Know The Red Flags of Teen Depression

It’s December; tis the season to be jolly. That’s easier said than done for many people, adults and teens alike. All the hustle and bustle can worsen the symptoms of those who already suffer from anxiety and depression into. And for others, the holidays can create the perfect storm for the onset of symptoms. 

Holiday parties, family gatherings, the overabundance of social media pics and posts, the loss of a loved one, divorce or other family separation, financial concerns, less sleep, indulging in unhealthy foods and drinks, are all contributing factors to people of all ages feeling overwhelmed, anxious and many times, depressed this time of the year. 

For some teens, feeling depressed can cause them to withdraw and avoid social interactions, which oftentimes leads to further sadness and loneliness – a downward spiral that can easily spin out of control. These feelings, which may be more easily managed during other times of the year, may be intensified in the midst of the holiday season.

As parents and other caregivers of young people, it is vital to be aware of the many signs and symptoms of teen depression (according to HelpGuide: Parent’s Guide to Teen Depression):

• Irritability, anger, or hostility
• Sadness or hopelessness
• Tearfulness or frequent crying
• Withdrawal from friends and family
• Loss of interest in activities
• Poor school performance
• Changes in eating and sleeping habits
• Restlessness and agitation
• Feelings of worthlessness and guilt
• Lack of enthusiasm and motivation
• Fatigue or lack of energy
• Difficulty concentrating
• Unexplained aches and pains
• Thoughts of death or suicide

When considering the red flags for depression, it is important to know that they may look very different in young people versus adults.

Irritability, anger, or hostility: The predominant mood in a depressed teen is oftentimes irritability, as opposed to sadness. It is common for a depressed youth to be grumpy, hostile, easily frustrated, or prone to angry outbursts.

Unexplained aches and pains: When a physical exam turns up zero answers to your child’s chronic headaches, stomachaches and such, the cause may be due to depression.

Extreme sensitivity to criticism: It is common for young people who are depressed to experience feelings of worthlessness, which makes them even more vulnerable to criticism, rejection, and failure than their teenage peers.

Withdrawing from some, but not all people: Depressed teens typically maintain at least some friendships, while depressed adults tend to isolate themselves. Depressed youth, however, are known to socialize less, pull away from their parents, and start hanging out with a new crowd.

You are now aware of the many potential triggers of teen depression this time of the year. You are also aware of the signs and symptoms to look out for when it comes to youth who are depressed. Now it’s time to start up a conversation with your child, as communication is key.

How you communicate is as important as what you communicate. When talking with your child, focus on listening, not lecturing. Be gentle but persistent, knowing that it can be extremely difficult for a teen to express having feelings of sadness and depression. Acknowledge their feelings, even if it seems silly or irrational to you. In the end, trust your gut. If your child won’t open up to you, but you know there is something more going on, consider reaching out to a school counselor, teacher, or mental health professional. The essential piece is to get them talking. 

Whether you question if there is a potential issue of depression or not, talking regularly with your son or daughter on topics such as this will help to build and foster a strong relationship between the two of you.

Link to original source 

Media Center Book Fair

Christmas is that time of year when people are looking forward to some time off, gathering with friends and family or just taking it easy over the break. Small children are eagerly awaiting the arrival of Santa Claus and the stores are jam packed with people looking for a great bargain. Well speaking of great bargains...I want to inform you that the Media Center Book Fair is right around the corner. The book fair will start this Friday, December 6th and run through the 13th of December. This is one event that I look forward to each year. First of all, I love reading. Second, I find it very convenient to choose a few stocking stuffers for my wife and grandchildren.

So, you may be asking yourselves what the Media Center Book Sale actually is. Well each year, Mrs. Knodel will pre-order hundreds of books (there may be close to 1000 books) that she will display in the media center. They will all be laid out on the tables in the media center and organized by different categories. The books are all for sale and they are all brand new. Now here is the good part, all of the books are 30% off and there is no sales tax. Now try to find a better deal than that this year. There will be books for all ages and all interests. There will be magazines and also calendars available.

I hope everyone will take some time and go browse around the book sale. There are so many ideas for great Christmas gifts. Mrs. Knodel does such a wonderful job at putting this on and works hard to get a great variety of books and magazines. As I just walked past the media center, I noticed about 30 big crates loaded with books that will have to be sorted and put out on the tables. That is not an easy task but Mrs. Knodel does it because she also loves reading and knows how much it can help our students. Books are a way to improve your reading skills, allow you to travel to far away places using your imagination or give you the opportunity to experience events that happened long ago. Now if that isn't reason enough to shop the sale, I don't know what is. Thanks Mrs. Knodel for putting this on.

Eagles

I stated in an earlier post that I was anticipating a couple more students would be earning their Eagle Scout classification. Well I am proud to announce that Preston Browning (Parkway) and Zach Herman (Ottoville) both became Eagle scouts within the last few weeks. Zach is a member of Scout Troop #266 and Preston belongs to Troop # 98.

In the earlier post I mentioned that according to the National Eagle Scout Association, only about 5% of all Boy Scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout and here at Vantage, we have had at least 4 in the last couple of years. Well this year, we have three already and possibly one more coming up. I am so proud of these young men. It is not easy to become an Eagle Scout. You must earn a total of at least 21 merit badges, including the following: First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communication, Personal Fitness, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Science, Personal Management, Swimming (Hiking or cycling), Camping, Cooking and Family Life. They also must complete a service project.

Preston Browning built a covered bus stop in Willshire, Ohio. Currently the students had no cover as they waited for the bus to pick them up. It didn't matter if it was raining or snowing, they had to stand out in the elements and wait for the bus. Preston stated that the cost of the project was $7000. 100% of the money was earned from local businesses. Preston also held a doughnut day at his church where he raised $500. The project took him seven months to complete. He said he had a lot of help from family, coaches and community members. Preston has been in scouts since he was in 2nd grade. Just speaking with Preston I could hear the passion in his voice for this project. He really hated to see the young students have to stand out in the elements. If you know Preston, that wouldn't surprise you. He is a kind and caring young man. We are proud of you Preston not only for your work with the scouts but for your work ethic here at Vantage.

