Above – Exeter-Milligan students listen to former Navy SEAL
Jason talk about leadership and teamwork during the Applied Performance Science
presentation.
Below– Exeter-Milligan students during the training portion of
the Applied Performance Science presentation.
Above – Exeter-Milligan Seventh grader Clint Oldehoeft watches
for his teammates to return from running a relay during the Applied Performance
Science presentation.
Below – Exeter-Milligan students take off running during the
training portion of the Applied Performance Science presentation.
Above – Exeter-Milligan students wait in push-up formation as
their teammates take turns running during the training portion of the Applied
Performance Science presentation.
Below – Jason, right, and Anthony, left, speak to the group of
Exeter-Milligan and Fillmore County Coalition students at the end of the
training portion of the Applied Performance Science project.
Human performance, learning to tune our bodies to perform at
their peak level, was the core lesson that Exeter-Milligan students were taught
during the Friday, April 15th program from Applied Performance
Science.
Two former Navy SEALs, Anthony and Jason, presented the
Applied Performance Science philosophy first to the high school parents in a
Thursday evening session in the Exeter site gym.
They emphasized the concepts of leadership and teamwork,
“Team dynamics to make them better individuals and to be a positive influence
on our society. The backbone of the program is getting kids to make the
right choices.”
Most of the information for the parents focused on the
physical side of high school students needs for growth including sleep, side
effects of alcohol and drugs and the stress.
The program, which according to Anthony is “not a DARE
program. . . We give them other reasons to not engage in these activities.”
The students spent Friday morning hearing a presentation on
the background of the SEALs, discipline, commitment and personal responsibility.
All of these concepts were tied together came out on the field where the
students were led in team activities.
These were challenging activities and the students were
given the option to drop out if they felt unable to physically complete the
tasks.
The program was tough but beneficial, explained ninth grader
Spencer Pribyl, “It was a hard workout but the team part of it was good.”
In the afternoon the students learned about the
physiological effects of sleep, drugs, alcohol, stress and nutrition.
They were able to see real brain scans with positive and negative effects of
each factor.
This resonated with the students as well. Trever
Zelenka, a ninth grader, reflected that he “learned a lot about performance and
sleep. I maybe will change some of my eating habits.”
Eight grader Max Zeleny felt positive about the day’s
events, “It was good exercise. I learned to always bring your “A” game in
everything. If you lose, come back even better.”
Another eighth grader, Ryan Sharp, expressed that, “it was a
good learning experience for everyone. It taught us teamwork because we
had to work together. I thought it was pretty cool that Mrs. White stuck
it out with us (in the physical training).”
Jolene Frook, the coordinator of Fillmore County Coalition
who were instrumental in bringing the program to the county, felt that the
Applied Performance program embodied the coalitions core vision, “Strong youth,
strong community, strong life.”
In order to establish this vision, Frook, has been
encouraging a group of youth who have committed to stay drug, alcohol and
tobacco free. “We want to provide education to assist in the achievement of
personal life promote healthy living choices including the prevention of drug
alcohol tobacco abuse in Fillmore County.”
Frook explained that the day Anthony and John spent
educating the Exeter-Miligan students (along with a few students from Fillmore
Central and Shickley who are coalition members) was just the tip of the
iceberg. “This is a five year commitment. We just got a taste and
short overview of the program. All of the information goes much more in
depth. We aren’t sure if we will have them back. There is a two day
training program in Hastings this summer that I hope some can attend.”
Funds from a Federal block grant along with a grant from the
Mary Tous Foundation, the Exeter-Milligan School Foundation and the Fillmore
County Foundation helped make the event possible. The program has been
presented to professional sports teams, college teams, and Olympic teams
worldwide.
Paul Sheffield, Exeter-Milligan Superintendent saw the value
in the program for the district, “We want to create and maintain a culture of
championships and also provide the information students need to make smart choices.
Having expectations, holding ourselves accountable and holding our teammates
(peers, coworkers, whatever it may be) accountable is life long.”
Tenth grader Tara Mueller echoed the emphasis on teamwork,
”I learned that you should always put others above yourself because you are
part of a team. There was so much that I can apply to my everyday life.”
Frook hopes that the message will stay with the
students, “I would hope that kids would see two things – one the whole team
piece where what you chose to do with yourself whether it’s on the weekend or
staying up late does impact the greater team not just yourself. What I
would hope is that teams would be more cohesive that kids start communicating
with their peers. Overall I hope that substance abuse would reduce due to
the scientific backing. John Underwood (the creator of the program)
emphasizes that this is a leadership program. He says ‘I don’t want your
best athletes I want your leaders.’
Sheffield concurred, “We chose to have this program at Exeter-Milligan
because we want to do anything we can do to help students make these smart
lifestyle choices.”
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