"I'm really insecure about my looks and my personality," states Megan. Nicole says, "When I was 10 or 11, I didn't have a lot of worries. I wasn't worried about losing my friends to death, to suicide, or to drugs and alcohol or to sex. And now, it's like I'm afraid to be happy because I know that, maybe tomorrow, maybe things won't be so good."

The development of girls into young women has been likened by some to the transformation that takes place in the creation of a butterfly. Beyond the Butterfly, a 60-minute documentary, will debut on Wisconsin Public Television at 8 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 25. The show allows middle-school girls to speak for themselves candidly reveal what's going on in their lives.

Girls throughout Wisconsin and from parts of Michigan and Ohio were given a video camera and asked to record their thoughts, feelings, discussions and activities for a week. In revealing and sometimes poignant moments, the girls chronicled their experiences with sex, substance abuse, parents, domestic violence, eating disorders, suicide, self-esteem and, of course school.

With nearly 100 hours of tape, the topics that occur most often were identified, and representative clips were blended together to create Beyond the Butterfly. The result offers a compelling chronicle of what it is to be young and female in the United States.

"When you empower kids and give them a voice, they will tell you what they think," says Eileen Littig, co-producer of the show. "I think it will be really interesting to a lot of people. These girls found their voices, and they realized a lot their peers are in similar situations."

Toward the end of the show, some of the girls offer their advice to others. Carrie says' "I believe that in order to not fall into the traps of some of the difficulties in growing up, I think that you have to be true to yourself and know where you're headed." Vanna adds, "Don't let people discourage you in what your dreams are."

Major Funding for Beyond the Butterfly
was provided by
Byron L. Walter Family Trust

With additional funding from:
Ronald McDonald House Charities (web site)
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Madison (web site)
AAUW Educational Foundation (web site)
The Brico Fund, Inc.
Greater Green Bay Community Foundation, Inc.
Best Buy Children's Foundation (web site)
Kress Foundation
Hendrickson Foundation
Alliance for a Drug Free Wisconsin (web site)
Wisconsin Coalition Against Sexual Assault (web site)
Green Bay AAUW
Howard/Judi Palay
Lucyanna/Oliver Hitch