American Fitness Professionals & Associates

 By Meghan Gardner

I teach a course called “Teen Awareness” for junior/high schools in the state of Massachusetts. The course covers basic do’s and don’ts of self defense and safety.

However, I find that this is one of the most difficult courses to teach due to the targeted audience: 13-18 year olds.
This is certainly not due to a lack of intelligence or attention on the part of the teens, it is simply the “It’ll never happen to me…” mind set. Unfortunately, it is this exact mentality that makes them a desirable target.

Teens, particularly young women, face the sad statistic that the majority of them will be victims of crime at some point in their life. These are difficult things to convey - awareness without paranoia, understanding without pessimism. But it is absolutely necessary. Better to invest the effort now in knowledge then to study up while healing up in the hospital.

Like the old saying “If you think education is expensive, try ignorance.” Teens are particularly susceptible to such things as Date Rape (for women) and Murder (for men).

As well, there are numerous occasions of kidnappings, sexual abuse, gang-related violence and robbery. More and more teens are becoming victims and more and more teens are becoming criminals. As parents we have to ensure our children that they have the right to say no. They are in control of their own bodies - and with this control comes an immense responsibility.

It is their decision as to whether they accept a ride from a friend who as been drinking - it should not be the decision of their friends. It is their decision as to whether they take drugs, or have unprotected sex, or start a fight, or participate in illegal activities of any kind. It is their choice. And it is they who must suffer the consequences - whether it means a pregnancy, an addiction, a jail term or even death.

A friend of mine was 14 years old and had tried marijuana. When his father found out (as parents always do, eventually) he did not lecture or scold him. Instead, he took his son to the hospital and made him watch a man in the emergency room undergoing a very bad “trip”. It was not a pretty sight. The man had put his head through a wall and both his arms were sliced to ribbons from smashing them through the windows in his house. He had only smoked one joint.
Which had happened to be laced with Angel Dust.

The sight was enough to convince my friend. As parents we wish we could have control of our children. We wish we could protect them. And shelter them from so many of these terrible choices and consequences. But we can’t.

Drugs and guns and violence are as much a part of the school system as they are the rest of life. We cannot be everywhere at once - we cannot protect them forever. But we can provide them with the knowledge of consequences. We can arm them with awareness. And we can give the power to say no.
Not simply because it is the “right thing to do”… but because it is the least costly thing to do. Stay well; Stay aware!

About the Author:

Meghan Gardner has been training in the martial arts for 18 years and is the Instructor Director for Guard Up, Inc. located in Waltham, MA. Guard Up is a full service health facility offering specialized courses in martial arts, boxing, self defense, fencing, and Japanese Swordsmanship.

Meghan also travels around the country providing assault and theft prevention seminars and workshops for companies and organizations.

More information on: Meghan Gardner, Director Guard Up, Inc. www.GuardUp.com