Extra Help in Haiti

As many of you may know, Vantage Career Center sponsors the Bordes school in Haiti. Each year we have a Haiti Carnival where we raise money for the school down in Cap-Haiten Haiti. This all started when Peg Bollenbacher, former Social Studies teacher, invited the superintendent of the Bordes school into her class to talk to her students about the Haitian culture. After this talk by the superintendent, Marius Turienne, the students voted to "adopt" the Bordes school. One of the first things we did as a school was to work hand-in-hand with them to provide vocational services to its students. Vantage would organize this endeavor through a student formed Haiti committee. This original committee began with two advisors and twelve students. During the second year of its existence, the Haiti committee partnered with the Van Wert Rotary club and associated itself as a Rotary Interact club. Today the Vantage Interact club has 125 members and is the largest high school Interact club in the state of Ohio.

This brings me to the point of this blog. As I mentioned earlier, Marius Turienne was the person from Haiti who came to speak to our students. Needless to say, Marius and Peg have remained great friends for over 15 years. Marius has visited us here at Vantage with his wife Venetia. Marius has six children, five girls and one son. When Peg talks about Marius, you can't help feel the love she has for Marius, his family and the entire Cap-Haiten community. Since Peg retired a few years ago, Matt Miller our Science teacher has taken over the Haiti Interact club. He will also tell you what a kind, compassionate and caring gentleman that Marius is. Marius is also a pastor of three different churches in the area of Cap-Haiten. He also runs several schools in the area and at one point he even had a school in his basement.  Marius is the kind of guy that will do anything for anybody. He puts other people first and makes sure they are taken care of before he is. Cap-Haiten is a very needy and run down area. There is no sanitation department there and so the streets look like some of the worst areas we have here in the United States. Food is very scarce and disease is very rampant. If you can imagine anarchy and filthy conditions, then you can picture Cap-Haiten. Yet among all this living, you will always find Marius smiling and helping others. He absolutely loves his town and the people in it.

Talking with Peg and Matt recently, I found out that Marius is suffering from a failing kidney. Marius has diabetes as do most residents of Cap-Haiten. However, Marius' has gotten so bad that it is effecting many parts of his body. He needs dialysis but the hospital released him because of lack of money. Peg has worked with the Community United Methodist church in Shawnee Ohio to get Marius some help that he needs and needs fast. They will be transporting him to a hospital in Port-Au-Prince for dialysis. It is at this time that I ask for your help. I believe in early March we will be having a jean's day fund raiser for Marius. I only hope that you will give what you can on that day. Try to remember all the help that Marius has given to so many over the years and what this help could possibly mean to him. Realize all the luxuries we have with school lunches, smart phones, clean water, internet and many others and then think what you might sacrifice for a day or week to help a dear friend of Vantage's. Marius is a good man, let's show him our love by providing a little extra help in Haiti next week. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

P.S. If you are reading this and you are not a student but would like to help, please contact Mr. Matt Miller, chairman of the Haiti Interact club at Vantage Career Center. Thanks

Eating Disorder Awareness

February 21 – 27 is National Eating Disorders Awareness Week, an annual campaign to bring attention to the critical needs of people with eating disorders.

Among the many pressures teens face in their young lives, there is the pressure to look fit and trim. Going through adolescence is difficult enough with all the changes the body and brain are experiencing. Throw in there the pressure to look a certain way during all that growing and developing, and it is no wonder why an approximate half million teens severely struggle with weight and body image issues.

Most teens are at least somewhat self-conscious about their appearance, but it is when a child becomes obsessed with body image, weight loss, dieting and control of food that an eating disorder may be developing.

There are many types of eating disorders including anorexia (self-starvation), bulimia (binging and purging), and binge eating (eating large amounts of food without behaviors to prevent weight gain).

The first step towards prevention is education. Take a look at the following Myths vs. Facts:

I’m glad I don’t have to deal with this yet; my child is only in elementary.
While the average age of onset for eating disorders is 12 to 13-years old, specialists report diagnosing children as young as five or six with the illness.

