CHS ninth and 10th graders learned about how they control their decision-making during a pair of assemblies on Wednesday morning.

Youth speaker and behavior coach Kevin Mecchella shared his own evolution to that conclusion with the students inside the auditorium.

Mecchella emphasized that decisions stem from “your story.”For instance, you can tell yourself you are not proficient at a subject, or you can tell yourself you are not proficient at a subject yet. And that one extra word will totally influence your actions and ultimately the results.

He also noted — while readily acknowledging it has been said by others before — that decisions have consequences.He relayed the story of a car accident caused by him falling asleep at the wheel, and how his decisions materially impacted the lives of women in another vehicle.Mecchella also noted that decisions are your own to make.

He called up a student volunteer and began filling the pitcher she held with water. It eventually overflowed.

Then Mecchella had the student put the pitcher on an adjacent table.

He noted the problems aren’t necessarily lifted, but not physically carrying every burden you cannot control allows for better decision-making.

Mecchella even encouraged the students to journal positive things that occurred each day and consider meditation.

“This is not a dress rehearsal,” Mecchella told the students about how the decisions they make now may affect their lives.