INTERVIEW: Kimberly Emanuel "Red Flag your Teens Demons"

by: Angelique Lachelle

Daytona Beach, Fla. - "Do demons really exist or is it a myth handed down from generation to generation, asked Kimberly Emanuel?" Some may say it all depends on what one would consider to be a demon.

Dressed in army fatigue as if she was ready for war, Emanuel shouted to her audience, "I'm on the battlefield for my teens and parents should be too." Standing in front of the room of the Dickerson Center were seven teenagers ranging from 13 to 19 years of age, Emanuel began to explain that seven represents the number of years it takes to live a teenage life beginning at the age of 13 and ending at the age of 19. Those can be really trying years for our adolescents.

"Here young git, take this joint and smoke it until it's gone, said the 19 year old to the 13 year old." Looking nervous and scared, but not wanting to be looked at as a punk, the 13 year old took it. "Now that's what a demon looks like, said Emanuel."

As the audience starred at the teenagers in shock, Emanuel asked them to take their seats. When I was 15 years old I was offered marijuana, and I took it, smoked it, and it nearly cost me and my friends lives, said Emanuel. Emanuel continued to explain that the scar on her face reminds her everyday of the accident she caused while driving under the influence of marijuana. "I was as some of you teenagers say, High as a bird."

Demons can be anything that makes us do the wrong things in life. Demons are evil. Alcohol is a demon, street drugs are demons, stealing is a demon, negative gossip is a demon, overeating is a demon, and the list goes on and on, said Emanuel.

My demons are now neutralized, and I am here to help our teens neutralize theirs, said Emanuel. People all it takes is motivation, encouragement, and love. Word of advice should never be charged when it benefits helping someone, said Emanuel. Emanuel closed her speech by asking everyone to participate in red flagging a loved one demon.

"oh my goodness she put the icing on the cake, said Sean Jones. "The world is so messed up today, even when you try to help these kids out they don't want to listen, and when you go up side their heads the law is ready to take you to jail, and this is why a lot of our youth are acting up, said Michael Allen."