WHAT OTHERS ARE SAYING! “My mother did drugs when I was little and the government took me and my little brother away from her and she is not allowed to see me until I am 18. I thought the organ display was very interesting and very life changing. I hope you continue to do this for kids and I know you change lots of people’s minds to thinking before they act.”--Alecia "I want to thank you for allowing Kathy Ketchum to present her program, The Real Inside Story, to our 8th grade students. This is the second year that she has presented to Inglewood Junior High. The effects that her presentation has had on our students have been astounding. I rarely see such interest and involvement with all ages of adolescents as I witness her presentation. Students remark about going home and seriously talking with their parents about stopping smoking or using other drugs. Our counseling staff has a high incidence of students coming in to their offices to talk about their friends and family members that are using. Some students make changes in their own lives regarding their own use. Kathy has such an amazing impact that we want to include her presentation as a part of our 8th grade curriculum.--Kathy Colombo, Inglewood Junior High Science Department Chair. "Engaging youth in an opportunity to discover who they are and who they are in the process of becoming is what learning is really all about. Your respect for kids and the awareness of the tough choices life tempts them with; coupled with your knowledge of the material and your ability to share this with them in an honest, straight-forward genuine manner, is a gift. Every student who is part of our school will have the opportunity to listen to "The Organ Lady," because you meet the objectives of what a meaningful education is striving to achieve."--Melanie Shafaat, Principal, Northwest Regional Learning Center, Everett "Your presentation really touched me and I think this is a good lesson for all kids. I know that I learned something. I learned that life is an important thing to treasure. Let me tell you about myself for a minute. I am a fun kid. I like to do all kinds of sports, the only problem is that I smoke. People tell me all the time that smoking will kill you and do you know what I would say to them? Everybody has to die some way. That is not how I want to die. Colleen, if you would not have come to NRLC I would have died of lung disease or something that is not good. After you left I made a choice to STOP smoking and I had one smoke all day yesterday 10-21-03 and I will make it today. I am doing this for a bright future that I could see and hear, without a tank next to me. I have put a stop to all this smoking. I just cannot do it anymore. I QUIT thanks to you Colleen Williams. I am glad you came and I think you should go to other schools because I am a hard person to convince and you did it. I know I can do it because you did it and you smoked longer than four years I bet. If you went to all the schools around here a lot of teens would quit smoking and start studying. I just do not want to die age 30 of lung disease. That is not me. THANK YOU FOR MY LIFE." --Dustin, age 15, student, Northwest Regional Learning Center, Everett "Thank you so much for all of your time and effort, it was greatly appreciated. Your presentation really opened my eyes to all of the dangerous things that drugs and alcohol can do to a person's body. Although I found many of the organs to be a bit grotesque, those examples had such a strong impact on me. I learned so much from your presentation that I was eager to go out and tell some of my friends what I had learned, (especially those whom I thought might benefit the most). Your knowledge and passion for your job was very inspiring and it felt like you truly cared and were trying to make a difference. I really admire your strength to pursue such an important job, especially with your past experiences of drugs and alcohol. I don't believe I have ever realized how addicting nicotine can be and now that I know, I will do my best to help support those who are struggling and try to be the best friend I can. Again, thank you for all of your wisdom, it really made a difference in my life." --Kina B., Student "Thank you so much for coming to NRLC and giving our students your presentation. What better way for our young people to learn about the consequences of their choices than by seeing first hand others' poor choices? My students were still talking about your presentation this morning. Several of them are trying to quit smoking as a result of what they saw and heard. I am ecstatic! If only one person thought about what they saw when they were "lighting up" a cigarette of tobacco or marijuana I would have been happy. To think that some of them are trying to quit is fantastic. Your program is a much needed one and I am proud to recommend you to anyone who will listen. Once again, thank you!" --Debbie McMenamy, Special Education Teacher, Northwest Regional Learning Center “You’re my hero and you don’t even know it. Some friends invited me to a Rave this weekend & I might have gone if it weren’t for you.” -- --Alecia --Michelle --Rayan --Emilie --Devin "I would like to express my sincere thanks to you for the wonderful presentation you gave to my Senior Health classes. The students were totally captivated by your presentation and the real life visuals, which showed first hand the consequences of some negative choices. Seeing what actually happens to internal organs had an impact beyond anything they had ever experienced before." --Steven Segadelli, Senior Class Health Teacher, Woodinville "It is very enlightening to see and hear someone who thoroughly enjoys what she is doing and adds a personal touch to the program as well. I heard students commenting very positively with many saying it was the best they had ever experienced and the organ lady was incredibly informative and entertaining!" --Tony Fore, Health Teacher, Garfield High School "I thought it was fabulous! Great job! If I did smoke or do alcohol then I would definitely change that. I loved all the examples you used. The tar, teeth, posters, organs, overall it was great!" --Student, Jackson High School "I thought the presentation was great- it really made me think about the seriousness of my decisions and the dangers of my lifestyle. I realized I need to take care of my body and steer