I have all boys, so thankfully, I don’t have to worry about eating disorders.
Males actually make up about one-third of those with eating disorders, though they are more likely to focus on building muscle, more likely to purge via exercise, and they are at greater risk for steroid use.

I would know if my child had an eating disorder. Plus, my child would not make such a bad choice.
Experts say eating disorders can hide in plain sight and may easily go undetected and undiagnosed until the person’s health is at significant risk. Most people do not choose this for themselves. Eating disorders are complex mental illnesses caused by both genetic and environmental factors (including physical illnesses, childhood teasing and bullying, and other life stressors).

No way! My child’s an athlete with a fantastic future.
Athletes may be at greater risk for developing eating disorders, particularly, gymnasts, runners, wrestlers, rowers, dancers, swimmers or those who play any other sport or activity that may involve weight restrictions, and where weight loss may unintentionally be reinforced or rewarded.

C’mon, is it really that big of a deal?
In addition to a long list of serious health consequences, decreased cognitive ability and productivity in school and strained relationships with family and friends, eating disorders have the highest mortality rate of any psychiatric illness. Up to 20% of people with chronic anorexia, bulimia and eating disorder not otherwise specified, will die as a result of their illness. Yes - it really is that big of a deal!

According to the National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA), individuals with eating disorders may also be at increased risk for co-occurring conditions such as mood and anxiety disorders, substance abuse (alcohol, marijuana, cocaine, heroin, methamphetamine's, etc.), self-harm (cutting, etc.) and suicidal thoughts and behaviors.

NEDA offers free educational toolkits and other great resources for parents, educators, coaches and trainers, for the early detection and intervention of eating disorders. Click here to learn more.

Sources: National Eating Disorders Association (NEDA). Bridget Engel, Psy.D., Natalie Staats Reiss, Ph.D., and Mark Dombeck, Ph.D: Mental Help: Prevalence, Onset And Course Of Eating Disorders.

OPEN HOUSE TOMORROW!!!

I am sure most of you already are aware but it doesn't hurt to remind you one more time. Tomorrow, February 22nd at 5:00 pm, Vantage Career Center will be having their annual open house. This is no ordinary open house as we will be celebrating 40 years of serving our surrounding communities. All I can say is, if you don't stop by, you will be sorry you missed it. I have mentioned in a previous blog all of the activities that will be going on during the open house. The open house is from 5:00 pm until 7:30 pm and you will need all that time to visit the labs, talk to the teachers, win door prizes and of course, sample our "Taste of Vantage". "Taste of Vantage" is where you will be able to try various foods from several vendors in the surrounding areas, so remember to bring your appetite. If you are an alumnus of Vantage, be sure to stop at the Alumni station and say hello. I personally want to thank Mary Jo Wilhem and her entire committee on the unbelievable job they did getting ready for this big event. I can't tell you how many hours of planning it took to put this together. Remember to look on our Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages for plenty of pictures. If you happen to stop by, please find me and say hello, I will be somewhere in the middle of all the excitement.

Providing Hope

This isn't a real easy blog to write and it hurts me that I have to write it. However, lately here at school we have been touched with the suicidal deaths of past students, friends of current students and relatives of past students. I believe in the past few weeks, our school has been touched by at least four suicidal deaths. I hope this blog will help you understand how you might be able to recognize someone who is struggling with thoughts of suicide and what your role can be in regards to helping this person. I also want you to realize that sometimes you can reach out to help and the person still completes his or her suicide. You are not responsible. Please understand that. Even when you reach out and try to get help OR even if you never recognized the signs, you are not responsible and you should not feel that way. So many people I have talked with say that they really don't know what to do to help someone and they are "scared".

I have done a lot of training for suicidal prevention under the title "Gatekeeper Training". Students and staff would be considered a gatekeeper. A Gatekeeper is not a trained counselor, they are not expected to work through the problem or solve the student's problem. Once you understand that, it should eliminate any fear. The reason you could be so important to a friend or acquaintance who is contemplating suicide is because prior to making a suicide attempt, 90% of people demonstrate clear warning signs and 70% tell another person. The bad news is that research shows the most likely response to suicidal communication from family, colleagues and friends is...SILENCE.

