Friday, Apr. 25, 2008

Teens dying for a drink

By KENDALL CALVERT

Teen Scene Writer

Every 15 minutes the sound of a heart beat came on the PA system and then flat lined. Then a dark-hooded figure entered a classroom to announce the death of a classmate.

At 9:45 a.m. April 2, I was taken by the hooded figure out of my classroom and pronounced dead. My face was painted a ghostly color, my phone was taken away and I returned to class. Along with the others who died, I wasn’t allowed to communicate in any way with anyone for the day.

This event, and a few others, made up Timberview High School’s Safety Week. It occurred the week before prom to widen awareness of drunk driving.

"Party safe, don’t drink and drive" was the motto of the week. Student council sponsor Heather Mills, with the help of students, put on their own version of "Every 15 Minutes," an event Mansfield High School does each year, called "The Living Dead."

About 30 students "died" at Timberview High School on April 2, including me. Being "dead" was so surreal. I was right there in the middle of class, in the middle of conversation, or the middle of passing period and was not able to communicate with anyone.

The purpose of the day was to show students what it would be like if a classmate passed away, and open their minds to the dangers of drinking.

The event really made me think twice about the decisions I make in life, and the decisions I let my friends make. One lapse of judgment, and everything could be over.