“My life has been changed forever,” remarked Daniel Perrino, a boy who pulled the rug under his own feet and miraculously lived to tell the story.

This Thursday, the Harriton sophomores and upperclassmen partook in an emotional, disturbing, and vital assembly on the perils involved in drunk driving. Called “Cruisin’ Safe”, the assembly was introduced by Joe Gallagher of the Bryn Mawr Rehab Hospital, “to encourage you to make smarter choices before you have no choice at all”.

The school invited Daniel Perrino, a once-ambitious and business-savvy teenager, to speak at Harriton and describe his horrific drunk driving accident that incurred traumatic brain injury and nearly left him on his deathbed.

Dan’s story was a tragic yet ultimately all too common tale. After a few drinks at a party, he decided to drive home, supposing that he would be exception to one of the most common causes of car accidents. However, as he explained with deep-seated remorse, this decision altered the course of his life, as well as of his father’s life.

Mr. Perrino spoke after his son, and they both discussed the ways in which drunk driving turned their world upside down, emotionally imparting the knowledge that many students previously understood on a superficial basis.

With junior and senior prom marking the arrival of end of year festivities, this assembly reminded the student body that wise decision making, whether it be in cars, at parties, or even in school, can pave a pathway to success. On the other hand, when one disregards the simple yet essential life lesson of making clever choices, it can greatly deter anyone’s road.

Many students left with one specific thought lingering in their mind – that eventually, all decisions lay in their hands.