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National guard visits school
efforts of the Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Clay County, Clay County was chosen as one of the eight schools to view the movie at no charge. Local middle school students were privileged to see the high-quality media production which is shown to students across the country each year by Motivational Productions. The movie shares the story of kids who have been affected by drugs and alcohol and contrasts poor decisions which have negative consequences versus making good decisions which bring rewards. "Freedom's Call" shares the story of one young girl named Megan who becomes involved in a growing trend called "huffing," andexplains the dangers of "huffing" through her story. In contrast, it shares the story of one young high school girl named Ashley who lost both of her parents to cancer, but through good choices and setting clear goals she was able to live on her own through high school and become prom queen and valedictorian of her class. "Freedom's Call" helps students to see that they have the ability to make good choices and that by setting clear goals, like staying drug and alcohol free and doing well in school, they can be successful in spite of adverse circumstances. Hayesville Middle School students shared their thoughts following the movie, saying that they were most effected by the story of the young girl who had lost both of her parents, but was still able to do something amazing by graduating at the top of her class. Motivational Speaker and Technician Jason Koop said that each year the non-profit company Motivational Productions produces a new movie to be viewed by students in 5,000 schools across the country. One of 14 technicians with the company which provides character education through their productions, Kopp said that he travels the Southeastern United States showing the movie in about two schools a day, five days a week. "We do a lot of research. A lot of thought and research goes into the production each year. And each year the movie is different. This year the theme is Freedom," he commented. "We are a non-profit organization. We are not doing this for any other reason than to get kids to make the right choices." The company was started by Tony Overman who is a motivational speaker who has traveled across the country trying to influence kids to make good choices. Overman started the production as a way to reach more students with his positive message. The cost of having the movie shown is usually paid by a school or a community group like the Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Clay County, however, HMS was able to view the movie free of charge through the generosity of the NC National Guard. Kopp said that hooking up with the National Guard is right in line with the theme of "Freedom's Call." The production emphasizes that each student has a personal freedom - just like we enjoy national freedom - they can enjoy personal freedom. "Freedom's Call" helps students to see that just like National freedom is not free, personal freedom is not free. Students are free to make decisions - good or bad - but those decisions can cost them. They are free to do what they want with their life, but some of the things they might choose…drugs…sex…they threaten their personal freedom." "And when they make the right decisions they put themselves out there to be laughed at or picked on. Freedom doesn't come easy. Sometimes you have to pay for your personal freedom," he added. "Freedom is never free." Members of the NC Air National Guard were on hand for the screening and glad to be West of Asheville for the first time ever. Senior Master Sergeant Bob Soth, who has been with the Drug Demand Reduction Unit for four years, said he was glad to visit Clay County for the first time and said the National Guard would be "staying in the area." "This is the first big push we have had in Western North Carolina," Soth commented. "We want to make the kids aware of the risks that are out there," explaining why they made the movie available to HMS. "We want to help them make good choices." One drug that is producing a challenge for members of the Drug Demand Reduction Unit, Soth said, is Methamphetamine. Soth said many think "meth" is a new drug. "It is not a new drug. It's been around since WWII when the Germans used it." Soth explained that they want to make sure kids know just how dangerous "meth" is.
"The reason it is such a dangerous drugs is that it is so cheap and easy to make, but it is more addicting than cocaine and has a much higher high than cocaine. It can hook you or kill you with one use," Soth warned. "We want to give these kids some ammunition to use to keep them from ever using drugs the first time," he commented. "If we can do our job at the front end we can keep them from ever needing treatment." "Drugs devastate entire families," he added. "If we can help them make the right choices now, their lives will be a lot better later on." Director of the Coalition for a Safe and Drug-Free Clay County Dawn Wilde said the Coalition was thankful for the opportunity for local students to see the movie and that they will be looking into the possibility of providing the annual production in the future. Wilde said the Coalition hopes that they can provide the movie in the future as they have seen first hand the positive impact it has had on students. "We would have not been able to provide this movie ourselves at this time so we are very thankful for the Air National Guard providing it for us at this time at no cost," Wilde said.
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