To demonstrate the reality of the destruction that can be caused by alcohol and drug use, today 19 students were killed. Every 15 minutes a student was ripped out of their classroom, and murdered as part of a demonstration for Dream Week. The grim reaper walked up to the chosen student as their obituary is read to their class.

“It gives you a new respect for the fragile nature of life,” senior Josh Petro, who played the grim reaper first period, said. “It was a good experience. I felt bad especially killing Meilee [Brown] on her birthday, but knowing it helped sell the point, made it worth it.”

After being reaped, the dead students were then taken to the library where they put on a black shirt and painted their face white. They were then not allowed to talk to anyone or text anyone for the rest of the day, not even their teachers.

“It sucks I’ll never get to do what I want to do,” senior Zack Short, who was killed during third period, said. “I would do so many awesome things; my name would’ve gone down in the history books.”

The goal of the day was to show the impact that a drinking and driving death causes on your peers and teachers, the people you interact with every day. Making a bad decision isn’t always a one-time thing.

“The students of Rouse High School have a special place in my heart,” Dream Week coordinator Janet Howard said. “My hope is they can stop and think about their dreams and goals for themselves, and make positive choices that will insure that they make a positive mark on Rouse High School and the world beyond.”