HHS Peer Leaders attended the Passaic County Municipal Alliances for Prevention of Substance Abuse Conference at William Paterson University on Tuesday, March 19, 2014. The conference was held in order to educate teen leaders about alcohol and prescription abuse.

There were speakers such as Donna Huber, county coordinator, who welcomed the peer leaders and a keynote speaker, Johan Khalilian, who motivated the teenagers to follow their dreams, be individual, and stay on the correct path. Khalilian, who currently works as a counselor for a nonprofit community program called CANDO in Chicago, has dedicated his life to helping people dream big and foster the courage to live out their dreams. With his witty humor, charisma and great story-telling skills, Khalilian truly captured the attention of the audience and inspired them. Stephanie Brown, a Hawthorne High School junior stated, “I loved the keynote speaker. He was so well prepared and made the whole field trip a great experience.”

Several high schools from Passaic County came together in order to come up with a preventative measure in their own community. HHS students developed a program that would enlighten Hawthorne residents about a drop box for leftover prescription drugs that is located in the police building. The school with the most innovative idea was promised $500 for financing their program. Manchester High School won this prize. Although HHS did not get the financing, peer leaders, Nafin Elias, was invited to the Hawthorne Municipal Building to present the idea to the town council. Elias, HHS junior stated, “I am so happy that the Hawthorne administration is interested in the ideas of teenagers attending Hawthorne High.” She added, “I had so much fun at the field trip. I loved all of the speakers and hope to return with the rest of the peer leaders next year.”