v By Kayla Smith
Shattered Dreams is a program, founded by the Texas Alcoholic Beverage Commission, in which teaches teenage students that drinking is never a good choice, and that drinking while driving can be deadly.
The Shattered Dreams experience consists of a fake party where several students get inebriated and drive off—drunk. This scene is videotaped and shown to the junior and senior population of the high school before seeing the wreckage.
“It was slightly entertaining to see how fake some of the other kids were acting, but when the police showed up, it shifted my mood and perception of the whole circumstance; it was no longer humorous,” Matthew Roberts, senior, said.
On the first day of Shattered Dreams, a car accident scene was created outside of the high school depicting several peers dead, or severely injured. This is the scene students witnessed right after the viewing of the “Party Scene”.
“I think the way they convey the message really affects the mindset of students in a positive manner and portrays its outcomes in real life,” Neil Shah, junior, said.
There were two survivors: Lissette Carrizales, the driver, was arrested and charged with the murder of those who died and Erica Brown, a passenger, who ended up paralyzed from the waist down. The next day, a funeral was hosted for those who died tragically in the drunk-driving accident.
“I think it’s a really great message that they’re trying to get out there and the lesson should be learned by all,” Zac Wirth, junior, said.
For some, this depiction of a real-life situation can have a whole different meaning. Several students have either lost a loved one in a drunk-driving accident, or have been in one themselves.
“I think Shattered Dreams is a great cause because people see the severity of car accidents. I was in a car with my family when we went off Nameless and rolled into some trees…Whenever you’re with your friends, it may seem cool…but in reality that could cost a life-whether it is yours or someone else’s,” Michael Butler, junior, said.
