Special Guest Discusses Health and Wellness with School Community
Matt Vogel, a member of the Health and Exercise Science department at Southern Oregon University, visited Barstow this week to discuss topics including substance use, technology, stress, sleep and healthy habits with students and parents. This marks his third visit to Barstow.
Matt met with groups of middle and upper school students as well as faculty throughout Monday and Tuesday, addressing topics including substance use, stress, sleep and other factors that can affect health and well-being. An advocate for critical thinking, respect and meaningful classroom engagement, Matt approached these discussions by presenting facts and inviting questions, particularly around the subject of substance use. His discussion of stress and sleep focused on the science behind the stress response and the role quality sleep plays in resilience, focus and overall mental health.
On Tuesday evening, Matt met with parents for “Adolescence in a Changing World,” a conversation about the changing landscape that young people navigate around substance use, technology and social media. He discussed emerging trends, including new ways that teens encounter and use substances. He also talked about the growing significance of sports gambling and its influence on adolescents, particularly at its intersection with online culture. Rather than taking a fear-based approach to these topics, Matt focused on providing accurate information, context and perspective, giving parents practical talking points and strategies for confidently having informed conversations with their teens.
With more than 20 years of experience in higher education, Matt emphasizes practical, hands-on and discussion-based learning experiences that give students the required information to make decisions that will benefit them in their future careers and everyday lives.
