Last month, we were honored to participate in McCallum High School’s 2015 Shattered Dreams Project. “Shattered Dreams” is a statewide high school-based program that promotes responsible decision-making among high school students regarding underage drinking, impaired driving or riding with a drinking driver. The students learn how poor choices can end all of their dreams.
The lesson and timing (just before prom) itself is not a surprise. What’s amazing is how the message is carried out. The two-day program involves the dramatization of an alcohol-related crash reenacted directly in front of the school campus, complete with Austin first responders, emergency room treatment, teen crash victims and the arrest and booking of the teen driver. The roles of crash victims and drivers were all played by McCallum High School students. Actual wrecked cars, a hearse, a coffin and funeral flowers were donated by local Austin merchants. The crash scene and aftermath drama unfolded before the student body during a school day. Another student participant dressed as the “Grim Reaper” appeared periodically throughout the school day to select a new victim. By the end of day one, 24 students were pronounced dead.
The following day a mock funeral was held for the crash victims followed by speakers who played roles in the drama and an actual drunk driver. A video docu-drama was created by McCallum High School students and faculty as the culmination of the 2015 Shattered Dreams Project. Although it is aimed at teen drivers, “Shattered Dreams” is a powerful educational experience that reminds us all of the dangers associated with drinking and driving.
Freytag’s Florist participated in this program via Austin Community Blooms, a unique fundraising program created to benefit Austin’s local schools, churches, and non-profit organizations.
