The Impact of a Victim Impact Panel
By
MADD
|
April 5, 2012
|
Filed in:
Drunk Driving
We recently received a letter from someone who attended of one of our Victim Impact Panels that confirms the work that we—and our wonderful team of volunteers—do, really can make an impact. It read:
“I would like to express my deepest and sincerest thanks to the speakers from the MADD VIP that I attended. I am embarrassed to say I was attending the class do to a DUI arrest on 12/15/11 and although this was my first time being arrested, sadly it wasn't my first time driving intoxicated. After my arrest I have felt many emotions but never anger. As I sat in that room and listened to everyone’s story, it became much more than just hearing them, I began to feel them. I became very heavy hearted and that's when I felt ANGER for the first time. Anger not for having to be there, or for all of the money I am paying, and not anger towards my privileges being taken away, but ANGER at myself. All I could do all night was think about how disappointed in myself I was. What if I had been the one to take a life. You see, I felt like they were talking straight to me, as I said before this was not my first time behind the wheel driving drunk.
In 2007, I left a bar after spending $700 on a bar tab and got in my Jeep at 3 a.m. and started home. Fifteen minutes later I hit a concrete light pole snapping it in three places and splitting my jeep in half. After spending 7 days in the hospital I was released, and even with news coverage and the suspicion of it being alcohol-related nothing ever happened, not even a ticket. I spent the next few weeks recovering at home thinking how lucky I was to be alive and that I didn't kill anyone, I said, ‘I will never do that again.’ Eight weeks after my accident I got a new car. Two weeks later I put my car in a culvert leaving the same bar. This time, I was cited for careless driving but no further action. I guess I felt, ‘wow, I'm a lucky girl to have beat the system twice’ and really didn't learn from my experience.
The night of my arrest I was leaving a Christmas party and didn't even think I was impaired, I blew a .19. Ever since that December day I have been an advocate to my friends about drinking and driving because I was concerned about all of the hoops you have to jump through and didn't want them to go through the same, but I was missing a bigger point. Although, from day one I knew and accepted anything that was going to happen to me because I knew I needed to be punished for what I had done, I didn't think about the other side of DUI. After last night they kept talking about just wanting to reach out and save one person. Well I think it was me. I am deeply affected by my experience and it has changed my life. I want to thank the speakers from the bottom of my heart; I will remember their stories forever. Thank you again for doing what you do—you do make a difference!”
Thank you to all of our VIP speakers, and everyone sharing your stories of loss and struggles. As you can see, sharing your story really can make a difference.
If you are interested in becoming a VIP speaker, please find your local office on our website and click the link to volunteer.
