SOS takes on new meaning after exercise

Everyone knows that S.O.S is the global signal for distress, but those letters have taken on a new meaning for me as I see them now forming the acronym SOS, which stands for Sources of Strength.
Sadly, it has become apparent in the last few years that our young people are experiencing more and more difficulty dealing with the
pressures that life deals out. 
We see negativity everywhere, and as adults we know that can be emotionally wearing. For young people, who are just beginning to figure out who they are as people, it can become overwhelming.
They see tragedy, anger, evil,
hopelessness and despair all over
social media, on television and in the movies, and many see it in their own lives as well.
With all of this as a frame of reference, you may be thinking that SOS as a distress signal may be more appropriate.
At Newcastle High School, we as a staff have been looking for answers and techniques to try to help our students who are at risk. We know some of our kids are living in challenging environments or situations, but we feel powerless to help them find their way out.
In a training I attended last week for a new program being instituted at NHS called Sources of Strength, I began to see a possible light at the end of the tunnel through which these young people are traveling.
Everyone faces hard times, and when they do we have a tendency to commiserate or dwell on the drama that is surrounding them. The stories we tell amongst ourselves focus on sadness, shock and trauma. In doing so we unintentionally perpetuate negativity, which impedes our ability to heal and move forward.
What I learned in the two days of training is that the way to change this harmful and emotionally debilitating cycle is to focus instead on hope, help and strength. 
The mission of the Sources of Strength program is “to spread hope, help and strength into every corner of our community. [It] recognizes that our voice has great power and we use it to break the silence when someone is struggling, and to connect them to the help they need and deserve.”
The goal is to “spread hope by focusing on stories of strength, rather than on stories of trauma.”
Not only does the mission of SOS inspire me to believe that having a positive impact on the lives of kids in distress is possible, but the implementation of the program also gives me great hope.
As adult leaders, we certainly have our role, but the bulk of the work is in the hands of students at NHS. Students who represent all peer groups in the school have accepted a role as a peer leader, and it is they who will be the
face of this program.
It was exciting to watch these kids, in only one day of training, not only embrace the mission of SOS, but uninhibitedly grab the reins to begin to make the goals of the program a reality.
I will admit that I consider myself a cynic when it comes to these types of programs, but I find myself believing that this one has the potential to make a difference in the lives of our young people. It has already had a positive impact on me, and I know that the very little that I have learned so far will
have a permanent, positive impact on
my life.
While it is true that as individuals we do not have the power to change society, we do have the power to change how we engage as part of our society. Deciding to make a concerted effort at approaching life’s challenges from the perspective of Hope, Help and Strength will certainly result in a more positive and happy personal life experience. And, as a by-product, may just help change the society in which we live.