Zach Herman was asked to build picture frames for the Ottoville History Museum. The museum was looking to display several items and they needed some way for this to be done. They asked Zach if he could build them twenty frames to display various items in the museum. Zach told me that the entire cost was paid for by the museum. Zach said that it took him about two months to complete the frames. As you can see in the picture, the frames turned out absolutely beautiful. I myself like to do a little woodworking and I can tell you that these frames are perfect. In fact, the museum liked them so much, they are having Zach do ten more frames. Zach said that he had help from his Dad, Grandpa and brother. Zach has been a scout since 1st grade. I really enjoyed speaking with Zach because he is one of those quiet leaders. Zach is one who leads by example. He is always hard at work, doing what he is told and working on his assignments until they are complete. He is a great student to have around at Vantage and all of us are proud of you for earning the rank of Eagle Scout.

If you happen to see these two fine young men around the halls at Vantage, or in your community, please stop them and congratulate them on a well earned accomplishment.

Let's Get Real

Today I want to speak directly to the students about a very serious matter. The subject is vaping and all the problems associated with it. Okay, so you want to stop reading because you think you know it all and you have all the answers. I'm telling you, there are a lot of new reports from the medical industry that are scary and should wake you up. We have tried over the last year to educate the students. We have signs in or near all the bathrooms giving facts about vaping and what is actually in that vape you are using. We have spoken to the students about the problems with vaping and the serious addiction that can come from vaping. It seems like no one listens and thinks we are just old people who don't know what we are talking about. Well, let gets real and list some real facts.

Vaping is becoming an epidemic across the state and across the country. According to the U.S. health officials, the number of vaping-related illnesses has surpassed 1000 and there is no sign the outbreak is fading. Recently there have been more than a dozen deaths from vaping-related lung injuries. Doctors say the illness, which first appeared in March, resembles an inhalation injury. Symptoms include severe, shortness of breath, fatigue, and chest pain. Most who got sick said they vaped products containing THC, the marijuana ingredient that causes a high, but some said they vaped only nicotine. In October, a 17 year old Bronx boy died of a vaping-related illness and Governor Cuomo stated in his announcement that "You are playing with your life when you play with this stuff".

The Center for Disease Control is working hard to address this problem and figure out what exactly is causing the deaths. Their investigations have increasingly focused on THC (tetrahydrocannabinol oil vaping products, the psychoactive ingredient in marijuana) but until a cause is found, the CDC continues to advise Americans to refrain from using any vaping products. Some of you may be thinking that you have vaped for a couple years and you don't see any of the effects. Well, the problem with that thinking is you may now be addicted and the effects won't show up for awhile, usually when it's too late.

I wish I could truly convince everyone of you how serious this is. Students, listen... PEOPLE ARE DYING from vaping. That's a fact! They are suffering serious lung injuries from vaping. All of this is just now starting to appear from vaping. Vaping with THC is ruining your life also. More and more are using THC in their vapes and it is harming you. I don't understand why you would chose to come to Vantage, where you can set your entire future career in motion and make great money in a job you love, and ruin it all by vaping. We are going to get real serious about this in the near future. Do you want to ruin the great opportunity that you have here at Vantage. Continue to vape and you will lose that opportunity. One last fact, did you know that THC stays in your system for 3 days to a month or longer in urine. You will be caught. Please start to make good choices. If your friends are doing this, please talk them out of it. If you or a friend are having problems quitting, please see me and we will get you help. Make the choice now that will change your entire future. Don't ignore the facts, it is time to get real.

Here are some links that explain in more detail:
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/marijuana-rehab/how-long-system-body

https://chicago.suntimes.com/2019/10/10/20895845/kids-vaping-parents-guide-help-them-quit

https://health.clevelandclinic.org/can-marijuana-help-your-mental-health/?utm_campaign=cc+tweets&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter&utm_content=191111&cvosrc=social%20network.twitter.cc+tweets&cvo_creative=191111

Veterans Day

Monday, November 11th, is Veterans Day. That is a day in the United States where we pay our respects to those who have served. This holiday started as a day to reflect upon the heroism of those who died in our country's service and was originally called Armistice Day. However, in 1954, the holiday was changed to "Veterans Day" in order to account for all veterans in all wars. The difference between Veterans Day and Memorial Day is that on Veterans day we honor all service men and women, both living and dead. On Memorial Day, we honor those that gave their lives for our country. There is a short video called "5 things you don't know about Veterans Day", I think it is worth watching. Click here to view the video.

For the student's here at Vantage, we are honoring all Veterans by selling flags to create a "flag field" of 250 American flags. Flags will be on sale on the stage during both lunches until November 8th. The cost of each flag will be $0.50 cents each. When you buy a flag, please write a message on a large white signature board that will be on display with the flag field. On Monday, November 11th, the Flag Field and signature board will be moved outside on the front lawn for the public to see All proceeds will benefit the Rockford American Legion. Each year when we do this, a different group is selected. Please remember a grandparent, parent or friend by purchasing a flag for our flag field. As you can see by the picture, we have just started this a day ago and it is filling up fast.

I personally want to thank each and everyone of our staff members who have served. I don't care how you served, where you served or what your duty was. The idea that you gave up at least two years of your life to keep our country safe is worthy of my deepest respect. We have our freedom today because of brave men and women like you. That is something that we can never take for granted. You have battled for our freedom and our rights. The right for free speech, to practice our religion openly without fear of punishment, the right to vote and the right to live free among our brothers and sisters. You only have to look at other places in the world and you begin to respect and love what we have here in this great country.

