On March 23, 2023, 20 students from South Seneca High School were trained as peer leaders as part of the national Sources of Strength program.
Sources of Strength is a peer leadership program where peer leaders and adult advisors are trained to design and share Hope, Help, and Strength-based messages with other youth in the community. The program aims to prevent suicide, bullying, and substance use by promoting help seeking behaviors and developing relationships with trusted adults.
Trainees played games, created art, had a catered lunch from Luna Inspired Street Food, and discussed their strengths with each other and adult advisors. They used the Wheel of Strengths to brainstorm ways to bring this information back to their school-community to show other students that reliance on each other and our strengths will make us all stronger.
Peer leader Abby Sherry stated: “I am excited about this program for our school. I think this has some real opportunity to do some good!”
Another peer leader, Chloe Scott, added: “This is different from any other peer program we have had. I remember peer mediation in elementary school. The Sources of Strength training was fun, the food was fantastic, and I am really excited to be able to help out my school!”
Adult advisor Brooke Habberfield, stated during the group photo: “This is an important moment everyone - we are making history here at South Seneca!”
The peers leaders and adult advisors of the South Seneca Sources of Strength team are: Brooke Butler, Jacob Borst, Lucy Campbell, Mrs. Chalifoux, Ms. Copp, Ruth Dendis, AJ Denmark, Hannah Drexler, Joza Drexler, Doug Edmonds, Alysa Elder, Christian Everhart, Ms. Habberfield, Ms. Hallock, Mrs. Harter, Mrs. Kostolecki, Marigold McCabe-Angell, Brian Porter, Vyvynn Powell, Mr. Robertson, Mrs. Rundell, Chloe Scott, Abby Sherry, Luke Thompson, Hunter Travers, Mrs. Vogel, Audrey Ward, Nik Wheeler, and Carleigh Woodworth.