To convey the effects of distracted and drunk driving, RRADD held Shine On, a school version of Shattered Dreams, the week before spring break.

“Shattered Dreams left a huge impact on me. It left me wanting to leave an impact on others,” senior Shaye Whitt said. “It made me want to spread the word to other people and tell everyone all about it.”

For the first part of Shine On, a fake party was staged that would be the catalyst for a mock car crash. Held at junior Weston Beckham’s house, the participants subbed in ginger ale and root beer for the alcohol. RNN staffers recorded the party to create a short video to share with students.

“The experience at the party was very interesting because there was a lot going on,” junior Julia Castellano said.

On Wednesday, March 5 in Advocate, juniors and seniors watched the party video, which dramatically cuts off while a drunk driver is in the car, before visiting the crash site.

“This experience of Shine On impacted me by showing me that drinking and driving affects everyone, not just the people in the car,” sophomore and RRADD member Morgan Spring said.

After watching the video, juniors and seniors met outside the front of the school during Advocate to view the mock car accident. Emergency services responded as if it were a real wreck to convey to the students how severe a drunk driving or distracted driving wreck could be.

“It was very emotional. I was sobbing and crying,” Whitt said. “But I think it was positive. A lot of people think it has a negative connotation, but it’s actually a very positive connotation despite the sad aspects.”

Dubbed the walking dead, students involved in Shine On were pulled from class, had their faces whitened, changed into black tops and weren’t allowed to speak for the rest of the day.

“It was such an honor, it felt so good to be able to give back to Ms. Howard and the whole student body,” junior Alex Worley said. “It was a really challenging experience.”

Those pulled before the crash walked out of the crowd together to silently view the scene.

“It felt surreal. I was watching the ‘dead’ go to the hearse and I felt like they were coming to be with me,” junior Logan Fish said. “It wasn’t a great feeling.”

On Thursday, the upperclassmen gathered in the gym for a memorial for the “dead” students. They listened to a speech given by head football coach Joshua Mann about all the opportunities the students had and how important it was to not waste such a precious gift as life. RRADD sponsor Janet Howard also spoke about the “dead” students and the things their parents had written to make a final impact on the hazards of under the influence driving as well as reckless behavior in general.

“Shattered Dreams is for students to understand the responsibility they have to themselves and others when they get behind the wheel,” Howard said. “It was created to reinforce their focus on their futures. Shine On isn’t only a two-day program; it’s the beginning of an awareness movement for Raider Nation.”

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