Petrocelli encourages students that they "matter"

Anna Stock - Mustangs Ahead

(LAKEWOOD RANCH, FL) – Speaker Bobby Petrocelli came to Lakewood Ranch High School (LRHS) Wednesday to address seniors on the impact of drunk driving and the importance of why “you matter.”

Petrocelli travels nationwide to speak to high schools, communities, and sports teams. He shares that people are not defined by what happened in the past and the importance of loving yourself.

Click here for more about this story from the author.

He started the lecture describing his college years and how he met his wife Ava. He then shared his horror story of the night he lost Ava to a drunk driver.

Petrocelli explained that it wasn’t drunk driving that killed his wife; it was someone experiencing the immense pain/heartache that led to drinking.

"Don’t let the sadness in your heart get to your brain,” said Petrocelli.

Petrocelli was available at the end of the meeting for students to talk, get a bracelet, brochure, or to donate.

Senior Bailey Wegenast enjoyed the presentation.

“I thought that the speech was very moving, I came into this thinking it would be like every other drunk driving lecture, but it was actually so much more. It made me really think about my past and how it may have influenced my thoughts and actions,” shared Wegenast.

Senior Tony Sablan said, “I wasn’t really sure where he [Petrocelli] was going with his speech, but once he started explaining how it wasn’t drunk driving that killed his wife but rather a decision influenced by pain/anger it made more sense and was influential.”

Stay updated on important LRHS news and share what you like by following our Twitter @LRHSNews1, Instagram @mustangs_ahead, and follow the Mustangs Ahead Podcast on iTunes or Soundcloud.