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January 7, 2009

Two Andover students on drug-free-campaign posters

By Bethany Bray

Andover teens Chantelle Hache and Sean McCall are poster children — literally — for being high on life.

Last year, Chantelle, 13, and Sean, 15, were selected as two of the 10 students across the state featured on posters in a drug prevention program by the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

Posters for the "Picture Yourself: Alcohol and Drug Free" campaign went up in schools across the state this fall. Each of the 10 poster designs features a Massachusetts teen engaged in a hobby or interest as an alternative to drugs or alcohol.

For Chantelle, an eighth-grader at Wood Hill Middle School, that hobby is kung fu, a sport she's studied since she was 6.

For Sean, a freshman at Andover High School, it was ultimate Frisbee, which he plays for fun with friends.

"The drug-free message is very important to me. I've seen people get their lives messed up by that kind of stuff. If even one person saw my poster, and thought twice about doing something, or even got interested in kung fu and didn't do (drugs), it would be really good," Chantelle said. "I was just really honored to be picked, because I know a lot of other people do really cool stuff, too. I just hope it helps somebody."

Wood Hill Middle was chosen as a pilot school for the Picture Yourself campaign. If they wanted to be involved, middle-schoolers filled out questionnaires last year to be considered for the campaign. One of the questions asked what they would do if they found friends drinking at a party.

Sean, who was a Wood Hill eighth-grader when he was photographed for the poster, said he takes a live-by-example approach.

"They were just looking for someone who didn't sound like a health textbook (for the campaign). I was honest in my interview. I said if I found friends drinking, I would tell them to stop. If they didn't, it's their choice, and I'm not going to get involved with it. I think I have a realistic view," Sean said.

"We talk about it (drugs and alcohol) tons in high school health class. You know it happens, but it's their choice and I'm not going to get involved with it," he said. "You can't say what they can and can't do. You can't overtake their life, but can try to help them and hopefully get them through whatever they're trying to deal with."

The two teens agree that they were honored to be picked, but it was strange to see themselves on the walls of their school.

"The posters got put up in the beginning of the year, and it was a little weird to see," said Chantelle. "I didn't expect to see them on the first day of school. It was really different, I'm not used to (seeing my photo up)."

The Picture Yourself campaign included drug-prevention materials, distributed to teachers, and folders that were given to students.

"They put me on the folder — I'm on the back, throwing a frisbee. It was kind of weird. Seeing a poster of yourself is kind of different. I actually used my folder for health class, and people would say, 'Oh, is that you on the back?' It's kind of a goofy photo of me too," said Sean with a chuckle.

Chantelle is the youngest child of Belkis and Maurice Hache. She has a brother, Isaac, 16, and sister, Sacharie, 29.

Sean is the son of Frank and Tricia McCall. He has two older siblings, he said.

Q&A

The Townsman asked Andover students Chantelle Hache and Sean McCall what it was like to be on posters in the statewide "Picture Yourself: Drug and Alcohol Free" campaign.

Q: What was it like to do a professional photo shoot?

Chantelle: It felt great to be picked, and I was really excited. At the photo shoot, I was really nervous at first, but it ended up being really fun. I had to do kung fu moves for a long time, so I got really tired.

Q: Why did you get involved with the campaign?

Sean: For the time it took, an hour to take some pictures, it might be bringing exposure to different things kids can do, like Frisbee. It was my way of saying, "This is what I do, maybe you can do it too."

Q: What do you love about kung fu (Chantelle) and frisbee (Sean)?

Chantelle: I've been doing it since I was 6 years old. I started kung fu because my brother was doing it, and I wanted to be like him. I like it because it's social and you get a lot of exercise. There are a lot of great people there, and I take classes with friends. You'd expect the teachers to be intense because it's martial arts, but they're really nice.

Sean: I really just played ultimate Frisbee for fun last year with friends. This summer I did my first ultimate league (with Andover Youth Services), and found out that there's more to it than just tossing a Frisbee. I am going to try out for the AHS ultimate team next year. For now, I'm going to concentrate on baseball (he plays in town leagues) and training. I don't take sports too competitively, and play just for fun.

Q: Besides kung fu and frisbee, what are your hobbies?

Chantelle: I love music. I like to sing and I'm learning to play guitar. And I'm in the (Wood Hill) school play this year. I'm the cowardly lion in "The Wizard of Oz" spring musical.

Sean: I'm into theater. I'm part of the AHS drama guild, and I was Don (one of the characters trying out for the show) in "A Chorus Line" this fall. I also do Merrimack Junior Theatre.

I like to play baseball, just hang out with friends and play video games. The only thing I don't really like to do is homework.