Last week, RCS High School seniors participated in a powerful program centered on reducing stigma, supporting peers, and fostering understanding around substance use, recovery, and loss.
The event featured returning guest speaker Stephen Hill, founder of Speak Sobriety. Hill is a bestselling author, recovery coach, defense attorney, and a young person in long-term recovery. His message of hope and resilience resonated with students as he shared his personal journey and practical insights on how young people can make positive choices and support one another.
Throughout the day, students had opportunities to engage in open and honest dialogue, first during a full-grade assembly and later in smaller breakout sessions. Many students asked insightful questions, sparking meaningful discussions about how to navigate challenges related to mental health and substance use.
One particularly powerful moment came when a student asked Stephen how to support someone who has lost a loved one to overdose. This prompted Stephen to introduce Mark and Teresa Kaplan, founders of Mission For Marcus, the local organization that helped bring Speak Sobriety to RCS. The Kaplans shared their story of losing their son, Marcus, a Bethlehem High School graduate, to an accidental overdose and their commitment to transforming their grief into advocacy and education for others.
Programs like this continue to reinforce RCS’s dedication to fostering compassion, awareness, and healthy decision-making among all students.