away from bad habits and move on from what I was doing. It really affected me because I can relate to some of the personal stories you told." --Student, 16 y.o., Bishop- Blanchett High School "Dear Kathy, "Even though I've taught about substance abuse, personal safety, and body systems for the past five years, your presentation to our 7th and 8th grade health classes blew me away! Our students hung on to every word you said. Every adult that joined us that day stopped me later to share how impressed they were with your message. The diseased and injured organs really drove home the point that this is what happens when you abuse drugs and/or make reckless decisions. Your non-judgmental approach to reducing risks helps kids understand that they can enjoy their teen years and still live safely. Thank you so much for fitting us in to your busy schedule. I will definitely recommend you to those teaching health next year." --Mary Johnson, Teacher, Heatherwood Middle School "I want to thank you for allowing Kathy Ketchum to present her program, The Real Inside Story, to our 8th grade students. This is the second year that she has presented to Inglewood Junior High. The effects that her presentation has had on our students have been astounding. I rarely see such interest and involvement with all ages of adolescents as I witness her presentation. Students remark about going home and seriously talking with their parents about stopping smoking or using other drugs. Our counseling staff has a high incidence of students coming in to their offices to talk about their friends and family members that are using. Some students make changes in their own lives regarding their own use. Kathy has such an amazing impact that we want to include her presentation as a part of our 8th grade curriculum." --Kathy Colombo, Inglewood junior High Science Department Chair "I really liked this presentation because it got right to the point! All the presenters were was honest. I could tell you it was too graphic and gross but it is just reality. Awesome job!" --Student, Woodinville High School "I felt it was said from experience which made it better because the presenters had seen both sides and knew the reality of addictions and what the different substances can do." --Student, Aces Alternative School "I felt the presentation was awesome! It really made you rethink a lot of your choices by bringing in actual examples and giving you such incredible facts. Everyone was talking about how wonderful the presentation was after school on Friday." --Student, Bishop-Blanchett High School "This presentation was great! It made me think about possible consequences. Good combination of affects on mind and body. You were excellent!" --Participant, Moses Lake, Grant County Tobacco Talks Convention "You taught me a lot of things I didn't know. Thanks to you, you make me want to make healthy choices and teach others that are not." --Ruthie- Student, Garfield High School "I didn't know half of the stuff you said but you enlightened me and now I will know. I am thankful that you gave all the consequences of drinking and smoking that was all excellent. I hope that you keep touching schools as you did ours." --E. D.- Student, Garfield High School "It was nice to learn more about the dangers of marijuana because I have met people before who tried to convince me that it wasn't harmful." --Daniel- Student, Garfield High School "I will think twice about doing drugs and smoking. Because of you I now realize how important our health is, and by using drugs and smoking you really hurt your body." --M. J.- Student, Garfield High School "I think you did a good job talking about all of the organs and what drugs and alcohol does to you. You made me not want to smoke or drink and don't ride with someone who is drunk and be careful who I am around." --M. G.- Student, Garfield High School "Thank you for coming to our class. Your presentations were very gripping. I was very glad I didn't miss it. It was either health class or dissecting a fish, boy was I happy that I went to health!" --S. H.- Student, Garfield High School "I learned a lot about drinking. I have done it and now I am thinking twice and I am trying harder to have my boyfriend quit smoking." --Participant, Grant County Tobacco Talks Convention "It was very informative and interesting. She presented the information in a fun way and was a humorous presenter. It was really good and I am thinking about my behaviors." --Participant, Grant County Tobacco Talks Convention "I have done all three: drank, smoked cigarettes, and marijuana, and I am quitting. That is not the life for me." --Participant, Grant County Tobacco Talks Convention "I really appreciate you coming to our school and showing us something so amazing and real. You and that presentation really changed me. Everything you said and showed me stuck in my head. Continue to present at other schools and come back here again." --Ashley- Student, Garfield High School "When you said the presentation would be about an hour and a half, I groaned to myself, but I was never bored! You had mt attention the entire presentation. The posters you brought in were also very interesting. I definitely won't smoke, binge drink or do drugs." --Michael D.- Student, Garfield High School "I realized that I have been doing all the wrong things to try and handle a bad alcohol-related thing that happened to me at a party once. I am going to tell my parents now and get some help. If I hadn't heard the presentation I might have kept everything inside of me." --Middle School Student, Okanogan County "Because of this presentation I plan on not doing anymore drugs. I used to smoke but I quit awhile ago and this presentation reassured me that I made the right decision." --Student, Bishop-Blanchett High School "I felt it was very informative. I am going to educate my big brother on the effects of chewing tobacco. He has chewed for two years in Georgia playing baseball and it has always worried me." --Student, Woodinville High School "The presentation was so cool! It taught me a lot of things I never knew before. Seeing the organs was so much more educational than just seeing commercials or pictures in a book." --Student, Grant County
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WEBMASTER:
Colleen Williams
Revised: April 06, 2008
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