PARIS – Oxford Hills High School was the site of two prevention education programs in early May, sponsored by the Oxford Hills Respect Team and the Healthy Maine Partnership. The first was a “mock crash” held for the junior and senior classes.

The fake accident scene demonstrated the real life events leading up to and during a rescue attempt for the passengers of a vehicle accident caused by driving under the influence. The scenes were made real through actual damaged cars and the help of local rescue teams.

Following the re-enactment, students participated in small group discussions with community members and staff. Students and adults shared stories, concerns and real life fears. The re-enactment includes the use of video before and after the live scene. The student comments after the demonstration all focused on the continued need for “real life education.”

The second presentation, for freshman and sophomores, focused on poor choices in life. The teams brought in two prisoners to tell their stories. The two men were both involved in serious crimes as teens and were both sentenced to 18 to 20 years in jail.

They had different stories to tell – the first from a rough childhood and substance abuse to violence, and the second inmate-a model student who chose to drive home from a party under the influence and caused a fatal accident.

Students discussed how they felt and how they could see someone making these “bad choices” and destroying their lives and the lives of so many others impacted by the crime.