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| 01-23-2004 | Previous edition: 01-22-2004 |
        
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Printer-friendly version Local teen completes program, receives scholarship and smartsBy Paul GlasserCity Editor A Lafayette teen, considered at risk for becoming a teenage mother, will become the first girl to complete the Lafayette Urban Ministry's Project Respect, an abstinence-based youth program. Amy Baumis, 17, of Lafayette will receive a $3,000 scholarship for completing the program, with which she plans to attend college and earn a degree in elementary education. She joined the program in the eighth grade and is a senior in high school. Baumis was considered at risk for becoming a teen mom because her mother got pregnant at the age of 18. She said her mother supported her through the duration of Project Respect. "She wanted me in the program because she wanted to keep me from making the same mistakes she did," Baumis said. Project Respect uses lesson plans and group meetings to build confidence and self-esteem. The program teaches the girls to deal with media influences and say "no" to peer pressure. Baumis said the program taught her a lot that her parents didn't talk about. "I wish there was more scholarship money out there for more people to learn what I learned," she said. The program also taught the girls a lot about sexual health and responsible decision-making. "We learned a lot about sexual experiences, how girls are more susceptible to being used and how alcohol affects your decisions," Baumis said. Andrea Penner, director of youth programs at the ministry, said the program provides the girls with the skills necessary for everyday life. "The cycle continues because they're not given the tools to make different choices," she said. The program brings girls together and builds their confidence, said Penner. The program gives them a goal and pushes them to go on to college. Penner described Baumis as a great leader and role model. "She was an all-around soldier," said Penner. "If she keeps her focus, she'll go far." Baumis said she will take the skills she learned and apply them to her college education. "I don’t want any obstacles to get in my way," she said. "She know what mistakes she wants to avoid in life," Penner said. Baumis attributes her parents' divorce to the stress associated with being teenage parents, Penner added. "It's hard to take care of a kid while you're still a kid yourself," she said. Teen pregnancy causes financial and emotional stress as well, said Baumis. She urges other teens to abstain from sex until they're married. "I look at our life now and I don't want my kids to have lives like ours," said Baumis. Printer-friendly version |
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