On May 23, Partners in Community (PIC) sponsored a poignant assembly on the dangers of reckless driving for students at The Morgan School ahead of the prom weekend, graduation, and summer festivities.

The assembly was led by Cara Filler, who described to students the day her twin sister, Mairin Johnston, was killed in a car crash caused by reckless driving the day after her 18th birthday. During the hour-long assembly, Filler told the audience the tragic story of how she witnessed the accident take place, and the effect it had on her and her family.

During the talk, Filler also mixed in humorous anecdotes and helpful techniques for students to use to make safe choices. Kelley Edwards, the prevention coordinator for PIC, felt Filler’s approach made the assembly resonate more with the audience.

“She has a great personality, and is very approachable,” Edwards said.

Edwards said the idea to bring the assembly to town was born out of a visit to Youth to Youth International, a leadership conference in Rhode Island that students in the school’s REACT (Reality Even Affects Clinton Teens) club attended in summer 2017.

“Her coming here was driven by the kids,” Edwards said.

Becca Cockluy, an 11th grade member of the REACT club, was one of the students that saw Filler speak at the conference in Rhode Island and recommended that The Morgan School host her.

“When we heard her at [Youth to Youth], I was really moved,” Cockluy said.

Cockluy also noted that as an 11th grader, many of her peers now are beginning to drive and she felt the assembly would be relatable to something she and her peers are going through.

Edwards said that the group tries to go to a conference every year to bring back ideas that benefit the Morgan community. Edwards said her approach is that she lets the students decide what topics and speakers they would like to have come to the school.

“I empower the youth to bring who they want,” Edwards said. “They know what inspires them. They’re in the midst of it.”

For Filler, speaking on the dangers of reckless driving has tuned into a fulltime career. Filler said she gave her first presentation in November of 1994, barely two months after her sister’s death. Since then, Filler said she has spoken to more than two million students in five countries. She estimates that she speaks to around 150 different groups a year.

“The reason I started speaking is I’m sick and tired of car crashes being the leading cause of death for youth,” Filler said.

Filler said that she has yet to speak at a school that hasn’t lost a student at some point.

Several students stayed after the presentation to have a private word with Filler on how her speech moved them.

Sean Cockluy, Becca Cockluy’s twin brother and another member of the REACT club, said the most moving part of the program to him was when Filler had the students close their eyes and imagine the most important person in their lives, and what it would feel like to suddenly lost that person. Becca Cockluy agreed with her brother.

“I found a lot of connections because I’m a twin, too,” she said. “I can’t imagine living without my brother.”

“I hope the students understand the dangers of speeding and realize their choices,” he replied.

For more information of Cara Filler or PIC, visit carafiller.com or clintonpic.org.