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PAGE 6A FORSYTH COUNTY NEWS Wednesday, November 29, 1995 Performers send message to Otwell about AIDS By Laura Boggs Staff Writer Otwell Middle School eighth graders enjoyed the high-energy “Let’s Talk About AIDS” pro gram by four members of the Alliance Theatre Monday. The Atlanta acting, singing and dancing group delivers their upbeat performance to area schools free of charge. Through skits, songs, raps and frank discussion, the performers advocated abstinence. Numbers like “Delay the Day” and “Take Langston tells SFMS about growing up dyslexic By Laura Boggs Staff Writer Rob Langston, 27, told about 240 eighth-graders at South Forsyth Middle School that he reads at a seventh grade level and doesn't know the multiplication tables. But he chose to emphasize the positive both in his speech at South and in his life. Despite trou bles in school that made his stom ach turn, Langston is the head of Market Produce Group and gives mJ MEN’S AND WOMEN’S | KOCKpOrt__ Qale IfifH Not valid with any other offer. RACK ROOM SHOES Your Time” encouraged teenagers to listen to their heads not their hormones. The performers’ message was in tune with the abstinence-based curriculum at Otwell, said Elaine Taylor, who teaches physical edu cation. “But we still want to provide students with awareness,” Taylor said. So did the Alliance Theatre per formers, who spelled out the facts for students. 'We say cool it. Sex has been about 100 dynamic talks each year about growing up with dyslexia. When he walked into the first grade classroom, he said his world came crashing down around him. Throughout his school days, he worked to hide his learning dis ability from others. Terrified to turn in his blank sheet while his classmates handed over their finished assignments, Langston hid in the back of the room, clenching the folded piece North Point Merkat Aiph*<*r.« 404-667-5081 Lakeland Plaxa next to Balk. Camming 887-0621 around a long time and it’s not going anywhere,” they said. “But there are people who are still going to have sex.” They went on to explain how people can get AIDS from unpro tected sex and sharing sharp objects. “Being young doesn’t protect anyone from AIDS,” they said. “And virtually everyone who gets AIDS dies.” AIDS cases are becoming more common among 15- to 24-year old males and females. The eighth annual World AIDS Day is Friday. About 1.2 million AIDS cases have been reported to the World Health Organization since the onset of the virus, but it is estimated that 4.5 million AIDS cases have occurred world wide. In Georgia Health District 2, which includes Forsyth, Banks, Dawson, Franklin, Habersham, Hall, Hart, Lumpkin, Rabun, Stephens, Towns, Union and White counties, about 122 AIDS cases have been reported since 1980. of paper his fists had dampened. He memorized passages to trick teachers and classmates into thinking he was reading aloud. “I lied, cheated and memorized to get through it,” Langston said. In the fifth grade, he scored 80 on an 10 test, and teachers told his parents to teach him a trade so he could make a living. But when the family moved to Rockdale County, Langston was given another type of test that involved logic and puzzles not reading. Kings Market Fair 142 S Mvfcat Bvd GA 400 1 Hdcort* Bnta* 594-7119 i i- . j—i *fm 'I Tjgßtg g,, n mtr' ' <r* aHjtpiK.ak WF li “The school called my parents and said, ‘Rob is really smart.’ I said it’s about time people figured that out,” Langston said. “All along people had been telling me I was dumb.” From then on, special education classes helped Langston learn, but his shame and fear continued. Langston would wait five minutes until after the bell rang to run to the special education room so no one would see where he was MUNDY’S Audio Video 1786 BROWNS BRIDGE ROAD, GAINESVILLE SALE FRIDAY: 7AM-9PM SATURDAY: 9AM-BPM HUUrto SUNDAY: IPM-6PM ALL ART WORK FOR ILLUSTRATION PURPOSES ONLY. MERCHANDISE MAY NOT BE EXACTLY AS PICTURED. (j RAX 70 •jr COMPACT VHS CAMCORDER ADVERTISED “IT’S TAPES WILL PLAY ON YOUR VCR” vailue ■J&&JRUSL i ’” J 499“ zoom lens E S MmW&Z* ■faflgftfl •FULLY Al iOMAIK FOCI'S. / »> - - -kf i HKM) tIKAMMi.W'HITK BALANCE BvTft# 1 (Iffl I w/ovai. pixel ccd Meef PICKUP DEVICE P» 4 •INFRARED j REMOTE CONTROL •* heading. But as a creative thinker, a leader and a natural athlete, Langston enjoyed success and popularity in high school and col lege. He was his high school football team’s star player and a favorite among his friends. He became president of Pi Kappa Alpha fra ternity at West Georgia College, where his artwork was published in Eclectic Magazine and he VISA/MASTERCARD AMERICAN EXPRESS DISCOVER COMPACT VHS CAMCORDER “IT’S TAPES WILL PLAY ON YOUR VCR” jfc 11l x-• Ok<. i vWx*'*’*' . At far left, "Let’s Talk About AIDS’’ actors Derek Manson, Amy Bank, Gregory Suddeth and Jill Hames bring their mes sage to Otwell Middle Schoolers. At imme diate left, students hear the message. At top are photos of the actors. *599“ E 3 •HI-RESOLUTION COLOR VIEWFINDER •SPECIAL SELECTOR FOR SPORTS, TWILIGHT, PORTRAIT SCENES •I2x POWER, 2 SPEED ZOOM LENS •INFRARED REMOTE CONTROL •DUAL BETTERY CHARGER W/REFRESH worked as a student recruiter for the admissions department. During his presentation, Langston didn’t just talk about breaking through problems. He showed students what it’s like to focus energy on overcoming obstacles by breaking through two boards with his hand. Kroger 2000, the corporation’s education program, and Georgia Baptist Healthcare System spon sored his talk. PHONE: 536-3472 NATIONAL ADVERTISED VALUE $ 1099 95