Why we love the rebellious students
It’s the last session of a massive, full day of back-to-back NotEvenOnce presentations in a Victorian school on a Friday afternoon. All the students are seated and ready when one sassy teen enters noisily, making her presence known. She isn’t wearing school uniform but she is wearing very heavy makeup and chowing down on a cup of 2-minute noodles, belching as she does. She slumps into her seat with body language oozing rebellion. The lines are drawn. We know she is there, which is what she wanted. Let’s call this young lady Bella*.
Now, you’d be forgiven for thinking that we cringe when a Bella walks into one of our NotEvenOnce sessions. Surely they’re just hard work, right? Actually, we get excited when young people like Bella are exposed to the life-changing truths of our program. But back to the story…
The roll call is completed and Teen Challenge director Tanya Cavanagh begins the session. The students are tired and it’s hard to keep them on track and engaged with Kahoot (an electronic quiz/poll tool) during the presentation, giving feedback on their thoughts and understandings. Bella has flat-out refused to do the poll and loudly continues to enjoy her noodles.
“I can see that she’s still watching and listening,” Tanya says, “So I let it go for a couple of questions and then ask a question of her, and she does give feedback.”
Bella stands up, walks across the room to throw her noodle cup in the bin, belches and sits back down with her feet on the table.
“I’m liking her better by the second,” Tanya laughs. “And I mean that, I’m not being sarcastic. You see, it’s the Bellas we do NotEvenOnce for. We know that when we speak, we’re aiming for the hearts of the Bellas, who are desperately trying to find their place in the world and fit in.”
Despite herself, Bella becomes enthralled in the real life stories of addiction. She watches the brain scans highlighting the impact of alcohol and other drugs to a developing brain. Then she hears more stories of the mental health issues of young people who have been using substances. Suddenly, she interrupts, hand in the air.
“Yes Bella?” Tanya asks.
“If someone is diagnosed with a condition like schizophrenia or bi-polar or something and they use drugs, does it make it worse?” Bella asks politely but urgently, focused on the answer.
“Great question Bella, thank you for asking that, it’s one I reckon we should talk to,” Tanya responds, gently affirming her. “Yes it does, in fact …”
Tanya goes on to explain in detail before asking Bella in turn what she thinks the best choice someone with those conditions should make in relation to alcohol and drugs. Bella doesn’t hesitate, but emphatically yells, “They shouldn’t do it!” She is totally focused and with a slight nod of her head she sits back in her chair and remains engrossed in the presentation.
The bell rings, and everyone scrambles from the room, everyone but Bella who walks slowly, seeking eye contact with Tanya.
“Thank you,” she says, and is gone.
Tanya is lost in her thoughts until a teacher, picking up paper from the chairs, stops at the place where Bella was sitting.
“This girl,” he says, pointing to her empty chair, “I’ve never seen her sit still for more than ten minutes. Today she sat for 90 minutes with you — amazing! She got what you were talking about.”
He is shaking his head and smiling as he leaves the room.
Tanya wishes she had time to speak with Bella personally and privately.
“I would have loved to tell her how precious she is, how important, how unique, but all I can do is pray for her and trust that God used our program to help her.
“We know that He is using NotEvenOnce to bring truth to the Bellas out there, to combat the opposite messages they are hearing all around them and to speak to their hearts that they are worth something.”
*Name changed for privacy.