Practical Living students had the opportunity to learn about healthy and unhealthy relationships through a presentation by Lacy Dix, a Youth and Prevention Advocate with Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, on May 11. The presentation went in depth about the warning signs of abuse, understanding the difference between healthy and unhealthy behaviors, and knowing where to seek help if needed.
This presentation was a part of the Practical Living domestic violence unit. It’s become a tradition long before FACS teacher Missy Daubner was teaching at Berlin High.
Daubner talks about how learning about healthy relationships is important because not all students grow up seeing positive relationships and having good role models.
“Not all of us have perfect parents with really loving partnerships,” Daubner said. “They may not learn what healthy relationships sound, feel, and look like. I feel like everyone should learn that from someone to play a good role in their future relationships.”
Daubner goes on about her hope of what students get out of this presentation. She says her wishes are that students can trust themselves and come to realize what an unhealthy and healthy relationship looks like.
“I really want them to recognize the red flags and know that if they are being mistreated, that it’s probably not right and trust themselves with the situation,” Daubner said.
In Dix’s presentation to the class, Dix focused on how abuse isn’t limited to just verbal or physical malbehavior. It can appear in many different forms. She explained that unhealthy behaviors can include emotional abuse, controlling actions, manipulation, and even digital abuse through texting and social media.
“Healthy relationships and healthy support systems should make you feel respected, supported, and safe being yourself,” Dix said. “Warning signs might include someone constantly needing to know where you are, trying to control who you spend time with, pressuring you to respond immediately to texts, putting you down, or making you feel afraid to speak up.”
Before Dix goes on about how her passion for being a Youth and Prevention advocate comes with personal experiences. Before she joined the Christine Ann Domestic Abuse Services, she worked with youth involved with the juvenile justice system and teens facing difficult situations at home. She heard many stories about what people faced at home that encouraged her to do what she does now.
“My passion for domestic violence work, especially with youth, is also personal,” Dix said. “Growing up, I saw how domestic violence and unhealthy relationships can impact not only individuals, but entire families and communities.”
Dix says that those experiences motivated her to help create safe spaces where teens can openly discuss anything they desire. She also encourages students to keep open, judgment-free conversations about unhealthy and healthy relationships so teens are able to feel comfortable.
“I think building trust with young people really starts with showing up consistently and without judgment,” Dix said. “I try to create a space where they feel heard, respected, and safe to be themselves.”
Senior Aiden Meyer says he found the presentation interesting and very helpful in terms of what he should be looking out for.
“I learned a lot about what I should and shouldn’t do in a relationship,” Meyer said. “Also, the different red and green flags that I should be looking out for.”
