During the month of May I had a chance to attend several high school graduation exercises. They were very happy events despite all the tears by graduates, moms, dads, teachers, and friends. While observing honors presented, the colleges listed for the graduates, the various academic and athletic scholarships secured, it occurred to me that it may be enlightening to report some of the less often mentioned but certainly important accomplishments of the 2008 graduates of a typical class of one hundred seniors. From a purely academic perspective, all one hundred on stage have completed the requirements for a high school diploma. Additionally, five percent not present will have some summer school work to complete before they are granted a diploma. An equal number had been dismissed from the class during the year for disciplinary reasons and will not receive a diploma until they clean up their acts. A reminder to those who may have forgotten, a high school diploma is an earned degree in this community. In this world and this economy, graduates can expect to earn $7000.00 more per year than those who do not reach this goal. Not much but something. Any real financial benefits of education will require a college degree for which a high school diploma is the requisite first step. It is therefore good advice to keep walking. However in this class, if I had asked of the group, Will all the students graduating cum laude, magna cum laude, or summa cum laude, nearly one third would stand for a well-deserved applause. Asking other questions, fifteen percent would have stood for obtaining athletic scholarships, eighty-eight percent will be going to college, most will pursue education in the state, few will venture out of the South. From the concerned perspective of the parents, how many will stand when asked about drugs, smoking, alcohol, sex, pregnancy, and violence? Will you please stand when the questions are asked? How many of you in the class of 2008 used any illicit drugs in you senior year? 36 % stand up. There is a hush over the crowd. Not great but actually much improved from the peak of 42% a decade earlier. The most common illicit drug used is marijuana. Thirty percent of the class had used it during the year. The class should get a hand for that since it is twenty percent less than a decade ago. Similarly the use of cocaine, prescription drugs, analgesics such as OxyContin and Vicodin are less than a decade ago but not changed in the past year. Still, one in twenty of these seniors had used such drugs in the past year. Regarding alcohol use, the class is less than stellar but does report a more respectable behavior than the class of 1998. In the 2008 class, one in three on stage had been intoxicated in the prior thirty days. (This may explain the C in math!!). Nearly half the class had been drinking to some extent during the same period. While better than a decade ago, still, one in three on stage had been a passenger in a car driven by someone who had been drinking. Considering that fatal automobile accidents are the leading cause of death among high school students, continued efforts are needed. Like the improvement in drug and alcohol use, the 2008 class can also take a bow for less smoking and less use of performance enhancing drugs (i.e. steroids) than in the classes before. Violence is still an issue on campus. Twenty percent had had a serious fight during the prior year; ten percent reported being hit by a date, and eight percent had been threatened with a weapon. Clearly the class has had to deal with more violence than we did a generation ago. Regarding sexual behavior, there are more virgins (54% of the class) on stage in 2008 than at any time in the past decade. These graduates are more likely to say no to sexual intercourse, use a condom, and birth control measures. Interestingly, half the parents are unaware of the sexual activities of the graduates. Students and parents need a bit more schooling. Students need more schooling regarding safe sex.. Forty percent think that oral sex is a safe alternative to intercourse regarding sexually transmitted diseases (STDs). The same percentage think the pill protects them from STDs. Considering ten million high school students contract STDs annually, I would recommend a summer school protective sex education course for the Class of 2008 before going to college in the Fall. Regarding other health issues, the class is falling behind previous years in several areas. Forty-six percent of the class is overweight or obese. Six percent are taking diet pills, and two percent are dangerously at risk with anorexia/bulimia. Regarding mental health, the 2008 Class has some real concerns. There is a rising prevalence of major depressive illness. One in ten males and twice as many females on stage had actually contemplated suicide in the school year. Eight percent did attempt suicide. These young people need to be listened to when they become distant, despondent, and reactionary. Usually, such behavior can be managed with gentle care. The facts however indicate that there is always a potentially very serious mental health issue present. The stress of the real world is in our schools and on our graduation stages. However, the class of 2008 has by all measures proven to be a very impressive group. They are indeed up to the challenge of leading our society in the decades to come. The data clearly shows that they are good, responsible, and talented young people. We can all offer them all a standing ovation. They really do deserve it.

Dr. Nicholas Costrini writes regularly for the Savannah Morning News. His articles occur every other week in the close-up section. He may be contacted at ncostrini@georgiagi.com.

The Savannah Morning News Good for What Ails You and Dr. Nicholas V. Costrini would appreciate hearing favorable comments. Please call: 912.652.0370 Vox Populi