More than 300 students at Osoyoos Secondary School were given a sobering lesson in the dangers of making dangerous and reckless decisions and believing they are invincible.
Kevin Brooks had many of those students in tears Monday afternoon as he told them, in brutal and honest detail, how his life changed forever 14 years ago when he got severely intoxicated and jumped behind the wheel of his sports car near his home in the Lower Mainland.
Travelling almost twice the posted speed limit – police estimated he was travelling in excess of 130 km/h in a residential neighbourhood – Brooks crashed his car, destroyed his body and killed one of his best friends.
Brooks was paralyzed from the chest down and his good friend Brendon was dead.
Brooks told the students not only was his life irreversibly changed, but the guilt and shame he felt over killing his 20-year-old friend almost destroyed him.
For the past 12 years, Brooks has travelled across British Columbia – and many other provinces in Canada and many countries around the world – telling his story as part of the ICBC Road Sense team.
Brooks’ talks to the students in a language they can understand and he doesn’t pull any punches.
He is well-spoken, intelligent and brutally honest.
The impact of his message is staggering.
He is a hero in so many ways.
And hopefully that same message will save many teenagers from making reckless decisions and risking their lives and the lives of others.
Brooks is living proof that young people are not invincible and their joyful exuberance, good health and dreams can be taken away and shattered in a heartbeat by engaging in reckless behavior.
Brooks admitted that he had lived a reckless lifestyle for many years before tragedy changed his life forever.
To his credit, he has dedicated his life to trying to make a difference.
He has spoken to more than half a million teenagers at more than 1,000 high schools in Canada and across North America.
Nothing will ever change the fact that Kevin Brooks will remain in a wheelchair for the rest of his life and that Brendon won’t be coming back.
Brooks used to live for skateboarding, snowboarding, skiing, playing hockey and attending punk rock concerts with his buddies.
He also used to drink excessively and drive without concern for himself or others.
He now pleads with young people to not make the same mistakes as he did.
Brooks is smart enough to realize it’s not his job or place to tell young students to never touch alcohol or drugs.
But his message to make the right choices and never get behind the wheel of a motor vehicle when intoxicated came through loud and clear.
If he can help save one young person from death or serious bodily harm by telling his story, all of his endless miles and extended tours across the province and country are worth it.
Kevin Brooks is a brave young man and he won’t soon be forgotten by anyone who was in the theatre at Osoyoos Secondary School on Monday afternoon.
