Audio/video students assist with Shattered Dreams program to raise awareness

Story by All-State journalist Bella Cook, who is a junior at PSHS. Photos by All-State journalist Emily Williams, who is a senior at PSHS,

For the upcoming prom and celebration season, PSHS audio/video students have partnered with the first-responder-sponsored Shattered Dreams program to spread awareness about the life-threatening dangers of driving under the influence. The class members recently visited Baylor Scott and White hospital in McKinney where real medical professionals participated for their recording. The final scene to be filmed will include a simulated motor-vehicle crash, which will be enacted for students at Jackie Hendricks Stadium May 1.

Shattered Dreams is a program that has been around since the ‘90s, but gained traction during the early 2000s. Princeton Fire Department has been involved in spreading awareness since as far back as 2003, and the A/V students got on board to assist in 2017.

“As a school counselor, one of my most dreaded times is homecoming and prom, because I know, regardless of how much underage drinking prevention we do, kids are still going to do it,” high school counselor and program lead Kayla Walling said. “I don't want to lose a student ever, but this is a time when it is more likely.”

Walling not only helps in coordinating the Shattered Dreams program, but will also act as the mother of the accident’s “victim” during the scenario.

“These students are great to work with,” Walling said. “The energy and the dedication and the attention to detail that all of them have put into trying to make sure that this is a good project, is amazing.”

Seniors Bryson Kahindo and Emily Williams work as both the directors and producers for this year’s video. 

“It is just something that makes my stomach churn knowing that innocent lives and families are being put in danger simply because people drink and then think that they can just drive five minutes home,” Kahindo said. “I will say, having a story like this, I don't think we got it perfectly and I don't think that we are going to impact everybody, because that’s just not how it works, but if it saves one life or impacts one person, we did our job.”

Williams played an active role during filming, but just as many projects such as this one, it has not been an easy journey. Having an active leadership role, she said, is a lot, but it has been easy for the team to make things click.

“Bryson approached me about it in November, and I was immediately on board,” Williams said. “I was like, whatever you need, and I was so excited about it. It has just been such an honor and a blessing to be able to work with all of my best friends and make it something special.”

After the crash re-enactment this week, in which the “victim,” junior Paxton Bruns will be “fatally injured,” a medical helicopter with Air Evac Lifeteam will land to transport him.

“I like working with everyone, I like messing around, and I like filming,” Bruns said. “The makeup and the helicopter have been my highlights. I can't wait to fly in that.”

The A/V production team had a number of camera operators and crew, and according to event organizers, the film could not be completed without their work behind the scenes.

“This group is surrounded by good people,” cameraman Ryan Luna said. “It’s high energy, and it's been a good opportunity to get better at my camera skills and communication in a high-stress environment.”

During filming at the hospital, school resource officer David LaRocca was present to ensure things went smoothly and spoke on his personal experience with a friend of his passing away after getting hit by an intoxicated driver.

“It's very important that students see the reality of things,” LaRocca said. “Kids nowadays think they are untouchable. You don't know what’s around the corner. One minute you’re free, one minute you're walking around, one minute you're having fun, the next minute you’ve killed somebody, and you’re spending your life in jail.”