The Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) Club at Pine Bush High School partnered with Fearless! Hudson Valley to present a forum about healthy relationships. It was eye-opening!

 

Shania Loez, a prevention education and training representative from Fearless! Hudson Valley, moderated a student-led discussion focused on healthy relationships. Students explored key qualities such as open communication, trust, honesty, mutual comfort, and respect for personal space and individual interests. They emphasized that a healthy relationship is one in which both people feel supported and valued.

 

 

They also discussed the characteristics of unhealthy relationships, noting that while not all unhealthy relationships are abusive, all abusive relationships are inherently unhealthy. Unhealthy relationships often lack clear boundaries and are marked by an absence of respect and trust.

 

Ms. Loez presented several real-life scenarios and asked students to determine whether each reflected a healthy or unhealthy relationship. For example, one scenario involved a partner wanting to go through your phone after hearing a rumor about cheating, while another described a man telling his girlfriend she was not allowed to go out with her friends.

 

 

Students discussed the situations and identified the underlying reasons why these are unhealthy situations, including violations of privacy, lack of trust, and controlling behavior.

 

It’s important to always set boundaries and not to do anything you’re not comfortable doing. Good, healthy relationships are true partnerships, built on mutual respect, compromise and support.

 

Great job by Fearless, SADD, and SADD advisor Christine Guarino.