Regional summit encourages students to lead positive change in their schools and communities

Date: 03/25/2024

More than 80 students from six schools in Piscataquis and Penobscot Counties gathered on Friday, March 22 at Dexter Regional High School for the Positive Action Team Summit to explore some of the biggest challenges that students face every day in their school and communities.

The students addressed mental health, substance use, overall wellbeing, and other issues that are important in their schools. The event’s theme, progress over perfection, celebrated the small accomplishments that students achieve that together make a big difference.

“This is one of the biggest turnouts I’ve seen, and I’ve been on my school’s Positive Action Team for three years. It’s a great day for kids from all these schools to hang out with each other, get to know one other a little bit, and talk about the stigma with mental health and drug abuse,” says Miles Grant, a senior at Dexter Regional High School and Positive Action Team member.

The Positive Action Teams are a grant funded collaborative effort between local schools and Northern Light Mayo and CA Dean Hospitals. Members of the Positive Action Teams at Dexter Regional High School, Ridge View Community School, Piscataquis Community Secondary School, Penquis Valley High School, Foxcroft Academy, and SeDoMoCha Middle School attended the summit.

A highlight of the day was a presentation by Kyle Quilausing, a once-promising state golf champion who became addicted to crystal meth and was on Hawaii’s most wanted list. Quilausing shared his story of overcoming adversity to build a successful life and career and reminded summit participants that they have the power to make healthy, positive choices.

“The speaker this morning was probably my favorite part. I’m not normally a “sit still” kind of person, but I really like the way he told his story,” adds Grant.

Participants attended workshops about LGBTQ+ youth, healthy relationships, mental health, yoga, paint pouring, and more. The students ended the day by setting priorities for their local Positive Action Teams. They identified harassment, bullying, and peer pressure as priority areas.

Mental health and wellbeing was discussed throughout the day in workshops and during group activities.

“The more we get to speak about mental health, the more people aren’t afraid to talk about it. These discussions shouldn’t be behind the scenes; they should really be up front,” says Khloe Kimball, a junior at Piscataquis Community Secondary School and a Positive Action Team member since middle school.

Bree Clayton, a community health coordinator at Mayo Hospital and an event organizer, led a workshop focused on her family’s struggles with substance use. She believes that students left the event better prepared to lead change in their own schools and communities.

“Coming together and exploring the projects at the individual schools gets the gears going and helps students understand that they are in it together. Getting to see everyone in the same setting and knowing that they’re all trying to make positive change in their schools really helps a lot,” says Clayton.