One final link for all you veterans: This link will show you all the places that you can go to on Veterans Day to receive discounts and deals and even freebies. Click here to see your discounts. In closing, I just want to say "Thank you for your service".

Eagle Scout

One of my favorite things to post about is when one of our students earns the rank of Eagle Scout. In the past few years, we have had several young men reach the rank of Eagle Scout while they were attending Vantage. Well I am proud to say that once again, we have another outstanding student who has obtained the rank of Eagle Scout. Please keep in mind that according to the National Eagle Scout Association, only about 5% of all Boy Scouts earn the rank of Eagle Scout and here at Vantage, we have had at least 4 in the last couple of years. To become an Eagle Scout, you must earn a total of at least 21 merit badges, including the following: First Aid, Citizenship in the Community, Citizenship in the Nation, Citizenship in the World, Communication, Personal Fitness, Emergency Preparedness, Environmental Science, Personal Management, Swimming (Hiking or cycling), Camping, Cooking and Family Life. They also must complete a service project.

This year we are proud to announce that Evan Meyers has earned the rank of Eagle Scout. Evan is an Ottoville High School student attending Vantage and is part of Troop 221 in Kalida. For his service project, he installed a flag pole for the soccer field in Kalida. In speaking with Evan, he stated that the project cost around $3500 and that all of this money came in through donations. The donations came through many sources and many people. Evan said that the VFW, American Legion, Kalida School Board and many individuals contributed financially to this project. He also said it couldn't have been done without the help and donations from BK Trucking who provided the stones and K&L Ready Mix who provided all the concrete. I could tell Evan was very thankful for the support he received from the community.

As far as the back breaking work and hard labor, Evan stated that his Grandpa, Dad and fellow scouts all helped him out tremendously. It really takes a lot of people to pitch in and support someone when they are doing their service project for the Scouts. I had to wonder how Evan found any time to work on this project because he is one of the busiest students I know. Evan works three different jobs during the school year. He works as a machinist for Unverferths, a farm hand at Horstmans Dairy and pours concrete for Wannemancher property services in Cloverdale. I will say that Evan stated that it took almost a year to complete the project because of the terrible spring weather we had and also a few other hiccups he had along the way.

If you get a chance, please let Evan know what a fine young man he is and congratulate him on this great achievement. Evan, I personally am proud of you and feel very lucky I have been able to meet such a fine young man and be a small part of your life these last two years. Congratulations Evan!

Baby It's Cold Outside

I don't know about you but these last few mornings have been pretty chilly. I think we had our first frost warning last night and the temperature driving in this morning was in the upper 30's. Now that is a shock to the system. Well it won't be long before that dreaded white stuff starts falling and we long for those lazy hazy days of summer. This morning I actually had to grab my coat for the first time this school year but as I did, it reminded me that several of our students may not have a coat to grab. This is when I decided to write this blog so that the word can get out that there is help available around our communities. I will list several agencies that are available to help with food, clothing or other winter items that may be needed. If you are not in need, please let others know about these agencies. There may be other students around you that may be in need and you don't even realize it, so pass the word.

These are the agencies that I am aware of that will provide help in one way or another. It may be with clothes such as coats and gloves or food supplies:

Paulding Area Support Society (P.A.S.S.) - Eligible Paulding County Residents. Determined on a case by case basis. Contact #'s are: 419-399-5520 or 419-587-3651 or 419-399-3127

Trinity Friends Church across from Vantage - Tuesday from 10:00 am until 12:00 noon and Thursdays from 4:00 - 5:30 pm.

Van Wert County Dept of Jobs and Family Services - 419-238-9100

Salvation Army: 419-238-9100 They can help and also lead you to others who can.

Delphos Interfaith Thrift Store: Combination thrift store, food pantry and financial assistance. Many winter items available like coats, gloves, hats, etc. 419-692-2942

West Ohio Food Bank: A great resource. They work with churches all over Allen, Mercer, Paulding, Putnam and Van Wert counties.They will help. 419-222-7946. Click here for Paulding county West Ohio Food Banks.

2-1-1 This is a phone number you can call anytime and they will get you help. If you are unsure of how to find services to help then make sure you call them. Just dial 2-1-1 and they will lead you to the best place to get help.

Remember, you can also stop by my office anytime to discuss your issue or your friends issue, and I will do everything to get you the help you need. There is no reason for anyone to go without a hat and coat in this cold weather. Please see me if that is the case. Let's make sure everyone stays warm this winter.

National Technical Honor Society 2019-2020

On Tuesday evening, October 1st, Vantage Career Center held our annual National Technical Honor Society banquet and induction ceremony. The National Technical Honor Society (NTHS) is a way to honor student achievement and leadership in career and technical education, promote educational excellence, award scholarships and enhance career opportunities for the NTHS membership.

To become an NTHS member, a student must first be carrying a 3.5 GPA or above, have 95% attendance for their Junior and Senior years, no discipline problems in both years and have passed all of their End of Course Exams. If the student meets the above mentioned criteria, then they must write an essay stating why they feel they belong in the NTHS, have three teacher recommendations, submit a resume and complete their application. Once all of this is turned in, a committee of teachers and staff meet to discuss each candidate and determine which students best represent the National Technical Honor Society.

As a member of the National Technical Honor Society, each member has met the seven character attributes, and at the induction ceremony, vowed to continue these attributes. They are: Skill, Honesty, Service, Responsibility, Leadership, Citizenship and Scholarship.

I am so proud of these students because they have made so many great choices in their lives. They not only have been successful here at Vantage and their home school, but I know they will be successful in their future college or work careers. If you happen to see these students in the hallway, in your classes, or in the community, please congratulate them on a great high school career and a great honor in being selected for the National Technical Honor Society. This is a very small percentage of our student body, but they truly are the best of the best.


