Be sure to visit our other Teenage Drug Abuse Articles below! Want updates? Enter your email on the right side of this page This week I had the pleasure of Skyping with a high school health class on the East Coast. As usual, the kids were extraordinary and asked some amazing questions! I am always surprised with how much thought kids put into the questions they ask. It makes me wonder where they are coming from with their questions. Do they want to know more about my story and message? Are they curious because they might have a concern with themselves or someone they know? Or, are they just completing a homework assignment?
There are always a wide range of questions from “Why did you start doing drugs?” to “What made you stop using drugs?” to “Why did you and your brother change your names?” These are all good questions. I appreciate that today in my life I don’t shy away from questions but answer them with complete honesty. This is so much better than when I was in active addiction and I avoided these types of questions.
This week, one question stuck out in my mind that I haven’t been able to shake so I decided to blog about it!
One of the students asked “Were you popular in school?”
I replied, “Nope neither my brother nor I were popular in high school.”
And then I got to thinking as I looked at the students on the computer screen. I wonder how they see themselves? Is popularity important to them? Do they sell out to fit in? Do they have a lower self-image because they don’t believe they are somebody? Do they think that being in the ‘in-crowd’ means that they ARE somebody … that they are only important if they are seen as popular?”
Wow! This reminds me of my own teenage years and how I believed some of those things. How I didn’t feel that I was good enough back then and the price it cost me. Now I see a whole different picture!
The definition on www.dictionary.com of Popular – regarded with favor, approval, or affection by people in general. Do we really want to send the message to kids that they need to seek approval or affection by others? In a way this is similar to someone using drugs to feel better. If someone finds value in being popular then they might just not feel good enough about themselves … always feeling they have to strive to be the best, to excel to be somebody — then comes the insertion of having to mask those feelings with drugs.
I’ve learned that acceptance starts with me ….
Often popular kids use their popularity to intimidate. That’s why I believe popularity is also a form of bullying. I know I felt this growing up. Just the energy that those popular kids had was enough for me to feel less than adequate and at times shameful to even be me.
I think it’s great when kids can be themselves even if others might perceive them as “different.” This is what builds character and strengthens a person’s ability to succeed in the world. Being popular doesn’t offer this. Also, what almost all kids don’t understand is that the popularity contest at school ends the moment you are handed your diploma. Once that piece of paper is in your hands, the phone calls from those you thought were your “friends” stop. It happens to everyone.
My advice? Stop worrying about what others think of you. Love yourself first. This will put you in a position to have things that you cannot even comprehend at the moment. A life full of love, happiness, success, and rewards are right around the corner for you.
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About me: I am Super Star (yes, that is my legal name). I have earned that name – and accomplished what many people would consider impossible – because I chose to stay sober one day at a time. I left the crack houses to mingle with Hollywood’s elite, ending up working with all of my childhood musical heroes, and have now found my purpose in life after surviving an almost 15-year battle with the disease of addiction.
Currently, I am an advocate for kids in recovery from substance abuse (and prevention as well) in Malibu, California, as well as from my home in Chicago, a sober companion to many, director of a non-profit that helps those struggling with recovery, and passionate speaker to kids about the issues of drugs and addiction.
I am also an author and musician. I am currently finishing my work on the book, “The First 30 Days to Serenity: The Ultimate Survival Guide to Staying Sober,” which can be pre-ordered here. I have also just wrapped up the recording of Serenity, a first-of-its-kind CD created in conjunction with my twin brother Rock Star solely to combat addiction. “Serenity,” was produced by a Grammy-winning producer and features many of our musical heroes, who have come together to help us tell our story in an effort to help others through their own addiction struggles. Guests on our CD include current and former members of bands such as Kiss, Heart, The Goo Goo Dolls, Dokken, Trans-Siberian Orchestra as well as many more. It rocks – musically and inspirationally – and can be found here
Pass this on if you feel it can help someone and feel free to visit us at www.rockstarsuperstarproject.com
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