Recently, students at Central have been learning about the importance of relationships and friendships with the help of educators from the First Things First organization.

“It’s a good opportunity to help the students to understand the importance of their environment and the relationships they have with others and it is also a good way to help them achieve their wellness standards,” shared Central’s wellness teacher LeeAnne Shurette.

First Things First works with nearly every high school in Chattanooga and North Georgia, visiting a different school each week. The program is mainly targeted toward freshmen and sophomores. Sarah Ham, a Relationship Educator and Facilitator at First Things First, visited Central to spread the ideas of healthy relationships.

“We use experimental learning to drive the points home, we play games, have open discussions and have time to ask questions so that it isn’t just me or my co-workers talking, it’s all of us learning about ourselves together,” stated Ham.

The main benefit of students being introduced to the First Things First program is that they gain a better understanding of the environment around them. They learn to keep a beneficial and safe environment. The students also gain a better understanding of themselves or those in their life that they care about.

“Some students have said it’s changed their lives, it’s the first time they’ve been able to put words to how they feel; They feel understood by learning about their possibility, they feel like this will change their relationships and self-worth for the better,” said Ham.

Although many students today go through life blind to the dangers of harmful and negative relationships, many schools, along with First Things First, are helping to educate these students about self-awareness and controlling the relationships and aspects of their life. The benefit of talking about these usually overlooked issues can tremendously impact students’ abilities to completely perceive their lives, and change them for the better.