A DAY BACK IN HIGH SCHOOL
By: Danny J. Simmons
It is 6:00 AM sharp on Friday morning. I am awakened by Kelly, a staff member at the Teen Challenge ? Christian Life Ranch. There is no way I could anticipate how amazing this day would be. I began to thank God for the day and ask Him to speak through me to the high school students I would be speaking to today. Before long I?m riding in a van with ten other students from the Ranch on our way to Moon Valley High School in Phoenix, Arizona. We would be speaking to seventy-five students in Mrs. Hansen?s class today. I have done the same type of thing at three different schools in the past so I was pretty sure I knew what to expect at this school. I was definitely mistaken.
We arrive at Moon Valley about twenty minutes before classes start. We find our way to room 910 are greeted warmly by Nicole Hansen. As I walk into the classroom I see one of the football players sitting in detention. He begins to hassle Mrs. Hansen about going to eat breakfast.
?Come on, just let me go and come right back,? Said the disgruntled student, ?I have a game today I have to eat.?
?I?ve already told you this is detention you have to wait until after.? Said Mrs. Hansen, slightly annoyed.
I had an instant flash back to my high school days. I was just like the disgruntled football player in detention. I could not believe it. I remembered exactly what it felt like to be in high school. I wanted to warn this student of where that kind of behavior led and that after high school, being cool doesn?t matter. I wanted to share what happened to me and show him how to avoid it. I would get my chance.
Around eight o?clock the first period class bell rang. The football player walked into class right on time. Derek Jarrett; teacher advisor at the CLR, started off our presentation to the class and introduced us to the students. Tory Sperazza, an intern at the CLR, shared first about how drugs almost stole his life. He told the students in the classroom about how drugs started off fun but soon turned to hell on earth and how he is still living their consequences today. Not long after Tory shared it was my turn. I opened up and shared my heart with the students. I told them how two years ago I was just like them. I like to play sports and try to get with the girls. I love to party and thought it was no big deal. Then I shared how the drugs and alcohol took over. Not all of them really caught it but the ones that did will think twice before going to that next party. I was able to speak into the lives of the young adults attending that class because I remember what it was like to walk in their shoes.
After I finished I called Josh Taylor, a student at the CLR, to bring the skit he had prepared with some of the other Teen Challenge guys. The skit only lasted about three minutes. It was funny yet at the same time delivered a powerful message. They were able to illustrate who friends pass their addictions on to each other and that when it is all over you end up alone with no way out of your addiction. As they ended their skit Josh went right into his testimony. Again griping the class with a moving story of a hard life due to the choices he made as a young man.
We had an amazing time at Moon Valley High School. I know we connected with the class. After the class we had some one on one time with the students. We were able to create relationships and really get through to some of them, even offer help for their family and friends fighting life controlling issues. I know for a fact that we really made a difference in the lives of those students who were will to listen to the truth we spoke by the power of God. This was by far my favorite day in high school.
