Mirror Mirror
South Laurel Middle School students get makeovers By Samantha Swindler / Managing Editor Keisha Spurlock confidently placed a hand on her hip and said she felt like a model with her "extreme makeover" and Hillary Duff style haircut - and the South Laurel Middle School student wasn't the only one given special treatment Monday, thanks to the Mirror Mirror program. Shawnna Peabody's parents rushed up to her after seeing her new look - a transformation in hair, makeup and clothes. "She's beautiful," her mother Teresa said. "It's really good for her, it's what she needs," said her father Shawn Peabody. "We've been trying to tell her she's beautiful." At an age when peer pressure and social stresses can reach their height, Mirror Mirror tries to build up students' confidence. "It's easy to become what people will say we will become," said Jason Creech, creator of the Mirror Mirror program, which provided four students with makeovers and a presentation to the student body. Creech, a youth pastor with Faith Temple Church in Bell County, created the Mirror Mirror program in 2006 as a church activity. After the initial program, a local school district invited Creech to bring his message to the school. Since then, other schools have requested the program, and Mirror Mirror has been presented to more than 20,000 students across Kentucky and Ohio. The program was also held at North Laurel Middle School last month. "It's a self-esteem program that encourages children not to use drugs," said Charity Fuson, youth service center coordinator for SLMS. "We know that children who have good self-esteem and a good, positive image are less likely to get involved with drugs." While students Brandon Reynolds, Chris Hubbard, Peabody and Spurlock received their makeovers, the rest of the school heard an assembly program on self-esteem. "Everybody is wired for success, but in order to succeed you've got to get around the right kind of people and play to your strengths," Creech said. Unlike other "one-man-band" programs, Creech said Mirror Mirror gets kids involved and excited. "They actually participate in this program," Creech said. "It's very in your face. It's very interactive and multi-media driven." Students applied for the makeovers, and a panel of judges outside of school personnel chose the four recipients. SLMS's Mirror Mirror event was sponsored by UNITE, an organization dedicated to combating the problem of illegal drugs. Marilee Whitis with Lee and Company beauty shop also helped with the makeovers, and Wal-Mart donated two pairs of glasses. Creech said he hoped students learned that no one can judge someone's hidden potential. "Anybody can tell you how many seeds are in an apple, but nobody can tell you how many apples are in the seeds," he said.