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Congratulations on consenting to address high school students on PD. As a newly retired high school teacher, I'm sending you some tips (since you asked). 1. Don't be too serious. Tell jokes. Maybe refer to yourself as a mover and shaker. 2. Try to relate directly to them. Ask if anyone in their family has PD. You'll be surprised...or maybe not. This could be a direct lead-in to the genetic research and you can assure them that they probably won't "get it". 3. Don't be technical. But high school kids like new words. Just don't expect them to learn more than a couple. A good word for them would be "aptosis". Het them to repeat it after you. Then maybe at the end of your presentation, you could ask if someone can come up with the word. 4. Have a visual aid. Jim Cordy's hourglass was great! You might want to borrow the idea from him. Also, if you have access to any brochures that students can pick up if they want them, take them with you. 5. Name drop! Johnny Cash, Mohammed Ali, Janet Reno. But don't be shocked if some students don't know who they are. Teenagers live in their own little world. 6. Give personal anecdotes, but be upbeat. Humorous anecdotes are best. 7. Check with the teacher to find out how this fits in with the teaching unit and if there is anything special he/she wants you to cover. 8. Don't allow much time for questions and answers. Kids aren't ashamed to ask very embarrasing questions.... or even worse...not ask any at all. 9. Give them some WEB sites. Most kids today are computer literate and have access to computers. 10. The teacher will love you if you have any ideas for projects or follow-up things for the kids to do. 11. Discipline is the teacher's job. If someone is sleeping or misbehaving, insist that the teacher handle it. 12. Although most teachers are very professional, some take advantage of volunteers. Do NOT allow the teacher to leave you alone with the class for any reason. Most of all, enjoy yourself. You are doing a wonderful thing. Barbara Roth [log in to unmask]