The Northwest Herald

September 19 , 2008

MWAH! tackles tough subjects

By Lee Ann Gill

McHENRY – In an instant, the smiles and giggles expressed by students at McHenry Middle School during Thursday’s assembly faded.

You could hear a pin drop.

All eyes were on 8-year-old Taylor Oechsel, who portrayed a little girl who was abused by her father and died. A member of the troupe "Messages Which Are Hopeful" – or MWAH! – Oechsel and the rest of the troupe sent messages about abuse, racism, cyber bullying, anorexia and other issues that today’s teens face to let them know they can stand up for themselves and get help if they need it.

"This is reality," said Nora Apostolopoulos, McHenry Middle School Unified Arts Team member, which organized the event. "It's real. It’s happening. Sometimes kids don’t know, and they think they’re alone."

Through singing, dancing, acting and sometimes just talking to the students, MWAH! members – ages 8 to 17 – got their attention, garnering cheers and applause.

Pretending to be disgusted by how she looks in a mirror, 12-year-old troupe member Alex Oechsel told the students, "I have friends who don’t eat because they think they need to look like super models. Be proud of who you are on the inside and the out.’’

Students gasped as they heard vulgar name-calling and racist remarks being screamed out – a portrayal that sent troupe member Niko Burton into a depressed state.

"I know you’re having trouble," another troupe member said. "They call you names and make you do things you don’t want to do. You know who you are. Believe in yourself.’’

The man who killed students at Virginia Tech last April was bullied in high school, Burton told students.

"He was made fun of. He was laughed at. The way we are treated later determines the way we think and the way we act,’’ Burton said. "Please, let’s respect each other.’’

The students elected four "heroes’’ among them – eighth-graders Lisa Holm, Angela Donato, Jake Marshall and David Scott – who were asked to come out of the bleachers to be honored with a song.

"This was just a nice way of having kids talk to kids about issues,’’ said Apostolopoulos, who teaches a problem-based learning class at the middle school. "It’s more powerful in this day and age to have kids send messages to other kids."

Troupe members are from Chicago-area suburbs and are affiliated with the Chicago Area Project, an outreach program.

Holly Pitney (left), Chris Honn (center) and Niko Burton pantomime a scene Thursday about the pressures of drinking as they perform for McHenry Middle School. All three performers are with MWAH! - Messages Which Are Hopeful! - a traveling troupe made up of mostly teens who perform real-life drama while singing and dancing.

Photo: Lauren M. Anderson / Northwest Herald

McHenry student Lisa Holm is serenaded by Ian Rodriguez during the MWAH! performance at McHenry Middle School. Lisa was one of four eighth graders elected by students as 'heroes.'

Photo: Lauren M. Anderson / Northwest Herald