Road to reality is a six-scene performance that brings audiences to different locations, each portraying a different moment in a sequence of events. Firstly, being party scene, showing the simple choices the main character, Sarah, makes, one of which being to drive drunk in a car with her best friend, Pete. Then comes the crash scene: Sarah crashes her car, and the New Lenox fire department and police help recover an injured Pete from the car, a real car that is donated from Superior Training. In the ER scene, doctors and Nurses from Silver Cross hospital work to save Pete’s life while Sarah is being interrogated and then arrested. However, Pete ends up passing away. In the regret room scene, Sarah shares with the audience about her memories with Pete and her regrets about her decisions. Following that, the audience is brought to the courtroom scene, where Will County judges question Sarah and end up sending her to jail. To conclude the performance, a coroner further elaborates on the consequences that are attached to every action one makes.
Dr. McNamara, principal of Lincoln-Way Central high school, aids in organizing and planning this performance every year, saying that, “This whole concept of drinking and driving, the negative consequence, this message that we send through this event [is one] I feel very strongly about being a part of. I have always been passionate about it, and the message has always resonated with me, so as soon as I got involved in it, I haven’t not been involved in it.” Dr. McNamara also elaborated on how her background as a health teacher has driven her to feel devoted to educating our students about topics like this.
With the help of the athletic department, student athletes view the event every year during the week of Homecoming as it is “super important for the new drivers, that’s why we target our sophomores…” Dr. McNamara states. Along with educating students and teenagers, parents are strongly encouraged to attend the event as well; actions of the parent are just as significant as actions of the student. One of the goals for this event, according to Dr. McNamara is to “foster dialogue between the new driver and parent.”
Dr. McNamara additionally elaborates on the valued community participation that goes into cultivating this intricate and powerful experience. Silver Cross doctors and nurses, New Lenox police and Fire department, and Will County judges are all eager to participate. The situation that is portrayed in Road to Reality is all too common and is experienced quite frequently by these members of our community. Dr. explains how, “I think that if [Road to Reality] impacts just one or two kids, then we are doing the right thing.”
Providing perspective and shedding light on devastating and avoidable situations like drunk driving is crucial, especially in the modern day, as drug overdose and drug use is becoming ever more prevalent. Road to Reality drives the members of the audience to discuss these uncomfortable subjects with those they love, which aids in removing the prominent, societal stigma which can be associated with it. Road to Reality is a truly valuable experience and performance, as it works to spread awareness, making our community safer day by day.