These are the NTHS members for 2019-2020:

Reagan Akom (Paulding), Kaleb Allenbaugh (Lincolnview), Emily Barricklow (Crestview), Rachael Beair (Parkway), Rachel Breese (Parkway), Virginia Brotherwood (Jefferson), Preston Browning (Parkway- not shown), Michael Burgei (Ottoville), Desteni Contreraz (Van Wert), Jasmine Contreraz (Van Wert), Corbin Cox (Parkway - not shown), Alayna Cripe (Van Wert), Kasey Denman (Lincolnview), Megan Garrity (Paulding), Nolan German (Ottoville - not shown), Zoe Gile (Van Wert), Rieley Hanneman (Kalida), Mya Isbell (Van Wert), Kaitlynn Keller (Continental), Shiann Kraft (Lincolnview), Bridget Martin (Jefferson), Evan Meyers (Ottoville), Jacksyn Nichols (Ft. Jennings), Alexandria Parks (Van Wert), Kane Plescher (Jefferson), Gannon Prowant (Continental), Wyatt Richardson (Crestview), Miah Rue (Paulding), Joel Schneider (Paulding), Trevor Siefker (Kalida), Spencer Smith (Van Wert), Hannah Springer (Van Wert), Gunnar Stemen (St. John), Violet Taylor (Parkway), Kaitlyn Titus (Antwerp), Kaylie Tressler (Paulding), Sabastian Umfleet (Jefferson), Leia Verhoff (Kalida), Samantha Wagner (Paulding), Emily Wentland (Antwerp), Libby Wenzlick (Wayne Trace), Elisabeth Wolf (Antwerp)

Day of Caring

This Friday, September 27th, marks the United Way Day of Caring annual food drive. I believe this is the 21st year that the United Way has sponsored this event. Each year Vantage Career Center plays a big part in this event. Vantage not only provides the facility for the food sorting and organizing but the students and staff at Vantage also provide a lot of man power on Friday. Food barrels have been placed all around town at various businesses. On Friday, these barrels will be picked up by our Vantage students and brought to the garages at Vantage. The food will be sorted and organized by several volunteers and many of our students. The goal for this years event is 45,000 items. The food will be disbursed between the Salvation Army, Trinity Friends Church, and the Van Wert Cooperative Ministries Food Pantry.

There will also be a blood drive held on Friday at Trinity Friends Church. The goal is to collect 185 units of blood. The drive is from 8 am to 6 pm. We already have several of our students signed up to donate on Friday.

I am always so impressed with the amount of donations that our staff and students provide to this great event. I am looking forward to Friday just to see the amount of donations and to see our students working so hard on that day. If you haven't had a chance to donate and would still like to, you can bring your items in all this week. There are several signs around the building that specify which items they are in particular need of. If you have any questions, please see Ms. Font in the Health Information Management lab. This is also a reminder that we will have $1 JEANS DAY AND $1 HOMESCHOOL/VANTAGE T-SHIRTS on Wednesday this week. With the money raised that day, we will be able to present the United Way with a monetary donation.

I would like to close with a final thought from Ms. Diane Font who is spearheading this Day of Caring for Vantage. She states that "  I am passionate about this event and I am so lucky to work with all of you here at Vantage. I am always in awe of our students and staff and what we are all capable of doing for each other and our community. Many of us may have never needed a hand up from our community, but if you ever find yourself in this dark place, events like the Day of Caring make you very aware of the help available to us all. I was devastated in 2002 after a F-4 tornado took everything from my family. I was very grateful our lives were spared that day. Where do you turn when your house, vehicles, belongings and even dignity are lost in one moment? For me, it was this community. The United Way, The Red Cross and my community of once complete strangers helped me. Wow, was that a humbling experience! I hope my help on this day is somehow just my heart being thankful to this place I call home for helping me after that experience, without judgement or prejudice. Please help our students understand any of them could and may someday need help from The United Way. They could in fact already be helping someone they know that is struggling or is in need of that hand up on this Day of Caring. This is definitely a teaching moment that can really have an impact on our students lives. My heart sends a sincere thank you to every staff member here at Vantage for your help on this event every year. We have an impact, each and every one of us! It takes a village and VANTAGE stands out LOUD AND PROUD within this one!

Please Ask

This month is National Suicide Prevention Month.  This link takes you to a short 3 minute video clip with information related to suicide.  It's intended audience is for the parents of teens, but it applies to kids too.  I am going to ask you to please take the time and watch it.  Please.

I recognize that the video is simple, not overly emotional, but wow does it hit on so many of the key messages related to suicide.  Most of all, the importance of asking.  The feeling of being alone with your thoughts, your feelings, your loneliness, your hurt, your pain, and not being able to see any way out is a key risk factor for teens having thoughts of suicide.  So ask.  Ask the people around you, "Are you ok?" Ask, "Are you having thoughts of killing yourself?"  Ask, "I care about you a lot and I want to help keep you safe. So I feel like it's important to ask, 'Are you having thoughts of suicide?'"  And then listen.

If the answer is yes, then it is time to act.  Get your family member or friend support and help.  Something needs to change in his/ her life so that they don't have to feel this way.  And if they say no, but your gut instinct is that something is wrong - trust yourself and still seek support.  You know the people in your life best.  You know when something is wrong with your friend.  You know when they are hurting or not acting like themselves.  There is never any harm in pulling more support into their life... and it may truly end up saving their life!

If someone is in immediate danger of taking his/ her own life, please call 911 or go directly to an Emergency Room.  If you aren't sure of the level of danger, you can also call the National Suicide Hotline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255) or use the Crisis Text line by sending text to 741741 - both numbers are available free of charge, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

If you have concerns about a friend while you are at school, please come and see me or one of the other counselors at Vantage.  We are here to help!  What you and your friend are going through matters to us and you could be helping to save their life by speaking up.

