By Bobby Dyckman
On the morning of Feb. 28, high school students attended different assemblies for each grade level about the impact of bad decisions. Freshmen students were introduced to Scott Chesney, a motivational speaker who has been paralyzed from the waist down since the age of 15, who stressed the importance of students making their own choices and not allowing bad influences to control their lives. Sophomores attended a program led by Sgt. Tom Rich of the Summit Police Department about the dangers of cyber-bullying and sexting. Ellen Lurig, a mother whose son was the victim of a drunk-driving accident, educated junior students on the risks of alcohol and driving. The senior class attended a presentation by Project Pride, a state initiative that consists of current inmates of New Jersey State prisons describing their experiences with drugs and alcohol that eventually led them to prison.
The goal of each assembly was to warn high school students about the potential long-term negative impact of the decisions they make now.