On Monday Mar 10, 2020, ten Bishop Noll students attended a “13 Reasons Why Not” field trip hosted by Purdue Northwest with the Bishop Noll school counseling department. The event provided information and some resources about some of the issues that teenagers deal with during their teen years. Different schools around the area attended the trip as well including Andrean, Whiting, Hammond High, E.C Central, Highland, and Munster. 

Ms. Michele Arnold, counselor, said the goal was for the students to obtain the information they received and to help spread it to help themselves and their peers make positive decisions. 

PNW had guest speakers present on such topics as teen dating violence, given by Fair Haven; vaping and substance abuse prevention, given by Lake County Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Coalition; and suicide prevention, given byCrisis Center in Hammond. 

Junior Natalie Ramirez was one of the ten students from Noll who attended the trip. Ramirez says the trip was inspirational overall and a great real life learning experience. “

This experience inspires me to rise up to the challenges I may face in life and to help encourage others to never give up on their dreams,” Ramirez said. 

The speakers that presented and shared their story on this trip even came off as inspirational to not only the students but also the adults that attended. 

“There was an amazing speaker, Aaliyah Stewart, who started a non-profit 5 years ago at the age of 14 after her brothers were killed by gun violence. She shared her inspirational story. I would love to get her to come speak at Bishop Noll in the future,” Arnold said.