It’s hard being a teen. As children, most live by the rule of never talking to strangers, but as they mature they realize there are many more dangers out in the world. These teens, however, lack the experience of an adult to handle these difficult situations well.
    While Granite Bay High School is a part of a fairly safe community, it is important to take precautions. “We have enough teachers, counselors, assistant principals, campus monitors and PAWS parents trying to keep kids safe,” GBHS resource officer Joe Herrick said, “(but) it’s dangerous when kids go places that they’re not supposed to be.”
  “Predators prey on people who aren’t aware of their surroundings or lack self esteem,” Herrick said. “If they assault that person, (then the victim probably) won’t report it.” 
   The behaviors that attract danger are sometimes everyday things that most don’t even realize they’re doing. “Many kids have iPods, look down at the ground and are not aware of what’s going on (or) whose watching them,” Herrick said.
   After two recent events in the news, the necessity for being safe has become more evident.
   Jaycee Dugard, who was kidnapped 18 years ago and was kept in solitude by her captors for more than half of her life, was recently found.
   Annie Le, a 24 year old Yale student, was found dead September 13, 2009 in the basement of an off-campus building.
  While these instances may seem too far fetched to happen in Granite
Bay, it is important to know how to stay safe in any circumstance.
Chances are most people will not stay in Granite Bay forever and as these recent tragedies have shown, anything is possible.
   Eighteen years ago GBHS social science teacher Jillyan McKinney lived in a town called Meyers in South Lake Tahoe. This town was where Dugard was mysteriously taken from her parents. “Many people moved their families out of San Francisco or Sacramento and said ‘ok if we go to this really nice little town we won’t have to worry about crime,’” McKinney said, “that’s why it was such a shock.”
   McKinney remembers the shock that swept the town when young Dugard was taken. “Everyone kept their kids inside (their homes and out of) school,” McKinney said.
   The importance of knowing how to stay safe became more evident after this tragedy. “My mom (was) very leery of people; we never played in the front yard (and) were told to yell fire instead of help.” McKinney said.
   The initial reaction to an unsafe situation can mean the difference between life or death. “If someone grabs you yell as loud as you can, kick as hard as you can and bring attention to yourself,” said Officer Karl Dyer from the Roseville Police Department. “If you don’t have a phone yell, scream (and) fight. Do what ever it takes because the other option is far worse.”
   A major danger that teens seem to find themselves getting into is self inflicted. “The top killers of teens are drunken driving, alcohol and drugs,” Dyer said. “Don’t drive drunk, don’t let a friend drive drunk and don’t get in a car with someone who has been doing anything (of that nature).”
  Another issue that has been proven by a poll last year to be a problem at GBHS is prescription drug use. “A lot of high schools have kids getting prescription pills from parents and they’re selling them,” Dyer said. This practice is not only a felony but can also be deadly.
   “Some kids grind up pills, they have no idea what it is, and they snort it,” Dyer said. This can cause death and other serious health problems.
   In any situation, education is key. No matter how safe it may seem, it is always important to be educated on personal safety. “(Teens) feel like they are invincible,” Dyer said. “And sometimes they’re not.”