Red Ribbon Week

October is always a busy month for student services personnel. Well REALLY... what month isn't busy?

Fall break interrupts the flow of our work, but gives us a moment to refresh and catch our breathe!
The fall Oklahoma mornings are divine, as the sunlight shines on the red leaves atop the trees. I seem to find comfort in small things, like the hot chocolate I stopped for on the way to work today. Those small things, are not so small when the job is busy and demanding.

Students with attendance and grade deficiencies are starting to pop up and we are striving to proactively help those students achieve. We see where their choices and influences could be leading them and often it's scary!

Red Ribbon week comes at the end of busy October, the 23rd-31st.  If I'm being honest, there were plenty of times, as a school counselor, I really wanted to skip the whole thing... I had too much to do! However, as we are starting to see those students who are struggling, there are also students who will never show us any warning signs. Red Ribbon week is a great time to openly communicate, educate students, discuss how drugs and alcohol affect them and highlight resources within your community who can help.

The national theme this year is "Love Yourself -Be Drug Free!" I really like how this theme lends
itself to the conversations of self-care, time-management, positive self-talk and future career/academic plans. The Red Ribbon Campaign has also given students and schools other incentives to celebrate and possibly win $1,000 and ipad.

Head over to Red Ribbon Blog for more details and ideas for your schools Red Ribbon Week Opportunities. 

Then make sure you find a small thing for positive comfort and refreshment in. I have a massage after work today... perhaps that's a big small thing?!