Longview presentation promotes healthy, safe lifestyles for girls

LONGVIEW — About 80 students were the beneficiaries of classes designed to teach them how to be healthier girls Tuesday at a joint presentation given by Longview High School and Longview Regional Medical Center.

The girls, who were from physical education classes in grades nine through 12, came to learn about what makes a healthy relationship, what makes a nutritious meal, how they should exercise and how to use their minds to make healthy choices. "I Enjoy Being a Girl" was presented at the Longview Regional Conference Center.

Kevin Green/News-Journal Photo (enlarge photo) Longview Regional Medical Center's Education Coordinator Janeen Smith speaks to Longview High School students Tuesday during a lunch at the educational seminar 'I Like Being a Girl' at Regional's conference center.

Janeen Smith, a registered nurse, is the education coordinator for Longview Regional. She organized the conference Tuesday.

"I want the girls to understand it's never too early to be concerned with wellness," Smith said. "We want the girls to be aware of the resources available to them, and that there are a lot of people who are equally caring of them."

Karen Day-Norris, a registered nurse, talked about ways girls are often controlled by boyfriends. Day-Norris works for Acadia Pathways, a hospital in Longview that treats psychiatric illness and chemical dependency.

"Sometimes abuse can be mistaken for intense feelings," Day-Norris said.

"Love involves respect and trust," she said.

Day-Norris said the three types of abuse are emotional, physical and sexual, and talked to the girls about date- and acquaintance-rape.

She cautioned them to be careful about drugs such as rohypnol and ketamine, which are tasteless and often slipped into drinks.

"Those drugs can make someone black out and forget being raped," Day-Norris said.

About 25 exhibitors with booths were set up around the conference center.

LHS junior Royaltee Becks said she learned a lot at the conference.

"I learned that you shouldn't give up your virginity to just anyone, and that it's important not to drink and drive," she said.