Girl Combines Backstreet Boys with Community Service

Back - Index - Submissions - - What is RSS? Date: Nov 19, 2099 Source: Courier Journal in Louisville, KY Submitted By: Luvbrok2@aol.com Girl Combines Backstreet Boys with Comminutiny Service To say that Misty Lasch loves the Backstreet Boys is such an understatement. "Her room is Plastered with posters, including one from England," says her mom, Belinda Lasch. "Were not talking a small poster. It's 6 by 8. it covers a whole wall. She has a sign that she made when we were in Florida that is now part of the curtains. It was a sheet. And our kittens are named after two of them." And when you call the Lasch house in Louisville, "Larger then Life"-the Backstreet Boys' latest hit plays on the answering machine. Misty, a seventh-grader at Noe Middle School, also loves to volunteer work, helping others in her church and through her Girl Scout troop. So it was just too good to be true when her two worlds collided and she had a chance to win tickets to see her favorite singing group and develop a volunteer project. Misty is one of 36 teens choosen -one in each city the Backstreet Boys' current tour to receive a "Larger Than Life"award for plans to improve their communities! Her proposed project: a self-defense workshop for girls 12 and older-and their parents. The project's goals, she wrote, are to help- kids learn about stranger safety; teach kids how to respond to violent setting; increase self-confidence of teens who feel nothing is happening to them; discuss such personal- safety items such as pepper spray and stun guns; discuss Internet dangers; teach what do about unpleasant touching or date rape; learn how to communicate when you're angry; and raise level of communication between kids and their parents. Misty learned that her program had been chosen for an award during a school dance. "They called me on stage," misty recalled. "i thought they were going to make me sing." "I cried and everybody just schwoomed," she said, enclosing herself in her arms as her friends swarmed her that day. Her mother had given her a blue balloon, and that was all Brenda Lasch could see in the crowd around her daughter that day. Misty hopes to involve the city and county police departments, repesentives from a battered-women's shelter, a 911 operator, a self-defense instructor who knows martial arts, a social worker, a self-esteem counselor, an Internet Specialist and a motivational speaker. " My project will improve the community in an important way,"she wrote in her application. "We have recently had an instance where a teenage-age girl was dragged from her car and killed. Another 9-year-old girl was kidnapped and raped in a house where 11 men lived, and Kentucky had one of the first school shootings that started the rage in schools. " I want to make my friends and others aware of how to safe. We are growing up, too, and the beginning to date or meet new people out skating and all. We need to have confidence in ourselves in order to keep us safe." Her plan for the day long program is practical and organized. The day would begin with registration at AM and include self-defense and self-esteem sessions as well as a luncheon with a fashion show! The awards, sponsored by the Backstreet Boys, Sears and Youth Service America, which sponsors National Youth Service day every year, are designed to encourage youth to become part of the national youth service movement to improve America, Each winner receives a $2,000 grant to do the project on National Youth Service Day, which is actually two days-April 14-15, 2000. Two grand-prize winners, chosen from the 36, will get a $10,000 grant. The $2,000 grant winners also get four tickets to the Backstreet Boys concert in their chosen city and a chance to meet Brian, AJ, Kevin, Howie and Nick Backstage. Misty and her mom plan to take the boys personalized baseball bats from the Louisville Slugger Museum, "to represent Louisville," her mom said. Misty will be featured on the Lexington TV show Nov. 26 , the day of the Backstreet Boys concert at Rupp Arena. (She's going to see their second concert the next night at Rupp Arena too.) It's a deserved reward for Misty, who has spent years helping others. " i have always been taught to volunteer...," she wrote. " My Favorites have been teaching Bible School, making Valentine's Day cakes for families staying at the Ronald Mcdonald house, and currently I am gathering 50-100 care Packages for kids who were victims in hurricane Floyd..." "I am motivated to help because people need help, and I recognize that I have special talents to help. Jesus would do it, and it's fun! I've learned that I can do things that I didn't know I could do before." Misty attends Bethlehem Baptist Church, which has not escaped the Backstreet Boys excitement. "When I saw her youth minister...I said'guess What? This (award)is all your going to hear about,' "her mom, Belinda said. "He said, 'It's already all I hear about. She's constantly drilling me on which boy is which, and I don't know.' " Belinda Lasch recalled what Misty said after winning the award:"She said, 'Mom, I've reached all my goals! I have no more goals.' 'To be 12 years old and have reached all your goals," Belinda Lasch said with a laugh, "that's something" Comment on this item. Recent Comments Submitted by: johnansaz http://imrdsoacha.gov.co/silvitra-120mg-qrms Submitted by: Misty Lasch Thank you to who ever posted this! This was over 12 years ago! It was such a special moment in my life! Comment on this item. 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