Students show true toughness
Even if last Friday's alcohol assessment project conducted by local high school students doesn't prevent a single kid from getting their underage hands on a bottle of booze, the students who participated in the effort have already succeeded.

Why? Because they had the guts and self-assurance to stand up to the prevailing adolescent notion that underage drinking is "the cool thing to do" and to take steps to help stop it.

They are the type of young people we can only hope this city will continue to produce.

When the Simi Valley Coalition for Youth and Community sent out fliers to all four Simi Valley public high schools seeking volunteers for the alcohol study project, only 15 students stepped forward. The small number isn't surprising considering the unique level of character it requires to stand up for what is right, while at the same time putting oneself out there for possible ridicule.

By standing up and agreeing to give up their Friday afternoon for a chance to make a difference, these 15 brave students showed that it is possible to get young people involved in the troubling issues that affect their lives. This involvement is necessary if the problems of underage drinking, drug use, teen pregnancy and gang violence are to be solved. Parents will never win these battles alone.

The decision these students made wasn't an easy one- and they should be commended. Because in the upside-down world of high school morality, it takes more guts to go against what is "popular" or "cool" than it does to face down a 250pound football linebacker headed for USC.

We never hesitate to praise our best athletes, our brightest students, our biggest achievers. In this case, let's honor the teens who have the backbone to think for themselves and not follow the pack.

Let these students, and their decision to do what is right over what is popular, be an example for us all.