Hickman welcomed Cara Filler on December 10 to speak about safe driving and a personal loss that resulted from unsafe driving. Some who watched the assembly shared their personal experiences.
The assembly was required for all students, but not everyone who went was required to go. Jonathan Schultz, Technical Support Analyst for the IT department, explained why he stayed for the assembly even though he wasn’t required to.
“I usually stay for just the beginning portion to make sure that it starts correctly, and then leave and they call me if something stops working, etc. But this was a topic pretty near and dear to my heart, so I wanted to stay in for the full assembly,” Schultz said.
Schultz shared his personal experience that related to the assembly.
“I was in a pretty bad motor vehicle accident about 12 years ago, and it put a lot of things into perspective,” Schultz said.
Some students who can’t drive said that it was good that the assembly was required.
“It’s important because it’s important to learn how to drive, because you could also tell facts to your parents or, like older guardians,” Logan Davis (9) said.
Parents and guardians might not typically park at school, but many students get picked up by their parents and guardians.
“People drive way too fast in the parent pickup lines. you start to cross, and next thing you know, the vehicle is just coming. You know, 20-plus miles an hour around that curve in the U-shaped circle… it’s only blind luck that nobody’s gotten hit,” Schultz said.
The assembly was funded by the Missouri Department of Transportation (MoDOT). Program Manager Kacey Wilson attends assemblies with Filler.
“We know that the teens need to hear this highway safety message,” Wilson said.
Cara Filler’s assembly focused on the death of her twin sister who died in a car crash.
“I think the most important part is really just giving real-life examples of the choices that students have and then teens have across the state that would save their life if they were in a car crash,” Wilson said.
After the assembly was finished, some students stayed behind to share what they got from the assembly with Filler
“I would honestly make sure to remind everyone that’s in my car to have their seat built on and to just be cautious of everything,” Nala Windsor (9) said.
There are other ways of gaining perspective on safe driving, ones that don’t include getting into a crash. This assembly provides an opportunity for students to learn the importance of safe driving.
“She’s just a huge asset in Missouri because her story is so relatable,” Wilson said.
