The objective of the Project X program is to give students an opportunity to freely express themselves without fear of criticisms or embarrassment. So when Herndon High School senior Eric Sollenberger got up and sang "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," by Poison, the 1980s hair band, there were a few snickers at his choice of music, but everyone cheered when he finished.
The first meeting of the school's Project X program last Thursday was winding down, and Sollenberger, the school's program leader, was trying one last time to spur someone to get up and sing, tell jokes or recite a poem before they all left for the day.
Project X began locally in South Lakes High School last year. The program grew out of the Arts & Education in Concert's (AEIC) work in elementary schools throughout Fairfax and Arlington counties and the City of Alexandria. The nonprofit organization developed a program "to educate and empower the youth in the fight against drug abuse and violence," beginning in its first school, Randolph Elementary in Arlington, in 1995.
"Three years ago, we joined with Fairfax County Public Schools Safe and Drug Free Youth section, which led to our program starting in 31 elementary schools in the county," said Jeffrey Kaye, president of AEIC. "We were asked to take it to the high schools because it was successful. People kept calling us."
This year, AEIC hopes to get Project X chapters going in Herndon, Annandale and West Springfield high schools. South Lakes virtually created the model that will be used in other high schools.
The inaugural year of Project X culminated with the students creating a compact disc, titled “Project X Unlocking the Creative Mind,” which included original music, ranging from jazz to rap, written by students from South Lakes, Lake Braddock Secondary in Burke, Wakefield High School in Arlington, Loudoun Valley High School in Loudoun County and Fields High School in Washington, D.C. The CD also contains discussions held during a South Lakes Project X meeting.
"The concept is that this is an alternative to drugs. To show you can be happy trying creative projects like the CD without using drugs or alcohol," Kaye said.
"WHEN KIDS perform before their peers, it builds confidence," said Sollenberger. "And hopefully, they will stay away from drugs, but if they use drugs they are still welcome."
The model created at South Lakes is an open-mike format where the students are encouraged to sing, read poetry they've written, tell jokes, do impressions, or even read Shakespeare, if that is what they want to do. In addition, the students take part in discussions led by the program's student leaders and adult sponsor, South Lakes teacher Irvin Greene.
"It seems to me having this has really given the students a place to go to express themselves," Greene said. "The ability to get up and read poetry or whatever. We call it open mike. They can get up and do their own thing. They can do what they want, within reason."
The program is organized and run by the students, who meet once a week after school. Adults are present just to supervise or even participate, if the mood strikes them. At Herndon, assistant principal John Werner accompanied Sollenberger on harmonica, for example.
The message of Project X is to teach the students not to turn to drugs or violence, without being preachy or lecturing to them.
"We saw what South Lakes did and made it our own," Sollenberger said. "We want to get more kids away from drugs and out-of-control with rock ‘n’ roll."
Patrick Rudolph Cassidy, also a senior at Herndon, said the open-mike format is a way to attract different types of students and that it is a better way to reach the students.
The program at South Lakes has attracted a variety of students, who are free to stop by when they want. The program, unlike other school clubs, does not require the students to sign up. It is more like a drop-in activity.
"We have a good mix. The goal is to give the kids the opportunity to self-express themselves and develop confidence," Greene said. "These are the kids that you won't see running for the SGA [Student Government Association]."
AT THE ELEMENTARY-SCHOOL level, AEIC has developed a program where they come into the schools once a year and do an assembly on a single concept the school is currently teaching, usually connected to the Character Counts program. In addition, Kaye's jazz band goes into the schools for shows, and the AEIC participates in the Fairfax County Public Schools bookmark contest. The elementary-school students are encouraged to create posters with a drug-free theme, and the top 200 are made into bookmarks.
"Now that we're expanding into Herndon and Annandale high schools, we'd like to go into the feeder schools," Kaye said. "We'd like to have the high-school kids come in as role models."
AEIC also hopes to have the students create another CD and to establish the AEIC music awards.
"With Project X, we hope to attract the shy one, the one that doesn't feel accepted," Kaye said. "We're hoping to attract those students."
Greene said Project X has done a lot for South Lakes. The students are especially proud of being the school the others are looking at to get their programs started.
"Going in unexpectedly, not knowing what result we were going to get. … Now we're going into our second year and it’s rewarding. It feels good now that other schools are getting involved."
As for the CD, he said the students were proud of what they created and that everyone should listen to it at least once.
"It's really nice," Greene said. "The discussion is so powerful because it came from the kids. They're ready to start with the second CD."