Appreciation

Today is September 11th. To most of us, that is all we have to say and we instantly have memories of that day 18 years ago. It's hard to believe that most of our students were not even born yet when the twin towers went down in New York, the result of a terrorist attack. For those of us who were around back then, we still carry very vivid memories. We remember what we were doing the moment we saw the news reports and continued to watch the news throughout the day. Driving in this morning, I was listening to the radio and the stories that people were sharing about that day. As memories came back, I couldn't help but look around at all the beautiful corn fields and bean fields and I start thinking how really lucky we are to live in such a great country. The sun was shining and the air was clean and crisp. The sky was slightly cloud covered with a hint of some possible rain this afternoon. It made me stop and think. It made me appreciate all that we really have.

I hope that each of you take the time today to appreciate the blessings that we have. The ability to go to the school or the job of our choice. To earn a skill that will make you very successful in the future. Most of us drove in today using our own car or maybe you rode in a bus that is provided free for all students. There are so many things that we utilize throughout the day or interact with during the day that many people in the world have no access to. We take for granted our clean water, flush toilets, abundant food supplies and our freedom. I hope that even if you weren't around when the terrorists attacked us, that you would understand what happened and look around at our world today. It's easy to be saddened by a lot of things that go on around the world everyday but I hope that you will take some time to look around and appreciate some of the great things that we have available to us everyday. We need to appreciate our freedom and the people who make that happen: our military, police officers, firemen and public servants.

Today brings back a lot of sad memories but it is also a day to appreciate the things we have. I enjoyed my ride in this morning and observing all the beauty that surrounded me. I though of 9/11 and all the families that were impacted and then appreciated my family and loved ones. As so many people think of their loved ones who were lost on that day, I think of my family members who have died and I appreciate the memories I have of them. I appreciate the job I have and the staff that I get to work with. I hope all of you appreciate the people that surround you each and every day. Tomorrow is not guaranteed for anyone. Make the most of this day and tell someone that you appreciate, how glad you are that they are a part of your life.

In closing, I just want to say there is one other thing that we appreciate around here at Vantage. That is our students. We appreciate all of you that chose to come here for your final years of high school. We appreciate how you respect the staff, how you take your hat off coming in the building, how you push your chairs in after lunch. We have a great bunch of students this year and like every year, we have a special day where we let them know how much we appreciate them. This Friday, rain or shine, we will have an afternoon of fun and games for all of our students. We hope you enjoy this time and realize how much we really do appreciate you. Thanks

Opportunities Expire

We are now ending our second week of school and people are getting situated with their new schedules. For our Juniors, everything is new. They are in a new building, new classes, new teachers and new people who are strangers to many of them. During the first two weeks of school I often have to speak with several students who would like to go back to their home school because they just aren't comfortable around here. They state that they miss the comfort of their home school and they miss their friends. I do understand that thinking. After all, most of our students have been in the same school for 10 years now.  However, what I tell them and what I want any of our students to know is, to just hang in there and within a very short time you will begin to feel comfortable in your new surroundings.

Throughout all my years at Vantage I recall many students thanking me for talking them into staying here at Vantage. The friends they made here are the ones they now hang out with since they graduated. They tell me they really felt like a family while they were here. I don't have any research except my own experience, but I believe that it takes about two weeks to become comfortable in a new setting. That is why I try so hard to have the students push through those two weeks and then see how they are feeling. If you are one of those students who is uncomfortable, I hope you continue to push through those "strange" feelings and make it a goal to see how successful you can become while you are at Vantage.

I read a book this summer by Bob Goff and one of the things he mentioned in the book was that "all opportunities come with expiration dates. If you don't grasp the opportunity in front of you, it's likely going to go away at some point". I believe that all of you new Juniors have some great opportunities in front of you. The sky is the limit to what you can accomplish in your life. Your road to success begins right here at Vantage. Please don't let this opportunity pass you by, you may never get it back.

I truly believe that strangers are just friends you haven't met yet. If you are uncomfortable, probably your classmate next to you is also. Talk to them and get to know them. Meet new friends at the lunch table or invite someone sitting alone to sit with you. If you take just a few minutes to talk to a stranger, I believe you may have a friend for life. This is a great choice you made to attend Vantage, use it to fulfill your dreams, but please don't let this opportunity expire.

Welcome Students

Let me start by saying welcome to a new school year here at Vantage Career Center. We just finished our orientations for all new students. We held the Trade & Industry program orientation on Monday night and the Business & Service orientation on Tuesday night. We have also had the seniors coming in and picking up their schedules. Wow! What a busy last couple of days but it has been nice to see the seniors again and have the chance to chat with them and see how their summer has been going. It always amazes me how hard so many of them worked over the summer. Some of the students told me they held down two jobs over the summer. I hope many of you were able to take some time off and relax and get ready for your final year of high school.

The last couple of nights I had the chance to welcome our new students to Vantage. That is always an interesting time as they are getting measured for uniforms, meeting their instructors and trying to find their classrooms. So many commented that the building is so big that they will never find their way around. That's funny because we hear that every year and within a week or two, the juniors feel like this is home already. I promise you that you will feel the same way. Don't worry about stumbling around the school for a week or so or being late for your classes, we understand and the staff will be in the hallways to help you find your way.

I hope every student will take the opportunity that you have when you come to Vantage. I have always said that when you choose Vantage, "the slate is clean". By that I mean, whatever you have done in the past at your home school, is in the past. You come here with all new teachers and staff. We don't care if you missed a lot of days before you came here, if you found yourself in trouble or if you struggled earning good grades. What we care about is your attitude when you come to Vantage. We are hoping you will see the awesome opportunities you have by coming here and start a brand new path. Come to school willing and ready to learn, be here everyday and work hard to stand out in your class. Remember, if you miss a day of school here, you are missing 2.5 hours of lab time; that is like missing 3.5 days of your academic class. You can't afford to miss a lot of time in a career school. We are preparing you for college and a career, so we treat you that way. We always get the comments from past students that they really felt they were treated as adults here and they liked that.

