DARE program hits home for Houma essay winner

Twelve-year-old Brookelynn Mazac understands well the harsh realities of drug abuse.

The daughter of Michael and Diya Mazac, Brookelynn’s uncle fought drug addiction right up until his death during a run-in with a local sheriff’s deputy.

“What I learned from DARE (Drug Abuse Resistance Education) is if you do drugs, it can basically ruin your life,” she wrote in the opening paragraph of her award-winning school DARE essay.

Brookelynn and her fellow sixth graders at Houma Christian School participated during the school year in the program, which is taught annually by the Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s Office. Students learn about good decision-making, peer pressure and facts about drug and alcohol abuse.

“The sixth-grade DARE curriculum is our way of getting to the children before they reach the junior high level, where learning how to handle peer pressure and making good, sound choices is key to a child’s development,” said Sgt. Michelle Blades, Brookelynn’s DARE instructor.

Students are asked to complete an essay about DARE; the top essays are usually entered into the state competition. This year, Brookelynn’s English teacher, Nadine Frye, made the entire class of 28 participate.

“She gave us the assignment over the Thanksgiving break,” Brookelynn said. “I had no idea what I wanted to write about. I asked my parents and grandparents what would be a good topic.

“They told me to write from the heart,” she added. “So, I chose to write about my uncle Yancey’s battle with drugs and alcohol. My uncle’s death took its toll on my entire family.”

On Jan. 5, 2001, Yancey Faust was fatally shot by a Terrebonne Parish Sheriff’s deputy in the parking lot of a Houma convenience store. According to police reports, Faust was shot after he allegedly attempted to hit the deputy with his truck.

For years, Faust had struggled with drug abuse, his niece said.

Brookelynn equates drug- and alcohol abuse with the devil in her writings, saying abuse destroys one’s soul.

“Drugs make you think they can ease your pain, but they actually cause more pain,” she wrote.

Inspired by the DARE motto – “Drug-Free Is The Way To Be” – Brookelynn said, “Kids may try drugs because of peer pressure, personal pressure or just because they think it’s cool. But no matter how much they convince themselves, doing drugs is not cool and it never will be.”

Raised to believe drug abuse sets a bad example for her generation, Brookelynn said, “It’s hard to believe how much these terrible habits are in people’s lives. You see celebrities and everyday people being busted for drugs.”

Diya Mazac said of her daughter’s beliefs, “She has always been a Christian child. She always tries to do the right thing. I was the same way when I was her age, so the apple doesn’t fall too far from the tree.”

Having pledged to stay drug-free, follow the Lord and resist peer pressure, the young girl has set some huge goals for this era, but her mother said she is strong enough to do anything she sets her mind to. “She’s a leader, not a follower,” Diya Mazac said.

In addition to being an advocate for a drug-free society, Brookelynn enjoys attending vacation Bible school, babysitting and pet sitting (especially canines). Her favorite subjects are mathematics, reading and history. She’s a member of the Houma Christian School junior cheering squad, the 4-H Club and the elementary and honor choirs.

Today, Brookelynn is competing in the state DARE essay competition at the annual Louisiana DARE convention in Monroe, La. The competition results will be released Friday.