Ads for a Better Now

Lately I have been seeing a lot of ad about drinking and driving. It's interesting to think how big of a problem this really is. The ads I have seen are about drunk driving versus buzzed driving. The ads are set up to show that there is no difference. The ad features one picture of what happens to a car or a person after a car accident caused by alcohol consumption. The single picture is shown twice but one is labed "drunk driving" and the other is labeled "buzzed driving."

I think this is an excellent way to quickly and effectively get the idea across that there is no difference when it comes to impaired judgment. Alcohol consumption is still a major problem among teens. It's hard to believe that so many teens are getting their hands on not only alcohol but illegal drugs and abusing them at fatal or near fatal levels. These ads make me think about other things that are plaguing our teens. What are things in school that make life hard? What decisions are they faced with everyday?

This is definitely a touchy subject to be discussing in schools and certified counselors should be addressing these issues in the classroom often. I think for our purposes we could analyze the ads. What does this ad say about drinking and driving simply from the layout, text, and images? How and why is it effective? The teacher could have different ads from the Ad Council and other types of PSAs. If the teacher chooses, he/she could have a class discussion about messages that are communicated in the halls at school and how. Why is drinking seen as cool? Why is smoking seen as cool? Who defines cool? This is definitely an issue that would need to be approached with care and professionalism but it could work.

You are a Hero

This week I watched Rocky for the first time. It was an interesting experience because there are references about this movie all around me. This was basically a Cinderella story about a club boxer who gets his big chance in the ring. He realizes that nobody thinks he stands a chance. The only reason people want to help him is because of money. The person who cared most about him when he was a nobody was Adrian. Rocky and Adrian saw each other when no one else did.

I think this film has excellent themes and teaches great morals. Rocky had good standards and sense of self worth. I loved how Rocky tried to help that girl stay off the streets. He told her that life in the streets will only make her known by her reputation. He was also so gentle with Adrian. He told her brother to be nice to her and he was always thinking of ways to make her laugh. He genuinely had a good heart and his morals gave him motivation and showed a good example.

I think this film could inspire a lesson and activity on heroes. The teacher could ask the class who some of their heroes are. A list could be compiled then the teacher could ask why the heroes were selected. What are the qualities that make them heroic. After some discussion of heroic qualities, the teacher could ask who they think might see them as a hero. People seldom think about the people who look up to them. When they do notice it makes quite a difference in the way they act and carry themselves because they know they are the example.