Abigail shares how her personal experiences with family addiction and mental health challenges inspired her to get involved in prevention. As a student leader in SEED (Students Educated Against Drugs), she discusses her involvement in school initiatives, including Red Ribbon Week activities, mental health awareness projects, and peer education programs.
She also highlights the importance of creating supportive environments where students feel comfortable asking for help, sharing their experiences, and becoming advocates for positive change. From overcoming stage fright to organizing a sobriety lock-in, Abigail explains how getting involved in prevention has strengthened her confidence, leadership skills, and passion for helping others.
Key Takeaways
- Empower students through peer leadership and advocacy.
- Promote mental health awareness and open communication.
- Make prevention engaging through creative school activities.
- Build supportive environments where students feel safe asking for help.
- Encourage young people to take initiative and create positive change.
Meet Abigail Swartz and Her Prevention Work
Raegann: Welcome, welcome, welcome to the drug prevention power hour. Now it says this podcast is hosted by Jake White, but in case you missed it, I’m not Jake. I’m Regan McDonald. Think of me as Jake’s younger, cooler, funnier replacement for this episode. Now that we have that squared away, I’d like to introduce you to a friend of mine, Abigail Swartz.
Abby is a senior at Mountain Home High School and she has a passion for drug prevention and mental health awareness. Abby, how are you?
Abigail: Pretty good. How are you?
Raegann: I’m pretty good. I’m pretty good. Thank you so much for coming on the podcast today. I’m so excited to have a chance to catch up. for those of you listening out there, Abby and I actually met about a month ago at the Arkansas Youth Conference. Do you remember what it was called exactly?
Abigail: It was like bridging the gaps of Arkansas or something like that thing,
Raegann: Okay, yeah. So do you want to give a little bit of a background on what that was, what you were doing there?
Abigail: Okay, so Mountain Home and all all the schools around Arkansas, they went over to this college, I think. And the Vive 18 was there, which amazing people we all had great, like a great time. And my school, Mountain Home, we got to the we got to have the privilege of speaking in front of a whole bunch of kids about what we do and what our club it’s called Seed and it stands for Education Against Drugs. And all the kids were just everybody was having a good time, It was just honestly it was the best.
Raegann: It was awesome. I thought it was a great opportunity for everyone. And I was just really impressed with the relationship that we were able to build and everything that you told me. So I’m so excited to catch up a little bit and get everyone a little more informed on what seed does and what you do and also like what you want to do, you know, because you have really big dreams for prevention and I think that’s great. And it is a growing field and we need young people in it. And I’m just so excited to see what you do.
So we talked a little bit about seed, but tell me a little bit about you. We know you’re senior in Mountain Home, so you’re gonna go to college next year, like give me your elevator pitch as a college student.
Abigail: Okay, I’m not only involved in just seed, I’m involved in wrestling, lifesavers, hip, and I’m I just recently joined Yab. It’s the youth advisory board here in Arkansas, and we get to help kids like with mental health and how to deal with it. And what I wanna do yes, what I wanna do is probably psychology maybe.
And then public speaking, just get me ready for my future and
Raegann: Okay, can you explain a little bit about what lifesavers in hip is?
Abigail: HIP stands for Health Information Project. And what we do is we go up to our junior high school and we go into the classrooms and we tell like talk to kids about the dangers of drugs, mental health, and how to deal with stress. Basically, what lifesavers does and what lifesavers does is we create all these events for our school to help our peers deal with stress, you know, bad mental health.
And that it’s just it’s okay to reach out ’cause reaching out when you’re struggling is the bravest thing you can do.
Raegann: I love that. Because you’re so right about that. I think the hardest part is always just that first line of contact and who you feel like you can talk to. So I think it’s great that you do those projects. And I didn’t even realize everything you do outside of seed. It’s basically you have three different seed groups. Okay, interesting. Okay, give me like a fun fact about you, something outside of prevention. Who’s Abby when she’s not wearing all these hats?
Abigail: okay, wrestling. I’m involved in wrestling and wrestling is like what who I am. Like I love wrestling so much. that is my strongest passion. One of my strongest passions.
Raegann: Wrestling. Okay, how long have you wrestled for?
Abigail: This is my fourth year.
Raegann: Okay, so like how is the girls wrestling growing in Arkansas? Is it pretty strong? Like I know it’s big in Kansas right now.
Abigail: Yeah, it’s continue it was small at first, maybe four or five years ago, but it’s like one of the top growing sports, I think. It’s it’s getting big.
