Proof it Works - What difference does the Power of Choice really make?

Renee Lacoursiere-Boltz
Social Worker
Nipissing-Parry Sound Catholic District School Board, North Bay, Ontario

After finishing the program, we surveyed the participants and found we had some powerful and measurable results:

• 100% reported developing a healthy habit during the course of the program
• 100% reported drinking more water
• 67% reported an increase in physical exercise
• 56% reported working towards completing tasks (doing at least one thing that is a step toward something they had been putting off)
• 100% reported being successful in reducing a bad habit as a result of participating in the program
• 86% indicated that they would participate in the program again/recommend the program to a friend
• 86% expressed interest in helping with the organization/promotion of the program in the future; 2 students volunteered to share their personal stories/become program mentors

As part of the evaluations, participants shared key words to describe their thoughts and feeling about the program. Included were: inspiring, life-changing, positive, happy, relieved, positive selfishness, enlightening, relief from negativity, helping to control your habits. Participants also commented that it was nice to be part of a group where there were several people essentially working toward the same goal of reducing or eliminating a bad habit.

Linda Henry, Principal
Kirkland Lake High School,
Kirkland Lake, Ontario

"We brought Scott in at the very beginning of our school year. There were 12 students who chose to participate in the 28 Day Healthy Habits component of his program. Addictions were mainly to marijuana, cigarettes and internet/video games.

After the 28 days were finished, the kids in the program wanted to continue it on their own. Within 90 days, every single one of these kids had tapered off to the point that none of them were doing drugs or smoking anymore. One student who was addicted to the internet and video games drastically reduced how much time he spends online.

Each and every student who joined the on-going group meetings had noticeable behaviour changes; for example, higher self esteem, regular attendance, more friends and a much clearer head upon returning to school Monday mornings.

The results we got were so remarkable we asked Scott to come back again later in the same school year! We engaged different kids and we had a different adult partner involved, but the results were just as impressive.

The following testimony is from Corey Copeland, my workshop partner at Kirkland Lake High School when I went back for the second time during the same school year.

Corey Copeland, Student Success Teacher
Kirkland Lake High School,
Kirkland Lake, Ontario

"We owe you big! Your program changes lives. It was an honor to be apart of it. We've had a number of kids who either quit smoking or drastically reduced. And one boy gave up weed altogether - and now that the 28 days is up, he is now applying your program to cigarettes.

...A lot of the kids actually surprised me with the exercise component of your program. Many of them started to see the benefits of exercising and actually ended up increasing and doing more with exercise then they had originally promised.

...All the kids apologized for things they've done that they felt bad about. A few of them apologized to their parents for stealing money from them. And the kids felt freed from doing this.

...Some of the kids that took on the bonus commitment of doing daily school homework actually came to me for help with their homework which was amazing. They would come to me after school or during lunch and I would help them.

...You have a major gift of discernment, being able to attract only those kids that were really committed - and your ability to cause those that really weren't there for the right reasons to make the right choice and not stay with us for the day - (if they were not going to follow through on the full 28 day program) - was incredible. And all those that stayed for the full 3.5 hour workshop, stuck with the whole 28 day program. If I had to weed them out myself, there is no way I could have had that discernment that you have. I would have probably encouraged some of the wrong kids to stay and be in the group and I would have had problems. It might not have worked.

...Scott, you demonstrated to us a lot of positive affirmation. Even when you were weeding people out of the group, you were affirming peoples value. It wasn't anything artificial. It was real and authentic. You really cared like these kids have value. The kids could sense - they could feel that they were valued and mattered that there was intrinsic value to them.

Your program is a process and a journey. It's not like everyone has all their problems solved but all the kids that participated are better off then they were before you came."

Email from Sue, A Parent
Meritt, British Columbia,

PARENT: Hi Scott: My foster son attended your presentation(s) in Merritt yesterday and came home a changed kid. Somehow in one day you have been able to show him what I have been trying to do for a year and a half. I am so thankful to you. Hopefully I will be able to attend one of your presentations in the future. I have written a letter to the social workers regarding your program. Sue

SCOTT: Wow, did you ever make my day. I was in BC for more than 2 weeks and wanted to go home last week but stayed an extra few days just to be at your school. Now I know it was worth it. Hey Sue, can you tell me exactly what changes you noticed in your son? Scott