For both the Seniors and Juniors, I wish you the best while you are here. There are a lot of employment opportunities available to our graduates. I hope you will stop in and see me during the school year. I look forward to seeing you and helping you with your academics, college or career choices and any social or personal problems you may have. My door is always open. If you see me wandering around your lab, feel free to stop me and talk about your summer break, etc... See you in less than a week.

Farewell Class of 2019

My Wish

Well what a strange end to a school year. With all the snow and fog delays we had, now we end up with a "flood" delay. It just seems like the seniors aren't sure what their last day of school is. I do know that tomorrow night (Tuesday May 21st) our seniors will be having their awards ceremony from Vantage. This time of year, I always repeat a blog that means a lot to me and one of the best ways I have of expressing my thoughts and feelings to the graduating seniors. I like to include the words to one of my favorite songs, "MY WISH" by Rascal Flatts. The song was written and released in 2006 and I have always thought it had the perfect words to say to the students leaving Vantage. If you get a chance, go to YouTube and listen to it, you will enjoy. The song starts out by saying...

   "I hope the days come easy and the moments pass slow, and each road leads you where you wanna go, and if you're faced with a choice, and you have to choose, I hope you choose the one that means the most to you. And if one door opens to another door closed, I hope you keep on walkin' till you find the window, if it's cold outside, show the world the warmth of your smile. But more than anything, more than anything... My wish, for you, is that this life becomes all that you want it to, Your dreams stay big, your worries stay small, You never need to carry more than you can haul, and while you're out there getting where you're getting to, I hope you know somebody loves you, and wants the same things too, Yeah, this is my wish".

As the words say, I really do hope you enjoy life, take it one day at a time and don't get upset by some of the little things you will face. I hope you never give up when you run into trouble. Please don't give up on your dreams, use them as motivation. I also want you to know that wherever you end up or whatever you end up doing, I do care for you and I do want the same thing for you. My door is always open after you leave. Feel free to call or email me anytime. I welcome it.

   "I hope you never look back, but you never forget, All the ones who love you, in the place you live, I hope you always forgive, and you never regret, And you help somebody every chance you get. Oh you find God's grace in every mistake, and always give more than you take".

Some pretty simple rules that will help you as you head out into the "real world". Don't hold on to grudges or hold on to your anger just because someone may have made you upset. You will find that when you forgive, you will be released and set free from an invisible prison. You will be a better person because of it. Please continue to give back to the community in which you live. You will not believe how good it feels when you reach out and help someone. Many of you have volunteered while you were in school, keep it up every chance you get.

I know that some of you reading this may have been in my office because you were upset about a mistake you made or something you regretted doing. Remember that I have always told you that you learn from your mistakes. We all make them but it is the mature person who learns from it and grows as a person. Hold on to this bit of advice and don't forget it. I guarantee you will need it again some time in the future. We all make mistakes. Finally as the lyrics above started out with, I hope you never forget. Come back and visit us or send us a quick e-mail to let us know how you are doing.

So there it is, my wish for all of you seniors who are leaving us in a few short days. I thank you for trusting me with your friendship, your troubles and your last two years of high school. Good luck in all you do. As for all my other readers, this is my final blog of the school year. Thanks as always for reading the blog, the kind comments and the inspiration. Have a great summer!

Reach Out

I came across this video recently and wanted to share it with you...  It's a short video - less than 2 minutes.  Will you do me a favor and watch it?

REACHING OUT VIDEO


Reaching out seems like a simple concept when we are in a good place mentally and emotionally, but it can take extraordinary courage to reach out when we are feeling weak, overwhelmed, hopeless, and needing someone to help us when we are in a dark place.

This is especially true when one is having thoughts of suicide, but it is actually true of any moment when we are feeling lost, lonely, vulnerable and hurting.  Reaching out allows us to share our pain and experiences with someone else and gives them a chance to help us.  Sometimes people will do great at responding to our efforts to seek support and help and, I will be honest, sometimes they won't.  But if you are struggling, I encourage you to reach out until you find someone who IS willing and able to help walk with you through the hard times because this feeling won't last and things will get better with help.

I also want to remind each of you how powerful and valuable you are when you assist someone else who is struggling.  The greatest thing that you can do is to help connect them to someone else who is trained to support and help them to make sure that they are able to stay safe.  Keeping thoughts of suicide a secret is NOT help!  You want to help those you love and care about - friends or family members - and you can be incredibly helpful to them.  Listening and caring are wonderful gifts that you can give to them - as is connecting them to more support.  And once you have connected them to additional help from a trusted adult, it doesn't mean your job is over - your family member or friend still needs you - they still need you to encourage and listen to them, or to be your normal self who will make them smile when everything else seems stressful.

If you are struggling, I hope you will reach out to me.  Stop by and see me so we can talk about what is going on.  If you are struggling at other times you can always reach out to the other adults in your life or to a hotline such as the National Suicide Hotline: 1-800-273-TALK or 1-800-273-8255 or the Crisis Text Line by texting 4Hope (or any other message) to 741741.

Reflections

I just realized that I have not had a blog post in over a month. It seems like when we turn the calendar over to April, the school year really starts speeding by. Well recently I just finished reading a pretty good book that was recommended to me by a close friend. The book was titled "Culturize" by Jimmy Casas. The book is mainly talking about the types of cultures in the school systems and the things that we may be able to do to improve the culture at our school. I certainly would recommend this to anyone, simply because the suggestions can be applied to any business, industry or even our personal life.

