HELPING PEERS; STUDENTS COUNSEL OTHERS.

Byline: Stacy Brown Daily News Staff Writer

Danielle Fire is unhappy because other students make fun of her.

In a pretend conversation with her ``brain,'' played by four other students, she says she is unpopular because she is fat, dresses funny and is Jewish.

Her brain - played by Heather Johnson, Ginni Hrdlicka, Jamie Duggan and Desiree Mallet - reasons that she is merely different. After a bit of self-examination, Danielle realizes she is not fat, she dresses fine and she is content to be Jewish.

She's just a bit more mature than her sometimes ruthless peers. Her brain agrees. ``Unique,'' it shoots back.

The five students are part of Piute Middle School's Peer Assistance Leaders or PALs group, invited to demonstrate their brain presentation and other techniques at a three-day national conference that began Sunday in Texas.

Coordinated by Mike Stanforth and Diana Hall, the award-winning PALs program features a variety of strategies to help members improve communication and coping skills for themselves and for younger students.

``The peer leaders travel to classrooms not only at Piute, but at other district schools, and they participate in exercises that demonstrate the values of constructive social skills and the power of friendships,'' Stanforth said.

He said this is the seventh year Piute's PALs have sent representatives to the National Peer Helpers Association's annual conference to display their techniques and contribute $100 to an anti-drug charity.

Stanforth called all 40 members of Piute's PALs dedicated. He said they chose the five to represent them in Texas.

Danielle said helping other students build self-esteem is early preparation for the career she wants someday as a psychologist.

``I have always been interested in doing something like this. My dad is a psychologist, so I learn a lot from him as well,'' Danielle said.

Danielle said the PALs program succeeds because students sometimes relate better to their peers than adults.

``Another student can't say to me, you're not my age, you wouldn't understand, because I can say I am your age, I do understand. It's a good feeling to know you've helped someone, either physically or psychologically,'' she said.

The program started 13 years ago with 12 students in seventh-grade guidance classes to prevent problems. ``That's what we specialize in, prevention,'' Stanforth said.

Once a week, peer assistance leaders help Stanforth and Hall by leading classroom discussions, operating audiovisual equipment and modeling roles.

They also offer a buddy system for new-student orientation, and there is a question-answering service for students on campus with any problems.

Jamie, 14, said she became involved in the program after one of her friends came to her with a suicide threat. ``I listened. I didn't try to give advice. It turned out support was all she needed,'' Jamie said. Stanforth said that most students just need someone to listen to them.

Stanforth said the program reflects a unique commitment by student leaders.

PALs recently wrote and performed an anti-drug public service announcement titled ``Don't Be a Clown: Say Yes to Life,'' which aired in Southern California on cable TV channels CNN, ESPN, Nickelodeon and MTV. The announcement won the Crystal Award for Excellence by the National Association of Cable Broadcasters.

Students also developed a Puppet Pals program, using a script adapted from a popular children's book, ``You Look Ridiculous.''

PALs created their own puppets and corresponding personalities to promote positive self-esteem and the value of uniqueness.

Sporting blue T-shirts with the slogan ``Listening Shows You Care'' on the back, the Piute representatives will be the only children at the San Antonio conference, where they will present two workshops and visit government facilities. They also will visit historical sites in San Antonio, according to Stanforth.

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3 Photos

Photo: (1-2-ran in AV edition only--color) Students from Piute Middle School in Lancaster put on a program to boost children's self-esteem. With puppets and a book, above, are, from left, Heather Johnson, Ginni Hrdlicka, Desiree Mallet, Jamie Duggan and Danielle Fire. Below, the same girls form a circle. The five are in San Antonio to give a demonstration of peer-counseling techniques.

(3) Peer helpers Heather Johnson, left, and Jamie Duggan, both 13, show how to cope in abusive situations.

Jeff Goldwater/Daily News