Broken+Dreams+Memorial+Wall

How did you feel after the Broken Dreams presentation? Did you have a friend in the Living Dead? Did it cause you to re-think any actions? Use this page to write down your reactions. Press "Edit" and write your feelings and then press "Save" or press on the tab labeled "Discussion" and begin a discussion thread. (In order to begin a discussion thread, you may need to sign in which is an easy and worthwhile step.) Please keep it appropriate to the topic. And remember we are a Tribes based school so please remember the Tribes agreement when writing on this. (Reminder of Tribes agreements are under Tribes in this wiki.)

I was apart of the living dead, not being able to talk or comunciate in any way with any of my "living" friends even after being able to actually see them was one of the hardest parts, I never realized how much normal everyday things that I take for granted. writing the letter home as we were dead telling our family about our dumb desicion that costed us our life was defenitely the hardest part of it all. Me and all the other "Living Dead" were either in tears or about to. Knowing that every upper classmen SWHS student got to witness the video and listen to the speakers makes me know that people actually realize that this could happen to anyone with just one drink, or one message, or just one friend in the car. I know there are so many things to stay away from while driving that after participating in this program I won't do again. Thanks SWHS for choosing me to be a "Living Dead". (TSM, 2010)

After the program to be honest I wasnt sad but it did make me think twice about the decisions. I did not have any friends in the living dead so I feel they should have chosen a wider variety of students. I feel that the ending was predictable and that it was to scripted. I feel this program would have touched more students if there was a speech by a parent who has lost a child in a drunk driving accident. If us students were able to hear the story of how they live now after losing someone it will make us think twice because its so painful. But I give credit to the adults, students, and any one who was involved credit formaking this program successful.

I thought I'd get started on here by just throwing out there that we all react differently to these filming events; they each strike a different cord with each of us, some more than others. Personally, it was only the aftermath that got to me, and it was more the sirens and emergency personnel that have been there to save my family's as well as my own life. Thinking back on it and after talking with some people, one of the biggest factors that hits home is that this happens for real... Every day. If by us suffering in an emotional sense by making this video keeps one person from drinking and/or texting and driving, it will be worth it to me. What the actors/actresses have done is truly heroic in that they are actually in the moment; they are living this in a sense. So, thank you! I just thought I'd get this started though. ~T.C.

I would like to commend all the students, parents, first responders, teachers, staff, administration, and caring adults from the community who helped to make this intense event occur. From the song, "Poor Kids Bible, to the video, the poignant speeches and moving letters by first responders and young adults, this touched people on different levels. Thanks to all for opening up to share so much of yourselves in order to help others to learn the devastating impact of distracted driving and driving under the influence. Writing my child's obituary gave me pause for thought and it broke my heart think what it is like for families who have had to do it. Listening to students reading letters to their parents and loved one ripped me apart. I think you got your point across. Thank you.

I'd like to thank all of the teachers, parents, adults, and students who organized and participated in broken dreams. It was a very powerful and moving program that brought tears to many people including myself. It showed me how a poor decision can affect other people for the rest of their lives. I thought it was scary how many people per year drink and drive, and end up in an accident. Those accidents and deaths caused by alcohol could be prevented eradicated from our society if more people saw this program and thought about the consequences of their decisions.

I think it's even scarier how there are teenagers and adults who make the right decision to not drive drunk or be distracted in the car, and they're the ones who are often the ones who become victims of drunk drivers. We can't this trend go on, or else people will continue to pay for others' mistakes.

In addition, I liked how the Broken Dreams video incorporated the texting and driving problems that is a huge problem for teenagers now. Some people don't see the severity of it, but I think it opened up the eyes of many people.

Thank you to all of the students who became the living dead of South Windsor High School, and went through one of the most demanding experiences of their lives. I know how difficult it was for them to write their goodbye letters, and for the parents to write their child's obituary. That's something that I'll never forget, and would never want to put my family through by my poor decisions. I will definately remain to be very vigilant on the road, and thank you South Windsor High for doing this for all of us.

Broken dreams was a big eye opener to a lot of people. I was one of the people who was least affected by it overal, but i think the most important aspect of the assembly was the people who made speaches and the letters written by the students. I think the assembly made me appreciate my friends and family more, and has had a beneficial affect on my decissions.

Participating in Broken has left an everlasting impact on my life. One of the hardest parts of the first day was when we were not able to talk. This is an action that we perform every day and that I have found that we take for granted. Not being able to participate in everyday conversations with your friends, and not being able to say what you really wanted to say was very hard. This experience has gotten me to think of all the little things that we as humans take for granted, if I was never on this earth again. Writing the letters to our parents at night was one the hardest things I have ever done. Thinking of the memories that you have shared with your parents and families and the idea that you may never make another memory together was heartbreaking. The idea of letting your parents down after everything that they have done for you was extremely painful. This experience has reminded me that it is not only drinking and driving, or distracted driving that can be life altering. It can be as common as rushing home to make your curfew to get into an accident. Additionally, I would like to really thank the teachers who have taken the time away from teaching to sit down and reflect and discuss with the class about their feelings and emotions during these past two days. Being able to share my experience as a Broken Dreamer and the impact that it has had on me was great. This entire experience was so emotionally and physically draining for me and others that I think it was beneficial to take some class time to reflect and share our experience.

Honestly, I was surprised how much I was affected by this entire process over the past few days. I feel that it's important to show people how their decisions can impact the lives of others and their own, but I've always considered myself above the entire situation. Now I realize that it could happen to me or people I know and that actually scared me. The first day didn't have an enormous impact on me because that portion of the video was more humorous than sad, but the second day definitely changed the way I view my choices and my life. I'm not ashamed to admit that even I teared up when Hannah and Greg shared their letters to their parents because I started to imagine what I would say to my parents in that situation. I'm not even sure I would have been able to bring myself to put pen to paper had I been in that situation and I give the Broken Dreamers a lot of credit for going through that. I feel that this experience has left a lasting impact on me and I hope that it affected others as much or more so than it did me.

The Broken Dreams program was eye opening to the majority of the school. Personally I don’t think teenagers understand how dangerous drunk driving is, but more importantly how many people these mistakes effect, teenagers feel their reckless activity will cause only harm to themselves. The mentality “if I take that risk I will suffer the consequences” is deeply flawed. You may have the right to do stupid things and damage your own life but you don’t have the right to put your friends, parents or siblings through these emotions. The mass of the fallout is illconceived, we think about the crash, the pain upon impact, the death, but not the funeral and the years of grieving and permanent emotional scars of those who watched this all unfold. The end portion of the Broken Dreams exemplified this point, very well done. Cops and Firefighters all had stories to share which inspired tears from events which took place decades ago. ===Have you ever stopped to think?That what you do in this life will be insignificant.Chances are no one will remember your name and that A+ you get on that paper you wrote on world peace wont change the world.It will only provide your mortal self a few satisfied moments.This presentation realyl opened up my eyes to how much our lives really mean in the grand sceme of things.We may hear a few touching stories about peoples passings but will you remeber them in 10/15 years from then? What we need to do is make the best out of the life that we have on this earth and not mess it up .We need to try our hardest to make our marks in the world to better it and not spend our time lingering on the past.For i have lost someone due to drunk driving and really i feel as though i lost some of my time morning this individual insted of being out there in the real world and living.I do not use drugs or alchol but yet find other ways to have fun with my friends.I would like to stay on this earth for as long as it takes for me to positivly impact a few peoples lives.-AB===