Elementary students have advice for prom goers

Despite knowing it isn't real, students wear looks of concern as emergency personnel work to remove other students portraying wreck victims from mangled vehicles during the Code Prom accident simulation at Mississinewa High School in Gas City, Indiana.
Elementary students have advice for prom goers
Elementary students in Columbus, Ohio are serious about the dangers of older students drinking alcohol or using drugs on prom night, and they're sending that message to hundreds of high school students this weekend.

When cummerbunds and corsages are delivered by local florists in time for Saturday's proms, there will be a message inside each box that encourages older students to make smart decisions this weekend.

No alcohol. No drugs. As simple as that.

It's known as the Prom Card project.

Every year, area students in kindergarten through sixth grade design prom cards with personal messages and drawings.

Young students have written compassionate messages about loved ones and friends who have been harmed or killed because of alcohol- or drug-related activities and shared those heart-rending stories with prom-bound students.

Pam Thomas started the project 13 years ago. She knows of one high school student who changed his prom night plans after receiving his Prom Card. Admitting he had secured alcohol and booked a room for prom night, the high school student told Thomas that he couldn't go through with his plans.

"That's just powerful," she said. "To affect a student like that is awesome. Then you have to think, how many people did he affect in turn?"

About 800 to 1,000 cards are designed, sorted and delivered to the florists each year for delivery to students attending prom.

Columbus East Senior Michael Weiss was surprised when he received a prom card in his cummerbund box last year. He said it did make an impression.

"I'm not one to get into drugs," Weiss said. "But it was nice to know the kids care about our well-being. I think it's important that we're good role models for the younger students."

Zerek Greathouse, a fifth-grade student at Lillian C. Schmitt Elementary, said he wants the recipient of his prom card this year to have a good time on prom night, but without using alcohol or drugs.

"I don't want them to waste prom night in a wreck or in the hospital," he said.

Critical thinking challenge: What can you do to make sure everyone has a safe prom night?

- Posted on May 1, 2013

I think this was a wonderful idea, my sister went to prom all her high school years and always got home around three or four. I think its a great idea and a lot of other schools should start this because it makes students think twice about doing something. The kids probably took a lot of thought into to this, this project saved people from going to hospital and losing lives.

"I don't want them to waste prom night in a wreck or in a hospital" really touched my heart because the fact that kindergarten through sixth care about how most teens ruin their lives or die on prom night because they drink, get wasted etc. and they get in a car and get into a terrible accident. So the idea of the prom cards are really helpful and I love the fact that the children really care about the teens enough to write them cards.

The idea of the prom card is awesome. More schools should try to do this. One, the idea of staying safe is most likely going to influence the elementary students' decisions in the long run by helping them know the dangers of drugs and alcohol. Secondly, the cards have probably saved many kid's lives by causing the teens to take a second to think about taking that drink. Who knows, one of them could have ended up drunk driving and in the hospital but didn't due to the fact that people really do care about their well being.

The idea of prom cards is wonderful. Doing this will encourage prom night goers to rethink their plans. This will help reduce the amount of accidents that are on the news relating to alcohol or drugs done by teens.

about 800 to 1,000 cards are designed storted and delivered to the flosists each year for delivery to students attending prom. I disagree with Weiss bacause not all high school stundens are role modles.

That's nice the younger kids care about the older kids. That's also good because it did change peoples mind and they didn't go through with their plans because of it. That's awesome that some one that young has that much power.

This is a great idea. Teenagers often die from doing things they shouldn't, such as drugs. They may feel that prom is a special night and they can do whatever they want, but it's actually the opposite. They should be cautious of their surroundings and make sure they're staying out of trouble. The idea of elementary students writing messages makes an impact. Teenagers may actually think before doing after someone tells them to stay safe. Hearing about someone who was affected by being reckless may also get them to rethink their decisions.

I don't understand why someone drink alcohol or use drugs on prom night. You might not remember it or you could get sick while there and being sick wouldn't be fun during prom.