Whiz Kids: Brittany Campbell And Sarah Pacheco

In Clark Lane Middle School, there is a strict uniform policy. Not imposed by any adult or policy, but by the students themselves. Those who do not follow it are talked about, made fun of and occasionally cyberbullied.

“You have to wear the right outfit, from the right store,” eighth-grader Brittany Campbell said. “If you don’t, the other girls will say you are too poor, or not cool, whatever.”

Hollister is in, American Eagle is in (there’s a strong correlation between how expensive a clothing line is and its status). Old Navy is out, and Kmart, well, Kmart is very out.

“Everybody dresses the same,” fellow eighth-grader Sarah Pacheco said. “Everybody is scared about trying something different.”

How would the girls feel about the school itself having a uniform policy?

“Seriously, that would have been so much easier,” Pacheco said.

Sometimes, the name-calling about clothes and other subjects can go too far, especially on Facebook, Campbell said. People are much more bold virtually, she said.

“They would never say it to their face, but they would say it on Facebook,” Campbell said. “And of course everybody sees it on Facebook.”

Taking A Stand

Name-calling, the stringent dress code, cyberbullying and a host of other topics, such as smoking, are all just part of what Pacheco and Campbell try to rise against.The two girls are president (Pacheco) and vice-president (Campbell) of the Waterford Alcohol and Drug Education (W.A.D.E.) Youth Action Council.

The council is run through Waterford Youth Services, is paid for by a federal grant and meets after school to try to make a difference in the lives of young people. The group is composed of seven students, with Christine Poscich, youth services grant coordinator, overseeing the program.

Each year, the group brings in one guest speaker as well. Last year, it was Glen “Big Baby” Davis of the Boston Celtics. This year, it was Beth Holloway. Both stressed the importance of taking care of your own safety and the dangers of drugs and alcohol.

The group focuses on avoiding drug and alcohol use. For example, the students say they are “above” smoking, or too good for smoking. But other items come up as well, such as the dress code and the negative impact of Facebook.

“There’ll be (a boyfriend and a girlfriend) arguing on Facebook and we can see,” Campbell said.

And with all this new technology, rumors spread quick, Campbell said. If somebody spreads a rumor, within “a millisecond” every other kid in the grade knows about it via Facebook or texting, she said.

“We just try to go against that,” Pacheco said.

The girls have been involved with the youth council for the last two years. They both love it, and think more students should get involved.

“It is a really good, fun program,” Pacheco said. “We can just discuss things that are going on, and try to find solutions to it.”

Campbell agreed.

“I look forward to it,” she said. “And I think more people should get into after-school programs, rather than just text or play video games.”