The students of Governor Livingston High School recently participated in the “Days of Realization” program. Every 15 minutes, someone in the United States dies as the result of an alcohol related traffic collision. Due to this startling fact, several TREND students at GLHS organized this two-day program.
On the first day, students were taken from their classrooms and an announcement was made over the loudspeaker announcing their death. Their faces were painted white and they were returned to class; however, they were not allowed to speak for the remainder of the day. After school, the 26 students and three staff members who suffered this fate were taken to an undisclosed location for the night. Here, they participated in activities and heard from a guest speaker, who tragically killed her friend as a result of an alcohol-related accident.
During their time away, students and staff members were asked to write letters to their loved ones, saying what they would not have gotten to say if this were in fact a real situation. The next day, in an assembly program for the junior and senior students, specific members of this group shared their letters with the student body. In addition, Maria Esteves of the Union County Prosecutor’s Office shared the heartbreaking story of losing her 9-year old daughter due to the actions of a drunk driver.
The program was a simulation of the impact that traffic fatalities have on a community of people. We hope that this program will help students realize the true risks of reckless behavior and understand the dangers of driving under the influence.
This program was driven by GLHS students with assistance and guidance provided by Mr. Robert Segear, Berkeley Heights Student Assistance Counselor. Also assisting and providing leadership were School Resource Officers, Officer Edward Gaffney of the Berkeley Heights Police Department and Detective Shaun Bendik of the Mountainside Police Department. The program was completely supported through numerous donations by the generous people and businesses of Berkeley Heights and Mountainside, as well as by the Berkeley Heights and Mountainside Municipal Alliances.
(above) To watch the Governor Livingston High School “Days of Realization” Day One Review, please visit Youtube and search “Governor Livingston HS Days of Realization 2016 Day 1 Review.” The full video will be posted shortly on the GLHS website.
