FW: BACCHUS Area 12 March Newsletter

District of Columbia State Coordinator
Amanda Wattenmaker
Virginia Commonwealth University

1. How did you get into Peer Health Education and BACCHUS?
I became active in the peer educator group at James Madison University while attending college. I felt that this group was the student group I had been waiting to join, one with others who cared about making a difference and educating others about health as much as I do! It was through my experiences in this group that I made lifelong friends, and developed my passion for health education and college health.

2. What is the most fulfilling aspect of what you do?
The most fulfilling part of my role as a health educator is experiencing when the peer educators "get it." When the lightbulb goes off that they have a made a difference in the lives of other students, it is incredibly inspiring to know that I played a role.

3. What is the biggest health / prevention issue facing your campus this year?
Virginia Commonwealth University is growing like never before with many more students living on campus. This provides several more opportunities to reach students on all health issues that they may face, and an increased opportunity for the peer educators to collaborate with groups across campus.

4. What is the best advice you've received as a Peer Health Educator?
Health behavior change does not always occur right away. Growing health is like planting seeds...compassion, time, patience, and positive energy provided upfront will produce healthy, beautiful, fruitful blossoms.

5. What is your favorite quote to live by?
"To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children; To earn the appreciation of honest critics and endure the betrayal of false friends; To appreciate beauty; To find the best in others; To leave the world a bit better, whether by a healthy child, a garden patch or a redeemed social condition; To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; This is to have succeeded." - Ralph Waldo Emerson

6. What's something completely random that most people probably don't know about you?
As a fantasy...I always thought it would be a lot of fun to be Mr. Crest for a day and teach kids how to brush their teeth. More realistically...I'd really love to meet Katie Couric one day.

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Maryland/Delaware State Coordinator

Virginia State Coordinator
Tim Howly
James Madison University

1. How did you get into Peer Health Education and BACCHUS?
As an undergrad I got involved with REACH (Reality Educators Advocating Campus Health) here at JMU. I got involved because I wanted some hands on experience in health education, my major was Health and Physical Education.

2. What is the most fulfilling aspect of what you do?
Working with students and watching them succeed! Students are capable of great things and it's inspiring to see them achieve greatness.

3. What is the biggest health / prevention issue facing your campus this year?
Like most college campuses, we continually struggle with alcohol abuse.

4. What is the best advice you've received as a Peer Health Educator?
To keep balance in your life.

5. What is your favorite quote to live by?

You must be the change you wish to see in the world. - Mahatma Gandhi

6. What's something completely random that most people probably don't know about you?
I worked at Friendly's when I was in college. Friendly, you bet I am!

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West Virginia State Coordinator
Robin Tabor
West Virginia State University

1. How did you get into Peer Health Education and BACCHUS?
When I started in my current position as the Mental Health and Substance Abuse Counselor at WVSU, one of my roles was to advise our peer education group. This was the first time that I became acquainted with the Bacchus Network or peer education. I work at the same school that I received my four year degree from, and they never offered anything like peer education when I was a student here.

2. What is the most fulfilling aspect of what you do?
I enjoy peer education the most. I am an educator and I love to teach people knew ideas and information. It is great to be able assist students in going out and sharing the information with their peers.

3. What is the biggest health / prevention issue facing your campus this year?
The biggest health/prevention issue facing our campus this year would be the increasing number of students suffering from psychological issues and emotional problems. With our limited campus services, and many students with no health insurance, it has been a continual challenge to get long-term treatment and medications for this population.

4. What is the best advice you've received as a Peer Health Educator?
The best advice that I have received as a Peer Health Educator (Advisor) has been to be patient during semesters in which the group seems to be rebuilding itself. It seems that the motivation of members fluctuates from doing the bare minimum in activities to a semester packed with non-stop programs and events.

5. What is your favorite quote to live by?
As long as one keeps searching, the answers come. -Joan Baez

6. What's something completely random that most people probably don't know about you?
When I was "much" younger, I was on a clogging team and traveled around the US performing and competing.

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Student Advisory Committee Representative

Mark Freeman
Frostburg State University

1. How did you get into Peer Health Education and BACCHUS?
Honestly? Completely by accident. Our PHE group sends out applications to incoming freshman every year recruiting them for a Freshman Leadership program (now called FYI for Freshman Year Initiative). I applied, got in, and was hooked from day one of training. BACCHUS on the other hand some-what fell into my lap. Amber O'Kane was a student and Frostburg and the current SAC at the time, she thought I'd be good for the position. She got me excited about it, and well, the rest is history.

2. What is the most fulfilling aspect of what you do?
As SAC and a PHE at Frostburg State University, I honeslty just love talking to people about health topics and peer education in general. Being able to share information and get people excited about something that's such a huge facet of my life, well, it's entirely fulfilling, at least for myself.

3. What is the biggest health / prevention issue facing your campus this year?
It's hard to say really, but I think that the topics we need to discuss more are Nutrition and Sex based. Although, I'm probably biased considering those are my favorite topics! I feel that the overall American population is unaware of what "healthy eating" is. I mean, it's a difficult topic to shove into a program. There's so much to talk about! And it seems that sex is always one of those "taboo" topics for a lot of people; sometimes even us peer educators. We're definitly adressing both topics in abundance this semester though, which is very exciting!

4. What is the best advice you've received as a Peer Health Educator?
"We don't do what we do to appease the masses. We do it for that one person. Because if what we do helps save one life, that's all that matters. So even if it's hard, and you want to give up, just remember: you've help save a life today."

5. What is your favorite quote to live by?
I have two:

"Dont ask for a light load, but rather ask for a strong back." - Annonymous.

"Nothing will ever be as good as Here and Now." - Relient K.

6. What's something completely random that most people probably don't know about you?
I'm an Army Brat, but I always root for Navy in the Army Vs Navy game!!