Anaika Miller | communitynews@ourvalley.org
Radford High School students will have the opportunity to learn important life skills next week during the school’s Healthy Relationships Week.
The program, which is a partnership between RHS, the Women’s Resource Center and Radford Youth Adult Partnership, includes PSA videos and lunchtime activities that teach characteristics of good relationships.
Pam Chitwood, a school counselor at RHS, thinks everyone can learn something from the program.
“I hope it will help us all stop and think about how we treat one another and help everyone learn something valuable to help them with their relationships,” Chitwood said.
Participation in the activities is not mandatory, but senior Carly Porter said she hopes other students take advantage of the program
“I hope that people will get involved with the activities we have put together and will be enthusiastic about all there is to learn,” Porter said.
Porter is the president of the Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project at RHS. The club collaborated with the Women’s Resource Center to develop activities that will help teach the importance of communication, respect, trust, equality and honesty.
“Communication and respect are crucial to any happy, successful relationship. When talking to other students, and when reflecting on my own relationships, the root of many issues comes down to lack of communication,” Porter said.
Though one of the days will focus on teen dating violence, Chitwood said she has not had to counsel this issue at RHS.
“In the two years that I have been at RHS, I haven’t dealt directly with teen dating violence but I do help students with relationship issues,” Chitwood said. “I hope this week, if a student is dealing with dating violence, that they see that they can get help.”
Porter thinks the program is a valuable reminder that relationships should be nurturing, not destructive.
“The relationships that we are a part of on a daily basis, be it with family, friends, co-workers, or a significant other, should be supportive and nurturing. I hope this week will help students in every grade level to evaluate their current relationships,” Porter said.