Journalism Article

Every 15 Minutes

Imagine standing with a group of 27 of your classmates looking "dead" as you, along with the entire junior and senior class watch four of your fellow peers re-enact a drunk driving crash scene. Smoke filling the air, one boy strewn half way through the windshield, one boy laying on the ground unconscious, a girl still trapped in her car with her head bleeding, and one boy doing his best, but failing miserably to perform field sobriety tests. On February 20th, 2013 this is what I saw.

Every two years our school and schools across the county, perform this simulation for Every 15 Minutes to spread the word about drinking and driving. Eight months of planning and 60,000 dollars go into the planning of this event. A month before the actual event my mom received a phone call informing her that I was chosen to be a part of the simulation. The morning of February 20th I came to school knowing I was going to be read my obituary and immediately get pulled out of class, but I wasn't sure what else to expect. In the middle of my first period while I was taking a quiz three police officers came into my class. One placed a red carnation gently on my desk while the other read my obituary and announced that I had been hit head on by a drunk driver and hours later died of severe head trauma. Immediately after that I was escorted out by the officers and the grim reaper.

The next step to the simulation was to dress up in all black and have our face painted gray and black so we looked dead. As we waited for fifth period, the group of us talked in excitement of what was about to happen. After what seemed like forever, it was finally time to receive our gravestone and a single yellow carnation. We walked ot to the senior parking lot where in the grass next to it laid the wreckage of two cars and multiple injured students. Although we knew it was real, seeing what looked like two dead bodies and two injured classmates was almost overwhelming. As we lined up to surround the scene our junior and senior class filed out to the site, gawking at what lay before them. The police and fire department proceeded to act as if this were a real crash. Seeing the horrified faces as Eric Seaboch; a well known senior, was lifted into a coffin and put into the back of a hearst was terrifying. Some were crying and others looked in shock as they watched Ray Bach, the driver that caused the crash try to perform the officer's field sobriety tests. After confirming that Ray was under the influence of alcohol he was arrested and put into the back of a police car. Officer Pennings came onto the microphone and spoke of how the students dressed in black represented the number of people killed in a drunk driving collision every 15 minutes while we are in class. After the smoke cleared and the ambulances left the people dressed in black were released into the crowd to give a loved one our yellow carnation and nothing more. We could not hug the , smile, or show any emotion. We were supposed to make it seem as if we were actually dead and gone. Seeing my best friend in tears as she watched me walk up to her and hand her the carnation emotionless, hit me like a car going 100 miles per hour. This was the point that made me realize how it would affect my friends and family if something were to happen to me or anyone else close to us.

Later that day we were taken to the courthouse to watch a simulation of Ray on trial for driving under the influence and as a result, two cases of vehicular manslaughter. Watching as Ray was sentenced to 26 years in prison was a huge wake up call to the consequences of one stupid decision. It made me understand how serious driving under the influence of alcohol or any drug is and that because of one poor choice your next 30 years could be spent behind bars, in turn all your chances at a successful and normal life are ruined.

After the courthouse we were taken to a camp where we learned even more of the effects of drinking. Officer Pennings spoke of the dangers of alcohol. He explained to us that if you took your first drink of alcohol before the age of 18 you have caused irreversible brain damage and memory loss. He also showed us the reality that 100 percent of the adults in Alcoholics Anonymous meetings admitted to taking their first drink before the age of 18. We also had the privilege to hear guest speaker Jason Dudley talk about how his life was flipped upside down due to alcohol abuse. Jason had his whole life set with a full ride to Cal Poly and his dad's multimillion dollar business awaiting him after graduation. His senior year of high school Jason got caught up with the wrong crowd and began to drink which led to drugs. One night he had a little too much to drink when he got into the drivers seat of his car. Being impaired by alcohol he was unable to control his car as he went 90 miles per hour on a 25 speed limit off ramp. That night Jason crushed 14 bones in his skull, smashed his left elbow between his car and the cement barrier, and had his face filleted in half by a reflective sign. It was a miracle that he survived and because of this life threatening event, his life was changed forever. Hearing his story and how his life was ruined just because of poor alcoholic related decisions was heartbreaking.

Although hearing others speak of how alcohol destroyed their lives was tragic to hear the hardest part of this experience was thinking about my family. At the retreat we were told to write a letter to our parents that began with, "Dear Mom and Dad, today I died and I never got the chance to say..". Writing that letter was an overwhelmingly emotional experience. Thinking about how possible it is that I could be taken from my family in an instant all because of one mistake of mine or another driver and never having the chance to say goodbye was such an eye-opening and terrifying realization. I think that greatest thing this taught me was that one stupid choice is not worth the risk of losing your life. It also gave me a new appreciation for the life I live, my friends, and my family. After this event I made the commitment to never drink and drive or get in a car with a drunk driver and I plan on keeping that promise for the rest of my life.