Testimonials
“I love being part of this program. As Keith Elias says, ‘Be the voice of your generation, not the echo.’”
Dean Seda, Lakewood High School
“You’re sitting at your assigned desk in your math class, about to take the hardest test of the year. Then out of the corner of your eye, you see your best friend trying to look at your test and all your other classmates around you. You know you studied your heart out last night, so what do you do? Everyday, students everywhere are faced with situations in which they have to make the right decision. These are decisions ranging from whether or not to allow someone to cheat off your test, to decisions on whether or not to try alcohol, tobacco, or other drugs. Heroes & Cool Kids is a program in which high school students are encouraged to educate younger children about the harms of negative decisions, and try to get them to make the right decisions.”
Britanie Peabody, North Plainfield High School
“I live my life knowing that what you do when people aren’t watching is just as important as when they are.”
Nenha Young, Dwight Morrow Academies at Englewood
“My Heroes & Cool Kids mentor in 6th grade, Ashley, helped me to find that strength in myself. She lived around the block from me and was a varsity field hockey and softball player as a freshman. She was radiant and energetic and from the moment I met her, I wanted to be just like her. Sixth grade was probably the most tumultuous year of my life - it was the same year that an unbelievable act of terrorism would befall America, my grandfather would pass away, and my parents would finally get divorced. Teachers, counselors and family members always tried to help make sense of it all but they just didn’t understand. With Ashley it was different. Her stories mattered to me and when she spoke, I listened. When I look back on that year now I don’t remember it as being so bad; instead I remember it as the year I began to really believe in myself. Ashley will never know it, but she was the one who helped to turn my life around.”
Allison Sarfati, North Plainfield High School
“I know from first-hand experience that I’ve made a difference in a younger student’s life. When I overheard that he was going through a tough time, I sought him out, had a “Hero to Cool Kid” chat with him, and I could tell that he understood. I later found out from a teacher that he had made the right choice.”
Andrew Nass, Westwood Regional High School