PARENT: Hi: When he came in the door he started crying and said he had something to tell me. He confessed that he had recently stolen some jewelery and money from me and pawned it for pot money. He was very upset that he had done it and realized through you how serious his pot addiction is. He has had a hard life and his Mom (crack addict) just died April 13. She was unable to be a good mother to him but he loved her just the same and this has really devistated him. He understood the "comfort zone", as he has a real hard time getting out of that. He hasn't had a job in over a year, no girlfriend, no goals, no hope, no confidence etc. Just getting stoned and zoneing out as much as possible. He talked to me about exercising, drinking water, eating healthier etc. He talked about being accountable and taking responsibility. He talked about being a "victim" and how that has negatively impacted his life. Unfortunately "Ministry" kids get a self entitlement attitude that because their life has been hard everything is "owed" to them. When they turn 19 they are not able to function properly and a very high percentage end up being extremely dysfunctional. My son is almost 18 and I am trying so hard to help him. Everything he heard you say yesterday I have said a million times, but somehow you managed to really get the message across. He said he couldn't believe what a mess the kids made yesterday and that he helped clean up. Cleaning up and helping is not something he would normally ever do. Someone offered him some pizza to take home for helping. He took the vegetarian because he thought I would like it. Again - NOT NORMAL for him to think of others. I have such renewed hope for him today and I am so thankful. You obviously have a gift and I am sure you have inspired thousands of kids. I just wanted you to know how much of an impact you've had on mine.

Ashley Rachul, 1st Year Teacher
Coronach School,
Saskatchewan, Ontario

The kids seem to be doing very well! They are coming to talk to me individually... Not only are they keeping up with their water and physical activity, they are also cutting down on their addictions quite substantially!!! I see it working!! Which I am grateful to you for!!!

Nicole Giroux, School Counselor,
Martensville High School
Martensville, Saskatchewan

Our work at my high school is often crisis based responses so it was a welcome change to have a program that addresses so many issues for so many students all at once. I appreciated that this program wasn't only focused on drugs and alcohol but also on any other "bad habits" students felt they had.

Scott gave a very powerful and real keynote presentation to our kids. Students that I didn't think would choose to participate in the follow-up program and whom I knew could use the support actually did!

What impressed me most was how responsive/helpful kids were to each other. The peer support was very powerful and the accountability was very useful in making these students successful. I really appreciated the concept of setting students up for small successes as opposed to trying to make large leaps and experiencing failure.

We learned a great deal from Scott Gallagher in regards to supporting kids with difficult issues in a very positive and proactive way. We created a survey for our students to gauge how helpful the presentation was and many responded that it related to their lives and that the information was useful.

Thanks to Scott for his dynamic presentation and for providing simple training to allow us to carry the program forward. I would recommend this program to other schools looking to support students in a success driven, peer based way.

Jody Tetreau, Teacher
Hazelton Secondary School,
Hazelton, British Columbia

After Scott's Keynote Assembly, we had 30 students begin the program and each and every one of them took something away from it even if they did not complete the sessions. This is an amazing feat in a low socio-economical First Nations community where suicide issues run rampant.

Our students spoke about the value of learning how to set realistic goals, the power of drinking water and that they had more control over themselves. Along with more personal accomplishments our student also learned:

• How to meet new people and interact with them appropriately
• How to make commitments to each other
• That the power of our words and commitment are important
• There are consequences for behavior (even in the assembly Scott held them accountable if they talked, without putting them down)
• This isn't about them personally, it's about their behavior
• About drugs and drug use
• How the power of your own life choices can change you, and you can change.

This program made a difference in the lives of every one involved no matter their addiction.

For example, for the first time, at least two students began to come to school with a water bottle with them every day. This could be seen as small change but for someone that consumed only pop this was significant. Two other students began to incorporate goal setting into their daily lives and vocabulary.

One very noticeable change was with a young man who had a serious problem with authority figures. He actually attended every follow-up meeting we had. He also developed a good personable relationship with me as a fellow group member, and as an equal, that had a positive effect on our classroom relationship.

He picked up his grade and passed my class with a decent mark. When I asked him afterward about the change he said that he learned that the authority figures will always be there and it's his choice as to how to deal with them. He has the power to change, he has the power to agree or disagree with their requests. HE has the power, not them. This was a huge step forward for him.

There were also measurable changes in all three of my student buddies. One buddy apologized to an old friend living in the next town over and now spends time with that person again having fun and being a teen. My partner is also still exceeding his goal of learning rudimentary drumming patterns every day and is on his way to being a fantastic drummer.

My second partner wanted to sing more because it made her happy and so purchased a karaoke machine and sings every day and feels great. This partner was shy and withdrawn and stopped participating in the group the next day but she still sought out her happiness and worked the program independently.

