Every year, Pasco High stages a project to highlight the tragedy of drunk driving called Every 15 Minutes. This article will explain the experience of being a dead person during this project.
In Every 15 Minutes there is always a main “dead person” or in this case there are two main “dead” people, a set of twins that portrayed a part in a tragic collision caused by a drunk driver, that go by the names of Nicole and Ethan Cooke, and the drunk driver being Zakiyah Webster. Let’s hear from the twins what this experience was like for them:
Nicole Cooke: The experience for me overall was scary; we had been told that sometime throughout the day we would “die,” but we didn’t know when, since it could happen at any time. No one was safe. I was taken out during the second period, moments after my friend next to me had just “died.” He came back to class, but could no longer talk to me. Walking around and scaring people was more entertaining than expected. It was fun scaring people and making them uncomfortable. It was hard doing the crash scene and hearing what was going on, and hearing my parents’ reaction to the scene, it felt so real, it hurt to hear my parents and my friend Enecia cry, even though it was acting, it felt so real. During the crash scene, as they were dragging my body, my pants got caught on the emergency brake, and my pants started coming off! I ALMOST GOT PANTSED BY A CAR! I was able to catch it in time so that no one saw it, haha. My favorite part of the day was trying on these drunk goggles, which were to imitate being drunk, and we had to do tests that cops do to people when suspected of being intoxicated. It was fun. A part of the program that had the biggest emotional impact on me was when my mom and dad came to the crash scene, and their reaction to it being so real was that when my mom shared her words with the seniors, it hit them hard. Participating in this project changed the way I think about the way I live because anything could happen, and suddenly you’re dead or someone close to you is. If I had the chance, I would do it again if it means that I can bring awareness to this enormous problem, it could save lives, and it was not only fun but also helpful.
Ethan Cooke: My overall experience was great. I thought it was cool to get pulled out of class on a stretcher. This experience was different. Things didn’t go exactly to plan, but it was a great experience. It was super hard to stay still, though. Roaming the halls during 6th period was cool because we were able to freak some kids out, but also help security get kids that were skipping class. When we could talk during lunchtime, hearing everyone’s experience stood out to me. The most significant part was when Mr. Mendoza told us about our parents’ visit. When they told them, it got me to choke up. Participating in this made me realize we have an opportunity to save lives. Most importantly, we can make a difference in our friends ‘ lives together. I say I would do this again if I could. It was fun to experience. I’m glad I left my comfort zone and did something fun.
Zakiyah Webster: The experience for me overall, I would say was amazing, it was very informative and I learned a lot. During the crash scene, it was very hard to make myself feel and act inebriated, even though I knew subconsciously I was not. Acting through it was very hard, but I felt like I did well overall, and so did everyone else there. That was the very hard part because that made it feel real. I found day 1 very exciting, like being able to scare little kids and bring awareness. For example, when I walked around the halls and took photos with people, the girls who could talk for me explained what it was for; I found that very exciting. I think it was an excellent experience. For example, behind the scenes, I felt like a lot of stuff was going on, and it was very chaotic, but that’s how everything came together. The part that had the biggest emotional impact on me was the assembly after the crash scene, hearing Nicole and Ethan’s mom make her speech, which put into perspective what it would be like if that were me in a situation, and how my mom would feel. It made me realize that my actions impact other people’s lives, other than mine. As I said before, it made me rethink all of my past choices and the ones I have to make in the future. No one’s perfect. I know I’m gonna still drink, but I know now, after experiencing all that, I’d rather stay where I’m at, drink at home, have a friend on standby, or have a DND. This also made me realize that many things can go wrong, even if I don’t think so. I would do it again; it was a great experience. You make some good friendships, you learn something very valuable for your life, and the choices that you make going into the future. I recommend this program to anyone and everyone.
Enecia Campos: My experience was exciting. I got pulled out of a class I didn’t need, so it was nice having an excuse to get pulled out. I’ve never been pulled out on a stretcher, so that was a cool part. It was an enjoyable project, but I had to overcome my fear of acting in front of people and dealing with the uncomfortable makeup. Walking around the school in the costume I had to wear was different and surprising. I didn’t think I’d be able to scare people considering my height and goofy makeup, but I did, it was fun, especially when I had scared the kids that seemed tough, but they were actually scared the most. The car scene was something else, though. I feel like I was the most dramatic one out of everyone, but even though it was pretend, seeing Nicole the way she was made me believe it was real, so my emotions and reactions were real, as if I were in an actual car crash. Day 1 was the most exciting to me because at the end of the school day we got to talk and interact with other seniors finally and got to know them without our phones getting in the way, we did so much activities together and got to go to the morgue (no we did not see a dead body) this was for sure a experience I never thought I’d be part of. What stood out to me was on day 2 during the crash scene, there were real cops and ambulances and funeral home people, it was cool seeing them and getting to interact with them act with them over a serious topic, who knew cops could be so funny, one was making conversation with me and Hailey while we were acting, it was funny. The most significant emotional impact on me was during the memorial when Nicole and Ethan’s mom had shared her speech and could barely hold back tears, it made me think about how serious this topic is and that if it were me in Nicole and Ethan’s spot that it’d have a huge impact on not only my parents but other people too. My actions and the way I live do have an impact on people around me, and what my decisions are can cause a lot of incidents, even though I don’t think they will, they will. If I got the chance, I would definitely do this over again. Still, to the people participating after me, I would wanna say, to have fun, but remember this is an actual serious topic that should not be taken lightly.
From a Junior’s point of view, will he join again?
Joel Aramburo: I was anxious from being pulled out of class in the middle of my journey. I barely knew what to do but it was also exciting to do something that completely surprised my classmates and having to plan all this out was interesting since it was my first time and I was lost in half the process I just went with whatever anyone in the club told me to do. It was completely hard for me to keep a straight face and look people in the eye, and it was way too funny when we scared people. A fun part of my journey was when we did some activities in the classroom. There were some funny moments, even though we were supposedly walking drunk, thanks to the goggles. I found the way everyone worried about the blood staining them funny. Also, when we had to take off the makeup, we had a hard time and laughed at how we looked. When we had the memorial, Ethan and Nicole’s mom talked about the crash, and Nicole and Ethan’s message made me almost cry. If anything, this project made me more determined not to drink and also not drive, as well as to stop people from driving if they did drink. I would do it again if I get the chance, and if someone else is picked, I would tell them to have fun and pay attention to what everyone has to say.
This concludes the perspective of a dead person. Now that you’ve read their stories on their experience, will you take a step and join this project to spread awareness of this widespread and tragic issue caused by most teenagers?
