surviving the weekend
Can you drink responsibly? Maybe, but it won't work to just say no. I have been speaking on alcohol awareness for over 25 years and I have come to the conclusion the best thing I can do is to present tools on living in environment where there is alcohol. From communication to abstinence, I give ideas on how to survive in any environment when alcohol is present. Through humor and audience participation I try to reach every aspect of alcohol and drug use from problem drinkers, chronic consumption of marijuana, occasional drinkers, binge drinking to those who choose not to drink or drug at all. My best hope is to plant a message that when push comes to shove people will have the tools to be able to get out of bad situation, prevent a disaster or just wake up not regretting the night before.
I also give a personal narrative of surviving my own problems with alcohol including an alcohol related sexual assault. I talk about how my dependence on alcohol, and my decision to quit drinking in my first year of college. I do not advocate abstinence from alcohol but rather informed choice and awareness. During the presentation I encourage students to text questions and comments. This makes each presentation uniquely relevant to each group as well as making it easier to discuss sensitive issues such as sexual assault, alcohol abuse and safe sex.
I also give a personal narrative of surviving my own problems with alcohol including an alcohol related sexual assault. I talk about how my dependence on alcohol, and my decision to quit drinking in my first year of college. I do not advocate abstinence from alcohol but rather informed choice and awareness. During the presentation I encourage students to text questions and comments. This makes each presentation uniquely relevant to each group as well as making it easier to discuss sensitive issues such as sexual assault, alcohol abuse and safe sex.
WHAT PEOPLE HAD TO SAY ABOUT SURVIVING THE WEEKEND
▪ I would not hesitate in Bringing River Huston back to Bridgewater State College or to any institution. Her natuaral sense of humor made the heaviness of the material very easy to receive" Rebecca Averill, Assistant Director of Student Involvement Leadership,
▪ “I just got home from listening to your talk at Western Washington University and I would like to thank you for everything that your presentation gave to me and many other members of the audience. It made me laugh, it gave me knowledge, it made me think and it gave me a more optimistic outlook on life. We only live one life; we need to make the most of it. You truly are an inspiration to me and I am so glad that I got the opportunity to hear you speak (I actually didn’t get tickets to the show early and when I got to the box office it sold out. I wanted to see you so bad that I stood outside and bought tickets off of some scalpers—and it was worth every penny). Anyways,I wish you a wonderful life and hope for the sake of people everywhere that you stay well and keep speaking about topics that otherwise would be left untouched. So, from the bottom of my heart, thank you!”
▪ “My name is Von Marie and I just watched you perform at Salem State College last night! (I was front row, giving you ideas on shows,and I had the red hair and freckles? ) I just wanted to say that you were great! you were funny,informative, and very inspirational. Thank you again and I will make sure to keep up w/what you're up to!”
▪ I wanted to stay after and talk to you, basically just to say thank you from the bottom of my heart.I have experienced some of the things that you spoke about and you really touched me and no one has ever been able to, it feels amazing to know there is someone out there similar to you and you're not alone.