Raegann: Okay. Awesome. Love to hear it. So knowing that you’re involved in seed and hip and lifesavers and okay. There was one more you mentioned as well, but you already explained it. Yab. Okay, okay. Seeing as you’re involved in all of those and you’re in seed, how did you first get involved in prevention? Walk me through that story a little bit.
How Family Experiences Inspired Prevention Advocacy
Abigail: Okay, so it was sophomore year, and I had my geometry class, and my teacher was Miss Davidson, and Miss Davidson is the head person of Seed. And I asked her, I said, how do I get involved in Seed? Because you know, my family members, some of my family members like fell into the hole of drug addiction. So I definitely wanted to, you know, step up and help others. But the next year I joined Seed. And now I’m a leader.
Raegann: I love that. So, there’s something about prevention that’s really heavy, it’s not necessarily a fun topic to talk about. It’s very stigmatized, right? And typically things are stigmatized because it’s kind of awkward and uncomfortable and we don’t want to have those conversations. So, you know, when this work gets heavy and when you have a lot on your plate, like you wrestle and you do all these clubs and you’re also a senior, like you have a lot of decisions you have to make at the same time. Like, what drives you?
Why are you passionate about this?
Abigail: What drives me is probably my dad. So my biological father, he passed away when I was little of cancer.
Raegann: I’m sorry.
Abigail: So I struggled for mental health like for the longest time. And my coach, my wrestling coach, he helped me reach out. And that definitely it helped a lot. Like I could never be any more grateful than I already am. Like it it was just
so great to have help and just talk about how I feel and what’s going on. And that’s why I got into mental health. And then the drug prevention and all that stuff was because of my other family members that got into drugs.
Raegann: Very nice. Well, I’m really sorry for your loss, but I can assure you that he’s so proud of you. You’ve done such amazing things, Abby. And you know, even in the month that I’ve gotten to know you, like the growth in you and just like how passionate you are is really energizing. And the fact that like you want to go out and do more. You’re not someone who’s just like content with where you’re at. Like even those conversations we had when I was in Arkansas, about how can I get more involved? what else can I do? What else can I add? that’s huge. And asking those questions, that’s amazing. And I think you have a lot to be proud of.
Abigail: Thank you.
Raegann: but moving into more of like your club, what kinds of things do you do? Like, what are some examples of projects or activities that you’ve done?
Abigail: Okay, so for lifesavers, we did these words of affirmation affirmation or something like that. Like we would write kind words on sticky notes and then post them on the mirrors in the bathrooms. So the people that were going to the restroom, you know, they would look up and just see all these kind words, you know, you matter and you got this and stuff like that. And then for seed, we we this week actually, since it’s Red Ribbon Week,
All the ki all the sophomores, they handed out candies and just little goodie bags over to the classrooms. And then, for hip, we haven’t done anything yet, but we are looking forward to it.
Affirmation Notes and Red Ribbon Week Activities
Raegann: Okay, so what’s been your favorite project that you’ve done? Or even including hip like going and talking to the middle schoolers, like what are you most passionate about in terms of those conversations?
Abigail: Honestly that’s that’s kinda hard to answer because I like I all of them. Like I’m so passionate about all of it.
Raegann: No, that’s fair. has there been like out of like the words of affirmations and the Red Ribbon Week activities, has there been something that’s really stood out to you?
Abigail: actually probably okay, so the meaning behind Red Ribbon Week, people usually skip over that. it was about this guy named Kiki, that was his name, but he was a DEA officer and he died on the field, which that’s why
Teaching the Meaning Behind Red Ribbon Week
Abigail: like Red Ribbon Week is a thing. And we got to me and a few other kids from Seed and our SRO officer, OZ.
We did this slideshow and taught kids about the true meaning of Red Ribbon Week.
Raegann: Very nice. Okay, so how did you go about organizing that? who all did you share this presentation with, that sort of thing?
Abigail: So we shared the presentation with our whole high school. It was tenth, eleventh, and twelfth grade. And why there was it goes by our academies, like we would have monthly academy meetings. So all these kids would just flood into our auditorium and we would do you know, we also had a game at the end and they won prizes when they were first, second, third place.
Raegann: Okay, so walk me through how do you prepare for that? What were the steps that went into making that real?
