Glenbard West junior dons costume to urge kids to lead healthy lifestyle

David Noland has never trained as a clown. He's never made balloon animals nor been in a circus.

Yet there he was last spring, wearing a brightly colored wig and performing with other high school students for a classroom of third-graders in Glendale Heights.

The Glenbard West junior - then a sophomore - was warning Glen Hill Elementary School students about the dangers of drugs.

Noland volunteered for the Clowns Against Drugs program as part of Glenbard West High School's Students for Students group.

"They were really paying attention," the 17-year-old said of the third-graders. "They really related to these teenagers coming to talk to them."

Students for Students is a peer group at Glenbard West that usually draws between 20 and 70 teens to its weekly meetings. It began as a group that encourages students to stay drug-free, but has since evolved into a student-run organization that focuses on overall wellness, including nutrition and safety.

Noland has been involved since his freshman year. When the clown program came about, he jumped at the chance, despite his lack of experience.

"It did feel a little uncomfortable at first," he said. "But we had a lot of things to talk about."

Noland told the students about natural highs and about the harm of drugs and value of good decision-making. He said clowns had visited his Forest Glen Elementary School third-grade class and the program stuck in his head.

"It's fun talking to kids and setting an example for setting a healthy lifestyle," he said. "I knew I didn't want to be involved in (drugs). My parents and family have set a good example that it's just wrong until it's legal."

Group sponsor Gilda Ross said Noland serves as a good example of the spirit of Students for Students.

"It offers leadership opportunities in a very comfortable way," she said of the group. "I see them develop and grow right before my very eyes. It gives students the opportunity to really grow into leadership roles."

While Noland is often a little hesitant to step into the limelight, he also gets things done when given a task.

"He's a quiet leader," she said. "He doesn't crave attention for himself. He waits to be called on and then will go to work."

Participation in Students for Students is somewhat of a family tradition. Noland's twin sisters, who have since moved on to college, were both involved in the program.

"I have always been glad to follow in my sisters' footsteps if they're making healthy decisions," he said.

Noland said his role as a high school student shows others that being drug-free is not as uncommon as they might think.

"It's good to have other students so you can see 'I'm not alone,'" he said. "Others are drug-free. They don't care if other people peer pressure them. They don't care if others don't see them drinking."