Sitting here, an old story comes to mind. A little girl was walking along the beach, and notices that a rogue wave had washed hundreds of starfish up on to the sand. The little girl picks up a starfish and walks it back to the ocean. An old man was watching and yells over, “you can`t save them all you know…” Undaunted, the little girl picks up another starfish and returns it to the sea. She looks back at the old man and says – “I saved that one!”
The moral of the story is simple. Perhaps no “one person” can save the world, but that sure doesn`t mean that people should ever stop trying.
Thanks to the generosity of the Dedham Police Department, the Dedham Youth Commission, the Dedham High School Parent Connection, the Dedham Educational Partnership, and the Dedham Boosters Club – almost 800 students (grades 9-12) were able to pack the auditorium at Dedham High School recently, and listen to one of the most “powerful” international youth speakers we have ever seen – Kevin Brooks.
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After reading a short bio on Kevin, one gets “a feel” of what to expect. “From his wheelchair, Kevin Brooks shares the story of the night that changed his life…” Over the years, we`ve had the opportunity to sit in on dozens upon dozens of assemblies held at our schools. NEVER however, have we seen “one man” take such control of a room, leaving every single student, teacher, and member of the audience “speechless!”
For well over an hour, there was not a sound to be heard, in this room full of teenagers, except for the straight forward, emotional, passionate voice of Kevin Brooks – a young man who fell victim to his own “bad choice.”
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Kevin, who hails from Vancouver, Canada (way up near Washington State), is the oldest of three children. A typical young man in his early twenties, Kevin hung out and partied often with his friends. One night, after having “way too much to drink”, Kevin hopped in to his car – his buddy Brendon in the seat beside him – and went “flying down the street” at 85mph in a 45mph zone. Kevin had flown down this same street, at times in the same condition, hundreds of times before. This night however, he just forgot to make a turn and sent the car airborne. The crash was tremendous. Nothing but a pile of twisted steel. Kevin Brooks spent “weeks” in intensive care. His parents were told that he had only a 20% chance to live. His friend Brendon “didn`t make it…”
Kevin explained to the stunned audience – “all it takes is one split second, one error in judgement when you`re at that crossroads, and your bad choice can change everything for so many people…”
When Kevin Brooks came to in the hospital, he looked around and asked, “why can`t I move?” He was told that he was paralyzed! “For how long” he screamed – nobody would answer him. Panic, anxiety, depression and guilt overcame this young, handsome athlete.
After months and months of rehab and therapy, Kevin reluctantly “moved forward”, learning once again how to breathe, eat, dress and get around – the ultimate goal would be spending the rest of his life in a wheelchair!
Just one young man, sitting alone in this wheelchair, told the boys and girls in our very own High School, that when they make “bad choices, selfish choices, it will affect the lives of and hurt so many others.” “Just look at me” he said choking back tears, “my life has changed forever.” “I have to live with all of this – I`ll never walk, skateboard, or run down the beach again.” “This didn`t have to happen…” No one in the audience even moved.
Standing with Police Chief Michael D`Entremont and Principal Ron McCarthy, we looked around the silent auditorium, hard-pressed to find a dry eye in the house!
Kevin Brooks is now a part of the Washington-based “Drive to Save Lives Tour” and has traveled, by himself in that wheelchair, to over 1,500 High Schools across the country. At each destination, Kevin sets up 3 empty chairs beside him on stage. “These are for my buddies – Brendon Beuk (1980-2000), Jordan Baker Fisher (1979-2004), and Christopher Roy Whitmee (1974-2009) who aren`t around any longer… but they`re always here with me!”
“Just imagine, if you woke up one day and you couldn't wiggle your toes…” By the impact Kevin Brooks has on people when he speaks, we are reminded of that little girl on the beach – forging on alone, saving those starfish, one at a time!
Story and Photos by: Joe Kilroy