Abigail: So honestly, OZ, he was the one that made the slideshow. He did all that work. So cause he also did present the thing but the me, I created a cahoot for kids to play about the slideshow so they can act like they can it can click to them and you know, it can that information can stick with them. And then if there’s prizes involved, then everybody’s gonna try their best and you know, try to get that prize. So and it was really good. And then yeah, overall it was it was amazing.
Raegann: Well, I love that project. I think it’s great that you guys were able to kind of like expand on Red Ribbon Week because you’re right, like a lot of people just kind of skip over it and we don’t really know like what it’s about. So I think that education is a big thing, you know? Like we can talk all we want about like don’t do drugs, don’t do this, this, and this. But if we don’t talk about like why, then it doesn’t have any substance, you know?
Like, I mean, people see like the good side of using substances but they don’t see like all the bad things that can happen to you and if we’re just shoving down their throats like this is terrible this is so bad for you like don’t do it don’t do it don’t do it we’re condemning people and that’s not right like no one wants to be condemned we want to create like a judgment free zone and at five we say we’re creating a life so great you’d never want to escape it and
I think that’s awesome, we’re not trying to condemn people. We’re not trying to say that like what they’re doing is inherently wrong and they’re horrible, ’cause they’re not. But there’s a better way, you know?
Abigail: Yes, I agree.
Raegann: Awesome. Okay. let’s see. what sort of barriers have you run into? Like this could be either external or internal. Like how have you struggled in this field?
Mental Health Stigma, Support, and Stage Fright
Abigail: So talking about mental health is definitely a heavy subject.
And it’s just d ha definitely having a support system with you and people to talk to definitely helps. But at the same time it can be scary to reach out.
Raegann: Yeah, absolutely.
Abigail: And for the for a while there I was so scared to reach out. Like even going up to present or something, I would be so scared. And I just didn’t feel like anybody felt the same. But definitely everybody felt the same to go up there in front of hundreds of kids and present. But that definitely stage fright. That was one of the biggest ones. But I feel like I’ve overcome that.
Raegann: Yeah. Good. How do you think you overcame that? Just practice
Abigail: Yes, just practicing like with you guys, I went up in front of kids and just talked to them. So that definitely helped me. And then just the continuous presenting for lifesavers and see it inside our auditorium in front of other kids definitely helped me too.
Raegann: Yeah, absolutely. I think that for me, my gosh, I get terrified every time Jake sets me up there. and I just tell myself, like, I nam, which means it’s not about me. And basically just reminds me that like it’s about that one person I could help in the audience. And like if I make an impact on one person’s life, then I did my job. And then it was all worth like my nerves and my freak out about what do you mean I have to get on stage? Like, I don’t want to do that. But and I think you’ve a hundred percent made an impact in someone’s life. You’ve made an impact in my life. So just remembering that and even looking back on how far you’ve grown with you were scared to talk on stage and now you say you’re so used to it, that’s huge.
And you want to go into public speaking, come on. Look at the growth there. never forget how far you’ve come. You have so much to be proud of. And I was saying that even before I got to have this conversation with you. it just keeps piling and piling and piling. Anyway. what is something like externally that your group has had to work on overcoming?
Abigail: What what do you mean?
Raegann: Well some examples could be maybe administration at your school isn’t ex like especially keen to letting you present to a big group or like sometimes you don’t get things approved or you don’t always have like ideas of how to relay information or at different activities to do. have you ran into anything like that?
Abigail: Yes, most definitely. Because sometimes like for like lifesavers we’ll be trying to like right now we’re planning a thing like a thankful tree. Like for Thanksgiving we’ll have these leaves and we’ll write down what we’re thankful for and like post it on a sticky board or like a tack board or something. And just create a huge tree of thankfulness. So that that is like our only idea right now because it’s ki it’s kinda hard come up with ideas that
The Challenge of Creating Activities Students Join
Abigail: Students will actually participate in and actually want to do. So that’s yeah, that’s one of yeah.
Raegann: No, it definitely is. But I think the more you do it and the more you get students involved, the more they want to be involved. And the more they start to look out for those events. And so, how have you been able to like work through that or is it something you’re still I know even with Thanksgiving, like you’re still trying to overcome that, but have you found anything helps?
Abigail: Probably just having others around you and giving you ideas and just helping you through all of it, it’s just that’s that’s definitely one.
Raegann: Yeah, absolutely. The support system piece, right? Yeah, okay. Well, we’re gonna skip through a couple of the like club things. I kinda wanna hear about you. Like, how has being involved in seed and lifesavers and yab and hip, okay, little mouthful of all the activities, how has that been good for you? What’s something you’re gonna take away from your experiences?
