Schools and organizations from all over the country are turning to Teens Against Distracted Driving to help promote distracted driving awareness. Samantha H., a senior at Argos Jr./Sr. High School in Argos, Indiana came to us at the beginning of the year and asked us to sponsor her project which consisted of a whole week of activities centered around reckless driving behaviors. In exchange for sending her 350 bracelets for her class, Samantha wrote an essay about her project and what she was able to accomplish with the help of TADD. Read her essay below…

This year for my senior project topic I chose Reckless Driving, with a focus on distracted driving.  I planned a week’s worth of activities and spirit/dress up activities in our home room class each day for everyone from seventh grade to seniors.  This project was an easy decision for me because of a personal experience I had gone through on the first day of my senior year.  Because of that, I wanted to get the word out to others how important driving really is and why it should not be done carelessly, but with caution.

For the main portion of my project, I organized two powerpoint presentations- one was graphic and very informative to present to the high school, and one not so graphic and better suitable for younger students in the junior high, each to present on Monday during home room.  Following that from Tuesday through Friday, I organized an activity for each day that dealt with reckless driving.

Tuesday’s theme was “Say ‘Peace Out’ to Drugs!” and everyone was to wear their ’60′s attire.  In home room, I provided a questionnaire over my powerpoint presentations to see what everyone learned from it.

Wednesday’s theme was “Put a Cap on Drugs!” and everyone paid one dollar to wear a hat in school that day.  Proceeds are going to be going to the Alex Brown foundation, a young girl who lost her life due to texting and driving.  Her video was shown on the announcements during home room on Wednesday, and everyone got a questionnaire over the video to fill out.

Thursday’s theme was “Drugs Turn You Inside Out!” Everyone wore their clothes inside out, and during home room I provided an essay sheet for everyone to write a paragraph explaining what reckless driving meant to them.

Friday’s theme was “Smarties Don’t Do Drugs!” Students wore their red to support Red Ribbon Week and also my senior project.  People that participated in the dress up activity received smarties.  The activity for home room was to sign a bulletin board pledge I organized about reckless driving.

My sponsor for my senior project, TADD, or teens against distracted driving, had a pledge I honored on my bulletin board, and students had the choice to sign it and agree to put their cell phones down and not touch them while driving.  Over all, the course of the week was so much work, but also very much worth it when we received almost 65% of our high school that signed the pledge to not text and drive.  It was amazing to see some of the answers on the activity sheets over the powerpoint and also Alex Brown’s video of her experience.  My senior project was very successful and I am so happy with all of the end results.  I thank everyone who has helped me with my senior project.  It turned out great!

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