Released on: April 30, 2008, 7:26 am

Press Release Author: Strategic Vision/David E. Johnson

Industry: Education

Press Release Summary: Program Teaches Teen Self-Esteem and Character Building
Steps. Coia Is Fifteen Year Old Author of Falcon's Prey and Lymeria.


Press Release Body: Atlanta, GA/April 29, 2008 - Fifteen year old Kristina Coia, the
founder of Shine Through, a national motivational program for middle school-aged
students, will be conducting a Shine Through Program on May 9, 2008 at Marlton
Middle School (150 Tomlinson Mill Road, Marlton, New Jersey) at 1:15 PM EST. Shine
Through is designed to teach self-esteem and how to stand up to peer pressure.
Kristina, the author of two teen fantasy books developed Shine Through when asked to
make a presentation about her first book, Falcon's Prey. Rather then give a staid
presentation to her audience, Kristina incorporated examples from both her novels
and from everyday life to demonstrate ways to overcome challenges and improve
self-confidence. Today, this program has earned nation-wide attention.

"I am so excited to be conducting Shine Through at Marlton Middle School," said
Kristina Coia. "It feels great to be helping out right in my own back yard! I'm
glad to share with Marlton students ways to overcome the pressures we all face in
middle school."

Unlike other character programs for teens, Shine Through is presented by a peer who
has actually faced the same challenges and pressures that those in the program are
experiencing. This has allowed for participants to relate to the message in a more
open way and ask questions that they are sometimes would not ask an adult. The
program allows for interactive participation.

"I have found that being a teen and having gone through the pressures of middle
school and my freshman high school year, the students in Shine Through and I can
relate to many of the same experiences," said Kristina. "Most importantly, I find
that when I describe some of the pressures I experienced, they feel comfortable
enough to open up to me and share their sides of the story."

The Shine Through program is set up in three stages:

Stage One - Discovery. This stage deals with the questions of self doubt,
self-consciousness, peer pressure, and idolization. Participants are asked to
explore the barriers to personal discovery and are challenged with the questions:
Are you wearing a mask? Is the person in the mirror the real you? Also in this
stage, Kristina teaches that one must take the initiative to find the real you
rather then create a "façade".

Stage Two - Experimentation. In this stage, Kristina teaches that you must
determine who you want to be and what you need to do to become that person. Here,
Kristina introduces the Purple Wig Theory which Shine Through is becoming famous
for. The Purple Wig Theory teaches that it is okay to be an individual and that you
must feel free to be yourself, no matter what other people think. In this stage,
Kristina dons a purple wig, showing that it's alright to, for example, have purple
hair, as long as you are comfortable with who you are, (even if it isn't perfect).

Stage Three - Be Comfortable With Who You Are. In this stage, Kristina teaches
participants not to worry about what others think, to be yourself, and to let
yourself shine through.

"The goal of the Shine Through Program is to give everyone the opportunity to shine
through," said Kristina. "It's important to be able to stand up to peer pressure
and have the self-esteem to become a better person by making better choices. If we
all can feel comfortable in our skin, then we can all shine through."

Shine Through has been used in various programs in the Northeast and is available
nationally. Shine Through was featured on FOX & Friends and shows across the
country. Parents and students who take part in Shine Through come away feeling
empowered with a renewed sense of self-esteem, sense of who they are, and a sense of
why it is so important to just be yourself. Each course is conducted by Kristina.

"In Shine Through, I want people to be honest with who they really are," said
Kristina. "If we are honest with ourselves, we know that we are valuable just the
way we are, and gain confidence by that knowledge."

In addition to Shine Through and Falcon's Prey, Kristina is a talented singer and
has also authored a second teen novel, Lymeria.

Additional information on Kristina and Shine Through is available at
http://www.mypurplewig.com.

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