Teen's Legacy Offers Help To Peers
Submitted By N.O.V.A.
Times Picayune 	12-6-1998


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The term "peer pressure" conjures images of teen-age drinking and drug use and
other activities a parent would hope their child avoids.

But the power of one's peers can lead in positive directions. That's what PALS is
all about.

Peer Advisors with Leadership Support was started unofficially in 1987 by a teen-
ager who realized that sometimes when young people most need to talk, they feel
they can't tell their parents what's on their minds.

Dawn Matran of Bush was 13 years old when she and a group of her friends let it be
known that they were always available to listen. Before she was killed near Bush
by a drunk driver four years later, she had made a contribution of a lifetime.

Today a new group of PALS continues the important business of "being there" for
students with problems.

"There are problems kids have to deal with today that adults don't realize," said
John Matran, Dawn's father. "They might be scared to talk to their moms, dads, or
counselors at school. But kids can be good listeners." Matran said his daughter
spent a lot of time with her ear to the telephone in the years before she died.

"She would take calls at all times," Matran said. "The last one she received was
about two weeks before she died at about 1 o'clock in the morning. At 5:30, I
walked past her room and the light was still on. She was on the telephone. I
started to say something, but she put her finger to her lips. I backed off."

A young man had gone home drunk the night before, Matran said. His mother had
yelled at him. He had run out of the house and not returned. His mother called his
friends. His friends called Dawn.

"She finally found him at 5:30 and convinced him to call his mother," Matran said.
"I know that she did because the boy and his mother approached me at her funeral."

Matran said Dawn used to talk to him and her mother, Joyce, about problems with
bigotry, pregnancy, drugs, alcohol, and more issues that the young people who
called were facing.

"But we didn't realize how involved she was until after she died," Matran said.
"We even heard from kids from out of state." The Matrans understood the value of
what their daughter had been doing. They wanted to ensure that the lines of
communication would stay open. They asked students at Covington High School if
they would like to join a peer counseling group. Thirty-five volunteered. And
adults came forward to act as advisers.

About a year ago the program nearly ground to a halt due to personnel changes at
the school. But Matran himself kept PALS going by providing a base and acting as a
liaison, anonymously connecting students in need with those who would listen. Now
it looks as if groups will be forming at Covington and Mandeville high schools
after the first of the year, Matran said.

In the meantime, and even after, anyone who would like assistance or information
may visit the PALS Web page at www.home.gs.verio.net/jmatran. Or they may call the
telephone number, which appropriately was the one Dawn used to answer, 886-LOVE.