On October 7, Mr. Daniel McCoy gave a seminar to Langley upperclassmen focusing on the aftermath of a night’s few consecutive mistakes. In September 2003, McCoy returned home for a weekend in Maryland from his station in the Marine Corps. After drinking at a fraternity party, he decided to drive himself and a high school student back home. It was shortly after that he went unconscious in the driver’s seat and crashed into a light pole.

Though McCoy made it through with minor injuries, the passenger was not wearing a seatbelt, and had passed away after her “head went through the windshield and her neck cracked open at a forty-five degree angle, causing her to breathe upon her own blood.”

“Drinking and driving is physically, emotionally and mentally destroying a whole community that you have never even met,” said McCoy in his seminar.

Partying habits do not always stop at the university gates; instead, they trail back to social scenes where high school students are prevalent, imposing a college-like setting among younger 18, 17, and even 16-year-olds.    

“The chances are higher for accidents to occur when the two crowds are mixed,” said McCoy. “More kids either have fake IDs or are over 21-years-old, so alcohol is easier to get.  Because of the age differences, the sight of red cups is almost inescapable—as are the consequences of drinking before getting behind wheel.”

However, seniors and juniors with college friends can still associate with each other during the day and bond without the burdens of an underage party. As for the older crowd, McCoy’s advice is clear. “Leave out the alcohol. Don’t bring it,” said McCoy. “In the end, it’s not worth any of it.”

McCoy will be speaking at different schools and military groups, as long as he is able to for the rest of his life. With Thanksgiving break and winter break approaching just around the corner, take McCoy’s words in mind. “As a 25-year-old man, I will never get to look those people in the eye and tell them how sorry I am.”