by Candice LysMay 26, 2008 at P. W. Kaeser High School in Fort Smith, NT
A community member, Gord Rothnie, and I presented to all grade nine through twelve students at PWK High School in my hometown of Fort Smith, NWT, which is a community that has a very large Aboriginal population.
I spoke to two groups of about 30 female students each and Gord talked to the young men, about safer sex, maintaining positive and empowered sexual health, minimizing high risk behaviours, and protecting themselves and their peers while partying.
In addition, I spoke about my education goals and the research I intend to conduct this fall with youth in the NWT for my Masters degree. I encouraged the youth to set education and life goals and work to achieve them, maintain healthy lifestyles, as well as assert and empower themselves within intimate relationships and peer interactions.
I felt the presentations went very well—the youth were very receptive and listened intently. They participated in all activities and asked great questions at the end of my presentation.
After the presentation, a few students and even some parents who had talked to their kids about the presentation approached me to congratulate me on my educational accomplishments and thank me for speaking to the youth in my home community.
I found that the experience was very rewarding, and I would love to do presentations on similar topics for any young people in the North and across Canada!
