‘Like a Girl’ club completing its first year

The Like a Girl club at T.A. Dugger Jr. High School (TAD) is closing out its first year since its inception in the Fall of 2018. The club was started by two enterprising young students who saw a need to encourage middle school girls to distinguish themselves at a crucial time in their development.

Like a Girl was originally started by Elizabethton High School students Taylor Long and McKenna Kiser as a project in the Bartleby program.  However, Kiser, now a senior, is no longer involved in the group and has been replaced with Abby Markly.

The focus of the group is centered around current social issues faced by today’s girls in their formative years, such as bullying, self-esteem, and kindness to other girls. The activities, according to Taylor Long, are project based instead of “just preaching things to girls.”

“We have open topics that the girls want to talk about it as well as a specific topic we want to focus on every week,” Long said. Long explained that these topics and activities could be an elaborated self-defense event to a lesser involved personal hygiene discussion faced specifically by girls.

The club also wants girls to be more self-confident and focused and less worried about events currently outside their control.

“We want them to not get through middle school just to make it through.  We want them to see where they are and be able to be content in that and not worry about making it to high school,” added Abby Markly. Markly stressed they wanted to shift the outlook of the girls on doing well in their current situation and be an asset to other girls “now.”

The club is assisted and monitored by school counselors and staff. Ariel Minnick is the club’s counselor and a source where girls can go to for help of complicated social and mental health issues, for which the group has a partnership with the teen operated mental health support group called STRIVE.

The group is also currently supported with planning and direction by the following TAD teachers: Dustin Hensley, who is the teacher of the Community Improvement class that hosts this club as a semester-based project; and Tori Reeves, Rachel Arrowood and Kristin Waite, who serve on a rotation basis as advisors.

SportsPlus

Local news

VIDEO: Harmony FWB Church named Volunteer Reception Center for Carter County

Local news

Upcoming events at Sycamore Shoals Park

Arrests

Johnson City man arrested on aggravated burglary charge

Local news

Milligan faculty and students present art exhibit ‘Murmuration’

Local news

SPANKthe80s coming to Martin Center

Local news

Betsy Band claims championship at Bands of America competition

Local news

FEMA: Don’t wait to clean up or make repairs

Local news

TN consumers reminded to steer clear of flooded car scammers

Local news

‘Stories from the Storm’ hopes to offer outlet for survivors

Local news

Presnell steps down as EHS Athletic Director; Diaz named interim for remainder of school year

Local news

Holston Medical Group introduces new patient experience tools

Local news

Carter County commissioners discuss disaster relief efforts

Local news

Helpful tips to appeal a FEMA decision

Local news

Compassion Fatigue

Local news

A Life Lived: Shirley Miller was a prankster who valued family, friends

Local news

Hopwood Quilt Show this weekend

Local news

Unicoi County Mayor addresses concerns over former Budget Inn property

Local news

Local wrestling promotion flooded, will host event for Happy Valley High

Local news

Council workshop to focus on Christmas parade route, Tetrick Community Center

Local news

Boozy Creek plans Thanksgiving meal Nov. 2

Local news

Elizabethton Police seek public’s help in identifying Walmart shoplifting suspect

Local news

JCPD to participate in National Prescription Drug Take Back Day

Local news

Tennessee gas prices drop six cents, averaging $2.79 per gallon

Local news

ETSU presents dark comedy ‘The Moors’