Some of the risk factors to look for are: Previous suicide attempt, Mental disorders (primarily depression), Cognitive distortions (in other words, a feeling of hopelessness or isolation), substance abuse, family history of suicide, impulsive or aggressive tendencies, easy access to lethal means (especially guns). The common denominator in almost all suicides is hopelessness and despair. Some of the verbal clues you can listen for are obvious like: I want to kill myself, I want to be dead, I'm just going to end it all, If (this doesn't happen) I'm going to end it all. However, their are also subtle clues to look and listen for: I'm tired of living, I can't go on, Everyone would be better off without me, Who cares if I'm dead, I won't be around much longer, pretty soon you won't have to worry about me.

You should also be aware of your friends behavior. Have they had previous attempts at suicide, have they recently purchased a gun or are they stocking up on pills? Is there depression, sadness or hopelessness? Are they getting their affairs in order? Giving away prized possessions? Sudden interest in the afterlife, Unexplained anger or irritability?

There are also certain life events that you should be aware of. They are... being thrown out of school, losing their job, break-up in a relationship, issues with family, death of family member or close friend, financial problems, loss of freedom (getting grounded or privileges taken away).

Most people don't want to die, they just want the pain to end. Knowing this should help you reach out and help in anyway you can. So what can you do to help? Simply ask the question. Don't be afraid to ask the question because research shows that simply asking a person if they are going to kill themselves doesn't lead the person to suicide. You can be blunt or subtle, it doesn't matter. Just ask the question. Examples could be; "Have you been so unhappy with yourself that you are thinking of ending your life?", "Do you ever wish you went to sleep and didn't wake up?". The more "in your face" approach is; "You look really upset and down, are you thinking of killing yourself?" or "Are you thinking of killing yourself?". There are also some not so good ways to ask like; "You aren't really going to kill yourself are you?" or "Your'e just joking about suicide aren't you?".

Whenever you ask the person these questions, make sure you are attentive (don't answer your cell phone or texts), make sure you have plenty of time (don't ask and then when the bell rings say you have to go now), make sure you are alone, don't be judgmental. Have  your resources ready like a counselors number or the suicide hot line (1-800-273-TALK (8255)). Remember suicide is not the problem. It is a solution to a perceived problem that they feel they can not solve. Finally, lead them by asking: Can I take you to see the counselor, Can I please help you to get help, Make me a promise you wont hurt yourself until we get you help. Because you are willing to listen and help your friend, this gives them HOPE. HOPE MAKES ALL THE DIFFERENCE!

Happy Valentine's Day!

Happy Valentine's Day!  I hope you are enjoying the long weekend and that you are reminded by family members and friends that you are important and that you matter.  Valentine's Day is often a holiday that is dominated by commercials encouraging people to buy special cards, jewelry, flowers or candy, but really those items are not what love is all about.  Love is about caring for the people in your life and putting their needs above your own.  Love is also about respecting one another!  February is Teen Dating Violence awareness month.  I hope that you all know and realize that you deserve to be in healthy and respectful relationships.  It is important to speak up and set healthy boundaries in your relationships and to seek help if that is not happening in your life or the lives of those you care about.  Want to learn more about teen dating violence?  Check out this website - http://www.loveisrespect.org/ - they have tons of great resources and information.

Who's Got It Better?

I read an article recently that was written by a pretty famous football coach. He is also a football coach for my favorite team and the team many of you refer to as "that team up north". Now before you quit reading this blog, please stay with me. The article is written by Jim Harbaugh, now coach of The University of Michigan and former San Francisco Forty Niners. Coach Harbaugh has a slogan that he uses around the players, media, fans and just about anywhere you look. This slogan goes back to his days growing up in Ann Arbor when his dad coached with Bo Schembechler. Their family didn't have a whole lot of money (coaches were not paid nearly what they get today) and didn't own a vehicle. The local car dealers would let the coaches use any extra dealer cars that they had. The Harbaugh's ended up with one vehicle to use between mom and dad. Jim mentioned that if mom had the car for the day, dad would say "grab a basketball boys, we are walking to school today". Dad would have them dribble right handed and then left handed all the way to school and while they were doing this, dad would say "Who has it better than us?" and they would answer "No - body". This just stuck in Jim's head and he thought of it often. He later realized that a lot of people maybe had it better than his family but he thought "maybe having an exciting childhood in a loving home is as good as it gets. So how could anyone have it any better."