My third partner is the largest change. He wanted to quit the addiction of putting every one else around him before himself (he offered this information to me). He is 16 with a one year old child and has rekindled his relationship with his child's mother in a healthy, respectful way putting his needs before those of his other friends. This relationship had been clearly recognized as being toxic and one-sided. He has changed that and seems very happy now.

The program does not only influence the lives of these resilient young teenagers now but it also affects their futures. Every child that participated in the program all the way to the end was affected and profoundly changed in some way.

Karen Gardner, Business Teacher
Applewood Heights Secondary School,
Mississauga, Ontario

Our school was looking for someone to come and speak to our students in a way that was personal and would help them with alcohol and drug addiction. We checked out the video on Scott's website and knew immediately that he fit the bill perfectly.

At the assemblies, Scott had everyone's attention. He handled those who were being obnoxious and got their attention respectfully. Even the teachers talked for months about how good the session was because it was real.

There are so many programs that schools must present that are simply too superficial. They only manage to touch the surface. A speaker might get you excited about the topic on the day, but then they're gone and the message just fades.

Scott's program is different.

I was surprised at both the number and the type of students who chose to attend the follow-up program. There were some I would never have guessed needed to be there. And there were a couple of kids who attended that we all knew had issues and they made it all the way through. That was wonderful to see.

The buddy system connected me with people I wouldn't otherwise have known. Two in my group are now friends with each other, and I have a bond with them I never would have developed outside the program.

The best aspect of the whole program was that students learned how to apologize and to thank others. To be able to say they were sorry without any expectation of getting anything in return was huge for these kids.

They learned it was okay to make a mistake, to be aware of it, apologize and let it go. I was amazed at how proud they were of themselves when they were able to say thanks and sorry.

Some were even surprised to find that, when they apologized, that the other party was sorry too. That brought them closure on a lot of issues and even mended a couple of friendships.

Everyone who went through the 28 days had success with breaking their bad habit. One girl didn't eliminate her bad habit completely because her goal was to reduce it. So she was successful too!

John Cabot Secondary School, Mississauga, Ontario

As for the new group that was formed...what is nice is that we now see (in such a short period of time), students talking to other students - ones that they would never have talked to as a result of the group. New friendships have been formed...and students that really needed someone to talk to...have come out and are talking. It's great!

Diane Potoczny, Teacher

Matt Haddrell, Classroom Teacher
Charlie Lake Elementary School,
Charlie Lake, British Columbia

The students in our school range from kindergarten to grade 7 so we decided to have only students from grades 5, 6 and 7 attend Scott's initial presentation. The reactions I heard were diverse and incredibly personal. Each student responded to a different aspect of what Scott was saying depending on what resonated with their own lives. Everyone was able to absorb their own individual message and many found it tremendously moving.

Not only did the follow-up program allow me to develop new and meaningful relationships with the students that were my buddies, it engendered a real sense of community in the school as a whole. We will definitely bring it in again, and hope to involve some parents next time so that sense of community can expand beyond our doors and benefit others as well.

Hudson Hope School, British Columbia

The last 4 weeks have been amazing for all of us on so many levels. We've talked about it and plan on continuing with another 4 week session. We are going to switch up partners. We are all feeling great about our accomplishments, honouring our word and feel comfortable about being honest when we don't honor our word. We are thankful for everyone's honesty at all times :) MY relationship with life and others has changed dramaticaly. I am accomplishing more in a day than I have in the past. I am paying close attention to my words & thoughts, as well as apologizing often and am learning to see what is right in all situations. I am so very thankful to you and your company for spreading this message/program. ALL THE BEST!!

Tracey Rutherford, Educator, Hudson Hope School, BC

Sue Grantis, Public Health School Nurse
Dennis Morris Catholic School,
Niagara Region, Ontario

When you see students with physical problems come in, a lot of times it's a manifestation of what's happening internally. This program gets to the root as opposed to just dealing with all the symptoms.

It's one thing to do a brief intervention counseling one-on-one, but it's another thing to have Scott come in and set up a system of accountability so kids know exactly what to do.

Here are some of the results;

1. One student who had stolen a pair of shoes from the local mall went back to the mall and returned the shoes.
2. Another student confessed to his Uncle that he had been stealing his liquor for many months. The uncle stated he was proud of his nephew for confessing this and ended up attending an AA meeting with him as a result.
3. There were many students that told their parents they were repeatedly lying to them about substance use.
4. Five students returned at the end of the Healthy Habits group to focus on quitting smoking.
5. Students became more honest with themselves and others.

