High School Senior's Spotlight Series on Vaping
High School Senior, Annemarie Noe, Addresses Vaping in Newburyport
Introduction:
As printed in the Boston Globe: "On her first day of freshman year at Newburyport High School, Annemarie Noe walked into a crowded school bathroom, greeted by a group of girls passing around their vape. She went home after school and asked her mom what exactly a vape was.
“It was kind of really eye-opening for me because you expect your parents to have all the answers, and when my parents didn’t, it inspired me to look deeper into it,” said Noe, who is now a senior.
Noe recently received the 2019 Girl Scout Gold Award for creating an anti-vaping curriculum in the Newburyport school district. The Gold Award is the highest possible award attainable in the Girl Scouts."
Annemarie has partnered with Anna Jaques Hospital to feature a spotlight series showcasing different efforts — including her own — to address vaping in the Newburyport community. Follow along as Annemarie shares her insights, experiences, and efforts to create positive change.
Spotlight: Meet Me, Annemarie
"Hello, my name is Annemarie Noe and I’m a Senior at Newburyport High School. I’m also an Anti-Vape Advocate in our community. I first noticed the rising vaping epidemic my freshman year. That’s when I was inspired to take action.
When I embarked on my Girl Scout Gold Award project, which is aimed at tackling issues and creating lasting change, I knew what I wanted to do: educate our community on the dangers of teen vaping. The Girl Scout Gold Award is the highest award in the organization, equivalent to the Boy Scout Eagle Award. I collaborated with a variety of community members throughout my entire project.
I first worked with our high school health teacher, to initiate a classroom curriculum. Our curriculum is broken down into four stages. First, starts a pre-test to collect data for the students’ previous knowledge. Then an educational video to provide a visual for the harmful effect of vaping. Afterward, a post-test to compare the students’ educational growth. And, finally a group discussion to conclude the negative impacts of vaping.
Once I saw the power of my curriculum in the school, I wanted to expand the anti-vape education to a wider audience of community members. I then created a social media campaign with Mayor Donna Holaday, in which we informed the community of the growing dangers connected with adolescent vaping.
To continue my efforts to raise awareness, I’ve partnered with Anna Jaques Hospital. Over the next few months I will show a series of spotlights on different people, programs, and initiatives aimed at combating vaping in our community. With the goal to spread awareness in our community!"
About Anna Jaques Hospital
Anna Jaques Hospital is a 119-bed not-for-profit community hospital serving the Merrimack Valley, North Shore and Southern New Hampshire. With 1,200 employees and more than 200 physicians on staff, Anna Jaques is recognized for delivering high quality community health care with an emphasis on patient satisfaction.
Anna Jaques Hospital is a part of Beth Israel Lahey Health, a health care system that brings together academic medical centers and teaching hospitals, community and specialty hospitals, more than 4,700 physicians, and 39,000 employees in a shared mission to expand access to great care and advance the science and practice of medicine through ground-breaking research and education.