What Youth Advocacy Has Given Abigail
Abigail: So, as I said before, like I struggled with mental health for the longest time. And coming in doing seed and lifesavers and hip and yab and stuff like that, it has definitely helped me with my leadership skills and my overall mental health. Just knowing that people are out there that are feeling the same like way as me. And maybe they feel like they’re alone too. Because that’s how I felt. I felt like
I was alone and I was the only person feeling like this. And I felt like I didn’t have anybody there for me. But in reality, there’s tons of people out there that feel the same. Yes. And
Raegann: There’s so many people who want to help. Yeah.
Abigail: I feel like also definitely just like speaking up for myself, because I’ve learned how to do that more being involved in all of this stuff. Yeah.
Raegann: Yeah, Yeah, absolutely. I love that. So I feel like I already know the answer, but if there was someone going into high school or even like in high school, in college, whatever, and they were interested in getting into prevention, what would you tell them? Would you recommend it?
Abigail: Yes, I would definitely recommend it. Honestly, I would have them if every school in the world had seed, I would tell them to join seed because it it is like the greatest thing, honestly. I love it so much.
A Sobriety Lock-In and Future Prevention Plans
Raegann: Okay, we love to hear that. so are there any projects you’re looking forward to in the future? Like t tell our listeners a little bit about your dreams for prevention.
Abigail: Okay, so soon okay, so we won this contest at from you guys, the Vive 18 thing, and our idea was lock-in on sobriety. So we’re doing a lock-in here at Mountain Home at our East Side Baptist Church. And yeah, we’re gonna have a whole bunch of activities and games and just movie nights and devotional and all of that fun stuff.
Raegann: That’s phenomenal. I love that idea. That is going to be awesome. Okay. That’s so out of the box too. Like I had never even thought of something like that. I d I voted for you. Don’t worry. I give you a really high score.
Abigail: Thank you.
Raegann: Okay. I’m so excited about that. I want to know how that goes. You’re going to have to keep me posted.
Abigail: I definitely will.
Bright Spot: Coach David Martin
Raegann: To close us out, it’s time for today’s bright spot. That one person who’s made a real impact and kept us moving forward. I think it’s the perfect way to end because, you know, we’re all impacted by so many people. And whether it’s in the prevention field or your life in general, who would it be and why did you choose them?
Abigail: Okay, so I definitely I would choose my coach, David Martin, because he was the one that helped me reach out to these two wonderful people I’ve talked to and they’ve helped me so much. But my coach, he definitely holds a special place in my heart because he was also there for the darkest times like of my life. And he helped me through those without like this was before I even started talking to those two people.
And he would he wouldn’t judge me. He would just sit there and listen and help me in the ways he could. So he is definitely like an inspiration to me.
Raegann: I love that. Well, shout out David Martin for everything he did for you. That’s phenomenal. I would love to hear, like, as someone who’s been involved in prevention and like has a lot of resources and people that they know in the field, what is like one sentence or like one little phrase that kind of like drives you or a quote you What is something you would tell our listeners?
Abigail’s Advice: Take the Next Step
Abigail: I would tell them that take the don’t be afraid to take the steps that you have to take because you never know what doors or opportunities they may open for you.
Raegann: Exactly right. You never know. And life is gonna go some crazy places, but it’s gonna be exciting. And as long as you are just pushing yourself and putting everything out there, things are gonna open up for you. And they’re obviously opening up for you. And I’m so excited to see that and to continue see to see how they open. You have big dreams and you have great resources and a great heart. And so I’m really excited about that, Abby. But
Thank you so much for spending your time with me this afternoon on the podcast. And thank you for all the phenomenal work and advocacy you’re doing in your community. I’ve obviously told you before, but you’re just such an inspiration and I’m so proud of everything that you do and you have a lot to be proud of. But as you as we wrap up, would you like to share a social media handle for either you or your club that our listeners can check out if they’d like to stay connected?
Abigail: You can look at my Instagram, Abigail Swartz and you can look at Seed on they’re also on Instagram. But yeah, go check us out.
Raegann: Perfect. Well, finally, to our audience members, thank you so much for giving Jake’s replacement a chance and for the life-saving work you’re doing in your communities. It does not go unnoticed. If you enjoyed this episode, please share it with a friend or someone who would benefit. This has been the Drug Prevention Power Hour with your host, Regan McDonald, doing Jake’s job. Only better. We’ll see you next time.
