The Importance of Safe Driving

My community is very close knit, though we are large. I have about 2,000 students in my high school alone. Everyone knows each other and we all help each other in any way possible. Just a few short days ago, tragedy struck our town. 3 of my former classmates were recklessly driving the night of March 2, 2022. 2 of those kids sadly passed away as they drove into a tree, and the car started on fire. They were all just 19 years old. They had such a great life to live ahead of them. The driver of the car is still alive, but in critical condition. This horrible event took the community by shock. I personally knew one of the girls who passed away, as I used to compete against her in dance competitions. Her younger brother is in my grade at school, and I used to dance with her other sister. Hearing that she passed away, I was completely heart broken. She was such a beautiful girl.

When I first heard the news, I was in my first period class and my stomach dropped. How could something like this happen to them? The two girls who passed were known and loved by everyone. They had such a positive outlook on life and everyone around them would have nothing but positive things to say about them. Since then, I have not been able to wrap my head around the idea that they are truly gone. We all hear about these tragic accidents that happen, but you never realize the true impact on it until you are personally affected.

The brother of the one girl in the car created a GoFundMe to help support the funerals as well as share a large portion of donated money to NFTSD (National Foundation for Teen Safe Driving. It has only been 2 days since the page was created and in that time, $30,000 has been donated by our community. It is heartwarming and heartbreaking to see all of the support that the community has given the families affected by this horrible accident. It is heartwarming because we are able to come together in support of each other, as everyone was somehow connected to one of the deceased. Though it is also heartbreaking, as the circumstances of this are absolutely horrible.

On March 3rd, when I heard the news, I spent the whole day thinking about the accident. Something like this could happen anywhere, why my community? Everyone needed a reminder that safe driving is of the utmost importance, especially if you are the driver. I am a new driver, as I just got my license in August of 2021. I have always been safe, but you never know when the universe wants to take your life in a different direction. The driver in this accident has always driven the way he was driving that horrible night. He thought it was fun and cool to be speeding late at night. He is still alive, but took the lives of two girls. His whole group of friends finds fun in risky driving, and it is not funny, especially after this recent news.

I am now more than ever, focusing on safe driving. I do not drive too late at night. I do not speed. I do not text and drive, and I do not drive under the influence of any kind, as I am only 18, but I vow to never drive under any influence in my future. I have learned so much in just 3 days from this accident. I am trying to become a better person because of this, as a tragedy like this can happen to any of us. I do not hold any more grudges against people. One girl who I used to be best friends with is dating the one girl’s brother. Though she and I have gone our separate paths, I used this teachable moment to let her know that despite our differences and the stuff that happened between us, I will always be here for her. I say “I love you” more, and I share what is on my mind right now, because I know that if I wait, I may not ever be able to say it to them. Life is short, but it should never be shorter by being reckless while driving. I am absolutely heartbroken by this tragic accident, but it is a learning moment for myself and my peers, as we are all trying to manage without the lives of two beautiful people who have made such a positive impact on our community. Thank you for your consideration for me in this scholarship, and I hope this story influences you to be a safer driver.