I couldn't help but think of our students and their relationship to Vantage Career Center. Our students come from various backgrounds and family situations. They have all attended various high schools in their past. They come from different economic and social conditions. However, they come to Vantage to make a difference in their life. They see that they can develop a skill that will jump start their career and get them on their way to a fulfilling life. They truly become like family with many of their classmates, especially the ones they share lab with. From talking with so many of our alumni over the years, I couldn't help but hear them say "Who has it better than us?".

When you take a look at our new facility here and all the equipment that we house, it is absolutely amazing. We have so many CNC machines that are state of the art, Brand new Robotic equipment, first class computers throughout the school, the latest up to date equipment in every lab and a culinary arts kitchen that is second to none. There is not a single lab that you can walk into and not be impressed. I believe we have one of the finest, most qualified and compassionate staff in the entire area. "Who has it better than us?".

I went home this past weekend to visit my sister up in Utica, Michigan. She has seen the videos of our facility and all our labs. She just shakes her head and wonders how many students in her area would benefit by having a career school like ours in their area. She only knew of one in a 50 mile radius and that was Cass Tech in Detroit. She can't believe that all the states aren't doing something like we have here in Ohio. She is convinced it could be a life saver for so many students and a great way for our students to earn a lot of money in the future. "Who has it better than us?".

Well I hope you will take some time and stop by our school on February 22nd from 5:00 pm to 7:30 pm for our Open House. Yes we are celebrating 40 years but we are also celebrating the achievements of so many of our graduates. I hope as you walk around the building and explore the labs, you will say to yourself, "Wow, who has it better than these students?" and we will proudly answer... No - body!!!

P.S. If you care to read the article by Coach Harbaugh, click here.

Sophomore Visits

WOW! What else can I say about Sophomore days. It was such an exciting time around the school yesterday. There was so much excitement and anticipation in the air. I spent a lot of time talking with the sophomores and getting their reaction to our school and to their particular program they were visiting. I can truly say that I had nothing but positives from the students that I talked with. They thought that our school was very big and wondered how long it would take to learn the layout. They mentioned the new equipment that our students get to work with, the fun that they were having and how cool it was to take home some projects.

It is always a great day when we welcome our sophomores. They have been here as eighth graders and now they get to come back and visit two programs of their choice for a half of a day. I love seeing the energy, the wide eyes and the anticipation of knowing they will be students here next year. I always enjoy showing off our school and the programs that we have here. I truly believe in Vantage Career Center as a tremendous opportunity for any student in our 13 schools. There is such a big push by the state of Ohio now for career tech and keeping our students working here in Ohio. I can think of no better place for a young person to come and jump start their college and/or career.

I know that we had over 600 some students visit yesterday, and this morning we have already received 65 applications. That shows me that the excitement is real and that the students and their families are getting the message about Vantage Career Center and the great benefits of coming here. We showed a slide show yesterday of many of our recent alumni and had on the screen their salaries and where they are working. It is an impressive list and a "jaw dropper" when you see these students making $18 to $25 dollars/hour.


I hope if you are reading this and you know a sophomore that may be interested in attending Vantage, that you would encourage them to sign up as soon as possible. I also realize that many times we may have parents who are a little hesitant about their son or daughter coming over here. All I can say is that I hope you would please talk to the parents and reassure them that Vantage is a great opportunity. I encourage you to invite them over for our open house on February 22nd. We will have all our labs open so they can ask questions of the instructors and they can sit in on a question and answer session with Mr. Knott and myself presenting. We will also have a few parents at that session and they will be telling their story and how happy and satisfied they are because they sent their son or daughter over here. There is no better time than now to be involved in Career Tech. Now is the time to "GET THE EDGE".