28. May 2010 by KVaughn.

·         I learned that we must help to protect the oceans because we too need them to survive, and the animals there need our help as well.

·         We need to find ways that help protect sea animals while being realistic about our own needs at the same time.

·         I now understand that our ocean is more than just a body of water, it’s our lifeline.

·         More people should be out there trying to save it because the animals being killed do not deserve it.

·         We need healthy oceans to survive.

·         It made me realize that there are many things that we could do to change our impact on the ocean.

·         We need to stop messing around with the delicate aquatic life and not consider everything there as dangerous.

·         The oceans are vital to human existence, providing food, medicine, and things humanity needs to survive.

·         There needs to be more conservation efforts to improve the quality of our oceans health.

·         Oceans For Youth has exposed to our group a vast array of sea life that we didn’t know could lived together and even existed.

·         It showed us a delicate eco-system and the life on the reef that we rely upon to survive.

·         It told a lot of things we do that affect the animals in the ocean and pointed out how we are the cause of the coral reefs being destroyed.

·         We need to make changes and not hurt the ocean so much.

·         It explained how eels are commonly misunderstood.

·         This material combined with my studies in biology class allowed me to put it all together and see that our world needs to take care of ocean.

·         By sinking ships we can help take the stress off crowded reefs.

·         Learned what fish need so we can learn how to help.

·         I never learned this many things from videos before.

·         Sharks don’t have a hard skeleton.

·         I learned about the killer whale from “Free Willy”.

·         I now know the sea can be more interesting and dangerous than I thought and it the videos have changed my points of view.

·         All of the animals there are important and if one species of sea animal goes extinct it hurts the whole ocean.

·         All sea animals depend on one another.

·         The programs made me realize all the damage being done to all the sea animals and the ocean that most people are not aware of. 

·         The videos showed us how the ocean works and how all the animals contribute in their own way.

·         I learned more about the animals, their habitats, what they eat, and how they behave around people.

·         A lot of animals are in danger and they are being needlessly killed, and some animals are friendly and play with you.

·         We need to care of the ocean habitat and the animals that live there.

·         We need the animals in the ocean as much as they need us and it is our responsibility to take action.

·         If we take an animal out of the wild and put it in a cage we can never put it back because we have shown them a new way of life, one they cannot forget and unlearn.

·         Captive animals put back into the wild will likely not survive.

·         How cruel man can be to ocean creatures.

·         We need to keep a balance in the fishing of the oceans and allow fish time to reproduce to avoid extinction.  Balance over profit.

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28. May 2010 by KVaughn.

·         Being able to do something when someone counts on you to do it.  When involving family it means much, much more.

·         Following directions, knowing what you’re getting yourself into.

·         With regards to family, listening to what they say and trying to help out whenever you can.

·         In school, my responsibility is to keep my grades up and get through school.

·         At home, to watch over my sister and brothers.

·         In my community, to keep it clean and safe for all.

·         To do things that I may not want to do, but do them any way.

·         In my community, to help keep it clean including picking up trash.

·         At home, to do my chores and keep my grades up.

·         Being what you say you’re going to be.

·         Taking responsibility for one’s action and doing what is right.

·         Doing what you know is right and owning up to your wrongs.

·         Related to my family, to love and take care of them no matter what they do to anyone.

·         At school, be very productive, complete my work and help those who need help.

·         Within my community, be productive and generous, doing my share, helping my community, and taking care of those who cannot care for themselves.

·         Being there for others, helping out when I am needed.

·         Related to my community, doing charity work and not being in trouble.

·         While in school, being a role model to others.

·         Do my homework for school.

·         Communicate better within my family, and try more to help within my family.

·         Doing things without being told and having things done and ready when they are supposed to be done.

·         Completing things when and how I am told.

·         With respect to my community and school, no littering, respecting my elders, and those with authority.

·         In my family, it means taking care of them through thick and thin.

·         Getting to work on-time and keeping your grades up.

·         Doing what you feel needs to be done.

·         Keeping my grades at a “B” or higher, look presentable, and to help my parents around the house.

·         My responsibility within my community is to be a Good Samaritan, to respect my town and its citizens.

·         At school I must treat the property like I do at home, and to respect both the students and faculty members.

·         Doing more than you originally used to.

·         Keeping my room and the house clean in addition to baby sit my little sister whenever my mom needs me.

·         At my employer, show up on time, get my work done and help others.

·         To my community it is important to become something and be able to help others and give back to the community.

·         Maintain my mental, physical, and spiritual health.

·         Be a pillar to my peers and family.

·         Be a role model within my family, church, school, and neighborhood.

·         Encourage others who need my support.

·         Being the best I can be!

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15. May 2010 by KVaughn.

·         Volleyball or soccer because it helps with teambuilding, helping each other, finding new ideas to win without cheating.

·         Football or tennis, working together and making you able to maneuver at a moment’s notice.

