Martin High School students mourned the loss of several classmates Thursday, March 8, 2007 as part of Fatal Choices/ shattered dreams, a 2-day program that teaches (AISD) high school students about the dangers of drinking and driving. The goal of the program is to promote responsible decision-making by staging a deadly car accident and involving students in the aftermath of what happens. The students experienced first hand, the sensations of being involved in a tragic, alcohol-related collision. Moore Funeral Home handled fatalities on the scene, while the injured students were extricated by the jaws-of-life manned by Fire-Fighters and Paramedics. Police Officers investigated, arrested, and booked the student "drunk driver". Student participants continued their experience by an actual trip to the morgue, the hospital emergency room, and to the police department jail for the purpose of being booked for "drunk driving".

During the first day events the "Grim Reaper" called students who were selected from a cross-section of the entire student body out of class. One student was removed from class every 15 minutes. A police officer immediately entered the classroom and read a notice explaining the circumstances of their classmate's demise and the contributions the student has made to the school and the community. The student's obituary notice was posted outside the classroom. A few minutes later, the student returned to class as the "living dead," complete with white face make-up, a coroner's tag, and a black Fatal Choices/shattered dreams T-shirt. From that point on "victims" did not speak or interact with other students for the remainder of the school day. Simultaneously, uniformed officers made mock death notifications to the parents of these children at their home, place of employment or business.

At the end of the day, the students who participated in the staged accident as well as those who were made-up as the "living dead" were transported to a local facility for an overnight student retreat. The retreat simulated the separation from friends and family. A support staff of counselors and police officers facilitated the retreat. Speakers included actual drivers, victims, and victims' family members from alcohol related accidents/fatalitites.

The following morning, an assembly was held. Speakers included students who read letters to their parents, police officers, and hospital personnel who shared their emotional trauma of dealing with kids killed in accidents. Parents shared their personal reflections of their involvement in this program. The focus of the assembly stressed that the decision to consume alcohol can affect many more people than just the one who drinks. This very emotional and heart-wrenching event illustrated to students, the potentially dangerous consequences of their use of alcohol, regardless of how casual they believe their use may be.