Meagan Michelson

'Even going out to lunch in school, you can see the cigarettes.'

By Katheleen Conti, Globe Staff | June 4, 2006

With a seven-course class schedule and a full load of extracurricular activities, Meagan Michelson was still able to find time to help curb drug and alcohol abuse among her peers. The 17-year-old Everett High School senior volunteered her insights on teenage substance abuse for Cambridge Health Alliance researchers, who were seeking first hand accounts from teens to gather accurate information and try to create more effective prevention programs.

Michelson quickly became a peer group leader for the project, and held two focus group sessions last year with 12 to 15 students who anonymously answered questions about drug and alcohol use. Michelson said she joined the alliance at the suggestion of her guidance counselor, Paul Enfanto , but quickly became personally involved in the work.

``Even going out to lunch in school, you can see the cigarettes, and it bothers me. I wish it wasn't part of the school environment," she said.

``I didn't like going to school Monday morning and hearing how trashed people got over the weekend."

Outside of her work with the health alliance, Michelson's schedule includes participation in the school's marching and concert bands, as well as its drama, poetry, and science and math clubs, all while keeping up with homework for her seven advanced classes. Sometimes, she admits, she had to stay up until 2 a.m. doing homework, only to get up at 6:30 a.m. to start her day.

``I'm obsessive about school," Michelson said.

But Everett High has also been a source of strength for Michelson. When her father died when she was in ninth grade, she came to class the next day.

``I sought solace from my friends and school," she said.

Michelson, an only child, also credits her mother for supporting her through all her school endeavors, and inspiring her accomplishments, which include four years of perfect attendance (aside from a couple of school-related trips to Italy to study arts and humanities, which Everett High counts as absences).

Currently holding on to the number one spot in her class, Michelson is getting ready to attend Harvard University this fall.