·         It helps people on a team communicate and open up.

·         Any sport that requires teamwork.

·         Makes people try things they have never done before or that may have thought was too hard.

·         You learn to get things done with a partner or within a group.

·         Helps with communication and teamwork…becoming able to get along with your peers.

·         Football, getting me physically motivated and teaching me to be a better team player, leader, and follower.  It also helps me with my listening and responding abilities.

·         It would help all sports succeed… or teamwork has come together because of our communication skills.  We understand how other people’s fears could be changed by our support.

·         Swimming physically because scuba has a lot to do with swimming.  S.T.A.R.S. teaches you to work together and it helps with any sport.  Communication is everything. 

·         “Together we achieve, together we succeed”

·         Scuba symbolizes teamwork.

·         During soccer this year the program has helped me learn how to get along a little bit better with my team…. Has also helped me learn how to listen more to others.

·         This experience can help me with football and will apply well.

·         The program will help with getting physical and trusting me team to pick up the slack when I fall behind.

·         S.T.A.R.S. helps me work with anyone from any background.

·         This experience gears me up for working through problems and frustrations that sports can bring up, and the way to solve them.

·         S.T.A.R.S. so far has helped me get in shape with their physical conditioning.

·         The whole idea of “I’m In!”, NEVER QUIT, KEEP GOING, attitude.  Just “Think of others, and do it as a team changes the perspective of seeing things, you become more patient, tolerant, positive, and helping other reach their potential.

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14. May 2010 by KVaughn.

·         I am now looking for a job I will “ENJOY” rather than a job that pays well and brings the finer things in life.

·         It has made me look at many more job options like underwater welding, rescue diver/safety services, and even marine biologist.

·         My dream of becoming a photographer has expanded to include perhaps an oceanographer and a Divemaster.

·         A Divemaster/Dive guide job would be cool at a dive shop.

·         My original interest in being a vet now includes photography where I can show others what animals they are missing… tied into diving.

·         S.T.A.R.S. participation has encouraged me to take on a more physical job that I was planning, like Law Enforcement Officer, Conservation Officer, Forest Ranger, and maybe even a Technical Diver.

·         Yes, and No.  I have decided to pursue being a marine biologist because I want to learn more about this world under the water… however my interest in becoming a lawyer is still real.

·         The involvement in scuba diving has driven me to consider the space program and being an astronaut as scuba diving is a requirement.

·         My aspirations of becoming a doctor are expanded to include some part-time work in diving.  Diving is something I definitely want to continue.  Scuba Diving Rocks!

·         Although I like scuba, I still want to be a teacher….. Scuba may offer me a chance to become a diving instructor as it has driven me to be more open.

·         My career outlook is still unchanged, but I now have a valuable skill that makes me marketable and I can choose a field in the future.

·         My desired career now includes not only being a Marine in the armed forces, but a Navy Seal of Search and Rescue.

·         Although my career is set I would love to get involved in volunteering and marine preservation.

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11. May 2010 by MSchirmacher.

The May newsletter has been posted to the Newsletter Archives page. You can view this issue by clicking here or visiting the archives page.

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5. May 2010 by KVaughn.

·         I have met new people, created new friends, but it has not changed my status among my peers.

·         It has helped me in so many ways, especially improving my self confidence.

·         My friends see a big change in good ways.

·         I am more outgoing towards new people.

·         I am stronger than my friends now.

·         S.T.A.R.S. has given me more self-worth.

·         I now feel that if I put my mind to something I can do it.

·         Among my at-risk friends, I feel that if I could change, then they could change as well.

·         My relationship with my friends has gotten closer.

·         Now we actually talk about other things outside of the usual.

·         We don’t fool around as much.

·         I actually have gotten more responsible about the things that I can do.

·         My participation in the program has made me become a lot more mellow.

·         The physical activity has encouraged me to relax.

·         I feel that I have become more of leader amongst my peers I have tried to show by example how to do things.

·         The program has allowed me to get into better shape which lets me participate in other things with my friends.

·         I feel that things with my peers have just stayed the same.

·         The program has helped me meet new people.

·         Being apart of this program changes the way I view people and situations.

·         I now have more patience.

·         I have matured more, and I now want to help people succeed with me rather than leaving them behind.

·         Some of my peers laugh and joke around about me being tired in the program, while others find it interesting to hear about my experience.

·         I have learned to get to know people before judging them and I have made new friends throughout this amazing journey.

·         My peers and family say that I am more responsible because I keep my grades up and I attend STARS routinely.

·         My friends like how I am doing something that I like and they support me.

·         I work as a team more with my friends and offer help.

·         Instead of going to the teacher for help now.. we help each other.

·         Participating in STARS has change a lot between me and my friends, and I love to tell people about this program.

·         I am now more aware of other students at school and have learned to be more patient.

·         My tolerance for others has increased.

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