Several of the quotes that I really liked from the book are: "You only need one person to believe in you to succeed. It's a lot easier if that person is you". "Unleashing true potential begins by removing the labels that hold children hostage". "Approach each situation with an understanding that at the heart of every problem is a conversation to be had". And finally, "Everyone has a savior, but it isn't always going to be you...but it doesn't give you an excuse not to try".

The book was inspiring and reflective. It gave me a chance to look at the culture of our school and the chance to evaluate myself and see how I am improving the culture at Vantage Career Center. First of all, I would like to say that as I reflected on our culture, I was pretty happy with what I observe around here everyday. The culture that Mr. Casas is trying to get the schools to buy into, is that every student should feel important. To make every student feel that their voice is heard and that they are respected. We should make our students feel that they are learning the skills to make them successful in life. At the same time, we also hold our students to a higher standard. We let them know that we expect their best at all times.

I have mentioned before in my blogs how awesome our staff is and how much I appreciate the work they do around here. As I read this book and listened to Mr. Casas suggestions, I already see so many of the things he recommends being done around Vantage. I see so many of our staff talking privately to a student because that student is having a bad day. I notice our staff laughing and joking with students at lunch time. I have overheard our staff asking about a sick parent or grandparent and showing the student compassion and empathy. I also see our teachers and administration holding our students to a higher standard. Our students know to take their hats off immediately when they enter the building or push their chairs in after eating lunch. When guests are in the building, the students greet them a smile or handshake. These aren't just my observations but also comments that our graduates have left behind. They mention that they were always treated like an adult. That they were listened to and taken seriously.

With all that said, I realize that we are not perfect. I realize that there are other ways we can improve and that some suggestions can be implemented with a little work. I realize that Vantage students are deserving of our most courteous and attentive treatment, no matter what kind of day we are having. I realize that Vantage students are people who bring us their needs - it is our privilege to help fulfill those needs. And I know that the Vantage students are the most important people on our campus, they are not an interruption - they are the purpose.

I can't help but think about the students that left here early or didn't come back their final year. Or the students who were not greeted in the morning or I missed saying happy birthday to them. I know they are out there and I know they exist. Saying that I have over 400 students to know and take care of is only an excuse. I only hope those students have been successful after they left Vantage. I hope to get to know each Junior better than I do now and to send off the Seniors with the knowledge that they were cared about and prayed for. I look forward to the incoming students next year and hope to make a difference in their lives, as I know all the staff here at Vantage will. We only see these students for a short time, two years at the most, but we make an impact either way. Our impact is either positive or negative. I truly believe with all my heart that the entire staff here at Vantage tries their hardest to make that impact positive.

I get asked a lot about how many years I have left here at Vantage. Hopefully it's not because I am looking really old or they want me to go (LOL. Just kidding). However, I do reflect on that question and I usually respond, "As long as I am making an impact with these students, I think I will stick it out". I feel I have the greatest job in the world just being around these students everyday. I also believe that is how our teachers and administrators feel. We have a unique opportunity here, we are "Molders of Dreams". I want to personally thank each and every parent for allowing your son or daughter to be a part of this great big family. Thank you!

Practice, Practice, Practice

The other day I got a great idea for a blog from our Network Systems teacher, Mr. Larry Regedanz. Mr. Regedanz constantly tells his students that "Your aren't going to be a master at Network Systems or any other program when you leave Vantage, but you will have a great head start. And you get out of it what you put into it over the course of your career, so start NOW and make every minute count." What great advice to our young students and not only is it great advice, but Larry passed on an article that backs up those claims.

The article was titled "10,000 Hours of Practice", written by Raymond T. Hightower. It is based on the book Outliers by Malcolm Gladwell. Mr. Gladwell says that it takes roughly ten thousand hours of practice to achieve mastery in a field. He came about this conclusion by studying the lives of extremely successful people to find out how they achieved success. One of the studies that I found very interesting was in the early 1990's, a team of psychologists in Berlin, Germany studied violin students. They studied their practice habits from childhood all the way into adulthood. By age twenty, the elite performers averaged more than 10,000 hours of practice each, while the less able performers had only 4000 hours of practice. This study also debunked the idea of "natural talent" because no naturally gifted performers emerged. He gives example after example including Bill Gates and the number of hours he put into code writing before starting Microsoft, and he talks about the Beatles and how they played over 1200 concerts together before 1964, the year they finally broke onto the scene. You can check out his article here.

Did you know that if you are working in your target profession, forty hours per week over five years would give you the ten thousand hours. Or maybe you have hobbies that you really enjoy and people always admire your work, for example, woodworking. You might have several thousand hours into that hobby already and just need to continue practicing to get to the 10,000 hours. The idea is that the practice should be fun. We should fall in love with what we do so that it doesn't even feel like practice. Then eventually we fall into a career that we absolutely enjoy and it doesn't seem like work at all, and we are pretty good at it too.

For all of our students here at Vantage, you chose a career that you found interesting and worked hard at it. Do you realize that after 2 years, you have almost 1000 hours of practice. You have accumulated that by only going to lab 2.5 hours per day. Can you imagine when you start working in your career that you will have 1000 more hours of practice then students who chose not to come to Vantage. I hope all of you will find that passion in your life and land that job that you absolutely love going to everyday. I hope that you continue to get better and better and love what you are doing. However, please realize that being great at something doesn't come easy and it isn't just given to you. You need to practice, practice, practice.

Oorah

Oorah is a battle cry common in the United States Marine Corps since the mid-20th century. It is most commonly used to respond to a verbal greeting or as an expression of enthusiasm. Well when I think of one of our fine young students here at Vantage, I can't help but say "Oorah" when referring to his outstanding accomplishments.

