Program urges girls to make positive choices

Alex Vincent and Samantha Robinson sample the lunch provided at an event aimed at raising self esteem and promoting positive life choices, a Nevada R-5 event for girls called My Life, presented at the Franklin P. Norman City/County Community Center on Tuesday.

By Lynn A. Wade

Nevada Daily Mail

Dozens of girls from Nevada High School took part in program aimed at helping teenage girls build self esteem and make positive choices.

"We want them to have healthy relationships. We want them to know it's their life; they have a say," in the choices they make and how they respond to circumstances along the way, said Nevada R-5 Wellness Coordinator Crystal Burch.

Called My Life, the program is modeled after a program that began in Oklahoma, then took place in Joplin, according to Burch.

About 20 women joined the effort to serve as mentors for the program, which featured activities like a nice lunch served on fine china, small group discussions, a fashion show and presentations by guest speakers Shannon Wendt, Joplin, Beau Norman, Stockton, and Hannah Randolph, Webb City.

The mentors, ranging in age from about 20 to 68 or so, "want to make an impact on the lives of girls." Burch said.

The day began with a fashion show presented by students from Cottey College. "They shared their views on what makes a woman beautiful," Burch said.

Then the girls split into groups to hear views on such subjects as "secondary virginity," the concept of reclaiming one's virginity by choosing to abstain from sex from that moment on, until marriage; the ability to make new lifestyle choices if bad choices have been made in the past; and a man's view of fairy tales.

Norman spoke of princes and princesses, and the concept of living "happily ever after."

"You were born to be a princess. That doesn't mean nothing bad will ever happen to you," he said, pointing out that many mishaps befell fairy tale princesses, but they persevered, and they didn't settle. They waited for their princes. "Snow While lived with seven dudes, but she didn't date any of them. Why? 'Cause she was waiting for her prince," he told the girls. Likewise, the prince was looking for his princess; adding that no matter what trials a princess endures, "it doesn't make you not a princess. You're still a princess. You deserve a prince. You deserve someone who'll give you flowers just 'cause it's Wednesday," Norman said.