Teen Truth Live tackles bullying, other youth issues

  Junior high and high school students from the Public School System learned about bullying and other school issues in presentations conducted by Teen Truth Live speakers.

According to its website, Teen Truth Live is North America’s premier student assembly experience aimed at discussing bullying and school violence, drugs and alcohol, and body image and self-esteem issues in schools.

Based in San Diego, Calif., Teen Truth Live has “the most unique issue-focused” assembly programs available through their award-winning, student-shot films that uncover “the real truth on the issues that students face but don’t talk about” and has motivational speakers across the nation.

Michael Sarich, tour manager of Teen Truth Live, said he and two other program speakers arrived on May 6 to speak in front of public school students from over 20 junior high and high schools on Saipan, Tinian, and Rota.

Sarich disclosed that it was right after the 1999 Columbine High School shooting in Colorado that director Erahm Christopher and producer JC Pohl expressed their desire to make a difference. They hand-selected five teenage students who were a given a camera to film how teenagers feel about being one. What resulted was a 22-minute film about bullying and school violence and before long, two more 22-minute films about drugs and alcohol and image and self-esteem were created “through the eyes of a teenager.”

“Never in a million years did they think that Teen Truth would grow to as big as it is,” said Sarich. “Everybody faces one or all three of these issues in some way, shape or form that’s why we feel it’s important.”

Sarich said this is the second year for PSS to bring the Teen Truth Live program to the islands. For this trip, Sarich was joined by the program’s co-founder and producer Pohl and another motivational speaker, Giselle Rodriguez.

Sarich said the response from students has been “overwhelming.” In fact, one student from Rota took it upon himself to make a difference in his community. “That’s what Teen Truth is all about-having the power to make a difference in either yourself or the community,” he added.

Sarich said their program includes follow-up mechanisms contained in a 35-page teacher’s resource book that encompasses activities for students and teachers.

“Most schools say that their entire culture has changed because of our program,” he said. “It kind of opened up everybody’s eyes, especially when it comes to bullying, that it makes everyone a lot happier now. People walk around now without that chip on their shoulder because they are so open and honest with everybody now.”

Sarich, who is a motivational speaker for the drugs and alcohol component of the program, stressed that students do not have to follow in the footsteps of family members with drinking or drug abuse problems.

“I always tell students when I’m up on stage, you have the power to do anything that you want in life. If you have a family member who does drink or does use drugs, you do not have to follow in their footsteps. You have the power to do anything that you want and you do not have to give in to what your surroundings have adapted to,” he added.

Sarich is hopeful that PSS will continue to bring Teen Truth to the islands. “We want to continue building this relationship with the CNMI.”

For more information about Teen Truth, visit www.teentruthlive.com, www.facebook.com/teentruth or follow them on Twitter at twitter.com/teentruth.