Scott's program was the highlight of the school year for me! Thank you again for this very worthwhile program!!!

Larry Lippa, School Counselor
C.R. Marchant,
Toronto, Ontario

Scott's program gave me a teaching strategy that I can use for the rest of my career. Now I know how to handle a child with an addiction. For me that's huge. Sometimes you go to those teaching conferences and you come out with nothing. This program gave me something real that I can implement. That's what I appreciated most.

Students who took the program seriously became better and more responsible people as a result of some of the strategies used. As one of the adults in the program I can vouch for the fact that it wasn't just the kids who changed, we learned a lot as well.

The students who were committed to the program have done exactly what they promised to do and have reduced the number of times they engage in their addiction. The program really worked for them - they saw the gains they wanted.

Thanks for everything Scott and especially for keeping in touch and showing that you really care about our students.

Englehart Secondary School, Northern Ontario

We have lunch together every Monday. Other than the girl from grade 7, all of the kids come and we have some pretty good conversations. Two of them say they haven't had any drugs since our first meeting even though they've had plenty of opportunity. The smoker has cut down by about 8 cigarettes. All of them confessed to their parents. Some pretty good connections have been made...thanks to you.

Angie Stinkowji, Guidance Counselor

Doris Wyatt, Teacher
Broadview High School,
Broadview, Saskatchewan

Scott's program gave students an opportunity to identify something in themselves they wanted to change. Maybe it wasn't something as obvious as a drug addiction; maybe it wasn't visible to anyone else at all, but it was still something very real to that individual.

In fact, part way through the 28 days one student choose to apply the program to a different habit because she had completely stopped doing what she had originally identified as the bad habit.

The real highlight of the program for me though was the sense of community that developed. Students who are less comfortable socially began working with other students they wouldn't normally encounter. I think some of them experienced a real sense of community for the very first time. That level of personal growth will benefit them into the next school year and for years to come.

St. Martin Secondary School, Mississauga, Ontario

Hey Scott,

I wanted to thank you so much for coming to our school community and taking the time to reach out to all of us individually. As soon as I got home, I went to apologize to my mom, but what I wasn't expecting was to end up crying like that. However once I said my apology to her, i felt refreshed and satisfied with myself. So far, I've done everything I was supposed to do; drink my water, do my sit-ups+Bonus! I even cleaned the cat litter without her having to ask me twice or create an argument out of it.

I'm really greatful and appreciative that you visited us today, and I'm even more glad that i didn't stay home because of the snow!! Because I really think this group is going to help me out, and I'm really excited to see the outcome of everything and everyone who is in it.

Thanks again for today,

Michelle, Student

Opal Charters, District Principal
First Nation Education,
Merritt, British Columbia

We were delighted that we were able to bring Scott's program to our school.

He really held those young people's attention all day - they got the message loud and clear. And I'm so glad he emphasized that there is nothing wrong with us - that it's our interpretation of life that paints how we see our life and our future.

Scott made us realize the fallacy of our story of being worthless, unwanted, stupid, dumb, weak, spoiled, unworthy, or a loser. He gave us the power to whitewash the tainted picture away.

The most powerful part of the program was about taking small, manageable steps that mean we can be successful. Scott gave these young people the chance and the ability to create a future that is vibrant and clear, free from guilt and full of hope.

I've since been promoted to another school and, with luck, I will be able to bring Scott in for my new students in the coming year. Thank you Scott for making this incredible program available to us!

Heather Wegren, School Counsellor Warman High School,
Warman, Saskatchewan

We were very pleased as a school community to have Scott Gallagher present to our students. Scott gave a powerful all-school assembly, followed by a workshop which students self-selected to attend. I was very impressed with the group of students that ended up participating in the workshop. I had worked with many of them before individually but not in a peer support, positive choice focused forum.

What I love about Scott's program is his focus on healthy habits and acknowledging the positive. Students are encouraged to honor their word and be people of integrity. These are very powerful challenges for students and it has been amazing this year to see peers supporting each other toward these positive goals.

So much of what I've read or seen in the area of addiction is theory based. This program is totally different. Scott challenges students to examine their own choices, and provides a simple structure for the "support people" in the school to work with the kids. The program is clear, easy to deliver and sets students up for small successes along the journey. Support providers don't end up feeling stuck in theory or unsure of where to go with the students.

Our school community definitely benefited from Scott's dynamic presentation and health habit focused workshop. Follow up surveys with students and staff demonstrated Scott had a positive impact on students and their sense of "choice" in their own lives. For this, we are very grateful and wish Scott all the best in his future endeavors.