you plan on drinking be prepared for disease, injury, and a lot of regrets.
     Alcohol creates problems such as slowed reflexes, memory lapses, diseases, and a lot more.  If most of the people in charge took it head-on it might be illegal.  Some people I know have been affected sadly by it and now lead hard lives.
     If I can stay sober, drug free, and non-addictive I will live a good life.  Thanks to my teachers, local police, and others I am drug free and proud to be!

Harmony L.

     I have learned in D.A.R.E. that drugs are very bad for our body.  Like nicotine, we become addicted to it.  If you try nicotine (which is contained in cigarettes) your body depends on it.  It's unhealthy drug.  It slows you and your reflexes down, and you may get mouth cancer.  Also marijuana causes breathing problems, more colds and upper respiratory problems.  Infections are also similar to cigarettes but it's illegal in the U.S. and cigarettes are legal over age 19.
     We also learned in D.A.R.E. is that people can give in to peer pressure by someone near your age.  For example, Jamie is 14 years old.  His mom keeps showing him what she wants him to do.  But Jamie doesn't want to because his mom is about 45 years old.  He cusses in a rude way and is always in a disrespectful way just like his new friend Jack.  He also cusses and becomes a disrespectful person everyday.  Before Jamie met Jack he was a very gentle, forgiving, caring, and responsible young man.  Since then he became a very dreaded example for any grade especially for the preschool-second grade.
     It's extremely important to know all of this because this will help you make great proactive choices.  I say this because when you get older and older you're going to experience this strange thing called "peer pressure".  It's very simple for us to experience peer pressure.  Peer pressure is when someone in an age near your influences your choices.  Just like my little example in the above paragraph.  Some day you'll give into peer pressure and you won't notice, but your family will.  The impact on yourself would be that if someone told you to either take a cigarette or you'll never be cool and you would take one because they're encouraging you to take one cigarette so that you could be like them.  Also if you did know this information you would walk away and tell them NO.
     I promise not to smoke, or chew tobacco and any kind of drug that is illegal or legal.

Felila M.

     I learned that if you smoke or even drink any kind of drugs you will have bad breath, disgusting teeth, wrinkles, lung cancer, and a chance of dying.  DARE will help me make my decision.  I think this program should be re-taught to all the people who have done drugs.  Then they'll think about what choices they have made and should have made the right choices.
     This is what we learned besides the things above.  We learned and talked about tobacco, alcohol, meth, marijuana, friendship, inhalants, peer pressure, advertising, positive and healthy choices, decision making model, and cigarettes.  Learning all these things is important.  It's important to learn these because it will help you make your decision instead of not learning or ignoring it.
     Because of DARE I will stay drug free and violence free.  Being drug free and violence free is what I plan to be and do.  So all I got to say is thank you Officer Lowery for having and teaching this program.
     I pledge to be a positive, drug free role model to my friends and family.
    

Cheyenne M.

     While in D.A.R.E. I learned that alcohol and drugs affects your body and brain in many ways.  Some of the affects of drugs and alcohol are poor judgment, memory lapses, and loss of self-control.  Drugs and alcohol can also be addictive, increase the risk of cancer and lots of other diseases.  Alcohol is also illegal for anyone under 21 years old.
     Smoking cigarettes is also bad for your body.  Smoking causes breathing problems, lung cancer, and heart disease.  Second hand smoke causes 3,000 non-smokers to die of lung cancer every year.
     Advertisements try to get more people to smoke and drink.  They leave out the bad affects in their ads.
     People who smoke, drink, and do drugs should stop because people are dying and polluting the world.  I THINK THEY SHOULD STOP!
     I pledge to not drink, smoke, or do drugs.

jOSHUA t.

     I have learned about the dangers of cigarettes, alcohol, inhalants and marijuana.  We learned about the tricks of advertisements.  We learned about making good choices and how to say "no!".  Our class did role playing to practice because it is pretty hard to say no to friends.
     I have learned that alcohol damages your brain.  Inhalants and marijuana hurt your brain too.  I really liked the video play where the kids were offered beer at a party where they were making posters because it could really happen.  The police pulled up in the end and the kids at the party would get arrested for underage drinking.  I liked the real stories Officer Wendi told us because she was telling us the truth.  It was cool, she brought Darin along with her even though I didn't get to hold him.
     I pledge I will never do any kind of drugs because I want to be a paleontologist and I need a good brain to identify which dinosaur is which.  I promise not to be violent and get help from a police officer, my parents, or my teachers if I am having a hard time.  I think other kids should take this class because it is fun and teaches you how to make good decisions.

Lindsey K.

     This essay is all about the D.A.R.E. program and what I have learned.  I have learned a lot of helpful skills about how to say no to drugs and violence.  I know these will help me in the future.  Officer Wendy has taught us how drugs harm and destroy your body and mind.  I know that "just because other people are doing it and you should too" is so dumb!  I mean why would that make you do it too if you know it's bad?  I know how to use lots of refusal skills also.
     I have learned refusal skills and how to say no to posers!  It has opened my eyes to how drugs affect your body and your mind.  I am thankful for this awesome opportunity!  One of my favorite refusal skills are the 3 R's because you have to say no in a respectful, responsible, and realistic way.  This had a very positive and healthy effect/impact on me.  I feel like I can go into life with knowledge and power against drugs and alcohol.  If I did drugs I would not be able to continue my love and skill for dancing.  I would someday like to become a professional dancer, but if I did drugs, that could all fade away.
     I have learned many important details and skills.  I've learned how many teens are coaxed into drugs and alcohol.  I've also learned what kind of techniques companies use to advertise their products.  The techniques that are used to get their target customers (teens) to buy their disgusting products is also something I learned.  There are so many things that companies hide to get buyers.  It disgusts me.  I know I will use these skills in the future.
     I Lindsey K., pledge that I will live a drug-free, alcohol free, safe life.  I pledge to use wise skills.  THANK YOU OFFICER WENDY!!!!

Trevor S.

     The D.A.R.E. program has taught me the dangers of drugs and violence.  I've learned that the choices you make can effect the future.  I've even had some of those experiences myself.
     One of the things that is most helpful is what drugs do to you.  For example, nicotine is one of the most addictive substances which is why people who use tobacco have a very hard time quitting.
     Because of the things I have learned in D.A.R.E., I will be able to say "no" to drugs and violence.  The information about drugs and alcohol makes me not want to use them.
     I pledge that I will never use drugs, tobacco, or alcohol ever in my life.