By Nathan Duke
Staff Writer

A group of Goffstown High School students is making a change in their community by helping their fellow students get help.

The Starfish Coalition includes a dozen Goffstown High students, guidance counselor John Webb, Rev. Charlie Ford of the Congregational Church of Goffstown, Laurie Hambleton from Crispin's House, school resource officer Chris Krajenka, substance abuse counselor Tom Nagel and several local parents.

The coalition, which meets every Wednesday morning at the school, finds ways to show high school students that there are alternatives to high school partying. The focus of the Starfish Coalition is to prevent teenage drinking, though the aim is to help any student with substance abuse, including drugs and smoking.

The group has been in existence for about a year and, in that brief period, has made a great impact on the school, said Webb.

"This group of young adults are making the most significant impact in their own lives, and, I believe, their peers. lives than any other group I have worked with," he said. "They have opened a dialogue that has led to meaningful conversations. Members are unafraid to talk about what goes on at school, at home, on weekends or during the afternoons after school and figure out what to do about it. The coalition gives hope to kids who have no hope."

The group is a branch of Youth Forum, a broader action-oriented group that has identified the need for more community drug and alcohol prevention.

At their weekly meetings, they plan events, as well as provide opportunities for any student to come in and talk about substance-related concerns. "If someone has something on their mind, they can speak about it to us and we can suggest alternatives to them," said sophomore Taylor Moore, 16.

The coalition intends to offer students alternatives to drinking and currently schedules events, ranging from concerts to movie nights.

The group hosted a concert at Crispin's House on March 18 that filled to capacity. They held their second concert of the year at the house, which featured Goffstown High bands Dork Elite, NPSD and Goodwin.

Coalition members said they are proud of the work they have done so far and like the fact they make an impact on other students.

"The best thing about our group is that we do make a difference," said Alisha Jacobs, 16. "Other students trust us and know that (our meetings) are a safe environment, so they open up to us. I didn't realize how big of an issue (teen drinking) was and how many people engage in that type of activity."

Some members like the opportunity to help other students in the manner that the coalition has helped them.

"I got involved when I came back from a treatment program," said sophomore Derek Griffin, 16. "My counselor mentioned it to me and I thought it would be a good idea. I'm amazed at the amount of students in the school who care about this. It really drew me in."

The coalition and its adult chaperones hope to branch the group out further in the next year.

Rev. Charlie Ford, through the assistance of the Starfish Coalition and Alcoholics Anonymous, will be starting a teenage version of AA at the Congregational Church of Goffstown, and Nagel said the group hopes to work with Students Against Destructive Decisions (SADD) representatives during the next school year on an event. Classic movie nights and a softball competition are events that the group hopes to offer in upcoming semesters.

The coalition is also going to offer an after school mentoring program, in which group members will speak to Goffstown Middle School students.

"They will be able to have someone older to be able to talk to about their day," said 17- year-old senior Caitlin Hynes. "It is a way for us to show them they can still be cool without doing drugs or drinking alcohol."

Substance abuse counselor Tom Nagel said he is impressed by the amount of energy and time the coalition members dedicate.

"I enjoy the enthusiasm of these young people," he said. "They have lots of wonderful, creative ideas for the community."