Austin Weyrauch is from Ft. Jennings high school and a senior in our Precision Machine program. He is currently carrying a 4.0 Grade Point Average for the two years he has been at Vantage. Austin has not missed a single day this year and only two days last year. Austin is one of those fine young men that you can ask him to do anything for you and he will immediately respond with a resounding yes. He never backs off from any work and he gives 100% at everything he does.

 All the above accomplishments, though outstanding, are not the real reason that I write this blog about Austin. The real reason is that last weekend Austin became an Eagle Scout in the Boy Scouts of America, and he did that by accomplishing all the needed merit badges (21) that are required and also completing his Eagle Scout project. Speaking with Austin, I found out that for his Eagle Scout project, he re-created all the Stations of the Cross outside St. Barbara Catholic church in Cloverdale. Austin worked with his grandfather on this project and spent over 40 hours working to complete this project. The stations were made out of cedar and basically they were replacing the ones that were destroyed during a past tornado that went through town on November 18, 2013.

When you think of all the time that was put into this project and keeping up a 4.0 GPA, it really shows the type of person Austin is. You wont find Austin playing video games in his spare time because there usually isn't any spare time. However, the story doesn't end there. Austin also works at Federal Mogul here in Van Wert. Because of Austin's high grades and perfect attendance, he is allowed to leave for work after he finishes his academic classes around noon each day, and he works until 7:00 pm. Oh, there is one more thing...Austin is going into the Marine Corp after graduation and has been doing his conditioning and physical training with the corp on weekends so that he can go directly into basic training. Now that deserves an "Oorah". Congratulations Austin on all your accomplishments and thanks for choosing Vantage Career Center for your final two years of high school.

Don't Stress Over The Dress

Well we have turned the calendar to February and the Groundhog didn't see his shadow, so that must mean we are nearing Spring. At least we all hope so. I think we are all tired of the cold weather and snow. What this also means is that we are getting closer to prom season. Proms have changed a lot since I was in high school. I know for one thing, they cost a lot more money now then they did a few years back. It seems students like to rent limousines, tuxedos and buy beautiful dresses.  I just read that according to a 2015 survey from Visa, American families were spending an average of about $919 on their proms. Prom dresses can average around $400. You can see why students start getting really anxious about their proms around this time of year and wondering how they are going to pay for all of it.

Well let me tell you about a fantastic organization that I try to promote every year. I believe this should take some stress off of you and cut your prom cost down significantly. It is called the "Don't Stress Over the Dress" event. This is the 11th annual event. Let me tell you a little bit about it so that you can take advantage of this event if you are in need. The event is held on Friday, Saturday and Sunday, March 8th, 9th and 10th. On Friday it is from 3:00 pm until 8:00 pm. Saturday is from 11:00 am until 5:00 pm and Sunday it is from 1:00 pm until 4:00 pm. This event is held at the Findlay Village Mall in Findlay. Any girl that is attending prom and is in need of a prom dress is welcome to attend. Each girl is allowed to receive only one dress. Each girl may bring one female guest to help her shop and an adult cannot shop for a girl unless the girl is present. There will be over 800 next-to-new, current gowns available at NO CHARGE! Some of the gowns still have tags on them. They also have shoes, jewelry and other prom related items. You can follow this event on Facebook at "Don't Stess Over the Dress".

Now if you are not a student but think this is an awesome event and would love to help them out, then there are several ways. If you have a gown to donate, you can drop it off up until Monday, March 4th. They also accept purses, jewelry, shoes, wraps, shawls, un-opened hosiery, make-up, perfume, and hair products. They have nine drop-off locations. You can check their Facebook page to see the drop-off locations, however there is one nearby in Convoy. The one in Convoy is at Scott Quarry, 2364 Richey Rd. and ask for Lori Brooks.

I really hope that everyone here would take advantage of this great event if you can not afford a prom dress for yourself. Please don't put the added pressure of buying a dress ruin this magical night. You are only a senior once, so enjoy this evening stress free and without going broke. And remember, be smart on prom night and make good choices. All of us truly care about you and your safety. I would like to close by thanking everyone who is involved with this great event and for all the work that you do. You have no idea how many people you have helped and made someone's night a lot brighter.

Winter Driving

I guess it depends on whether you like snow or not but I feel this has been a great winter so far. It was only a couple weeks ago when we were enjoying 50 degree weather. However, I believe this snow we had over the weekend is just a small sampling of what we may deal with for the next couple of months. I understand that we may encounter some ice tomorrow night and the meteorologists are talking about another possible storm this weekend.

I guess I would just like to take this time and remind everyone to be careful on the road whenever you are out driving. I know our school systems will delay or cancel whenever they feel it isn't safe to be out on the roads. I also know that when school gets delayed or cancelled, the students will head out to friends houses, the mall or sledding. I just ask that you be extra careful on the road. I heard a highway patrolman on the news the other day saying that weather doesn't cause the accidents, it is unsafe driving that causes the accidents. His point is that when it is snowing or icy, we need to slow down.

The reason I felt the need to write on this topic today, even though all of you may feel you hear this over and over, is because of  a story that was related to me this morning. One of our staff members was coming in today from the Paulding area and a semi-truck ran through a red light. The truck missed this staff member by less than 6 feet. I don't know what was going on in the mind of the truck driver. I don't know if he felt he couldn't stop, if he was distracted or some other reason. I do know that had it been 5 seconds different, this staff member admitted that they would not be alive right now. I shutter at the thought and thank God that the accident never happened. I hope all of you see that your life can change in a flash, in a twinkling of the eye. I can't stress it enough, please be extra careful out on the road this winter. I care about all of you and I don't want anything to happen to any of you. Slow down, look two or three times, watch for the other guy, do whatever it takes to arrive to school safely.

Today is a great day and a gift. I hope all of you make the most of it and stop to count all your blessings. Enjoy the snow but stay safe. Thanks,