SADD also known as Students Against Destructive Decisions is a nationally known club in which the members of the club must act as a positive role model in and out of school. The purpose of the club is to spread awareness and prevent destructive decisions such as drinking and driving, drug use, teen violence, and teen suicide. Some activities Academy of the Holy Names’ SADD chapter has chosen to participate in are SADD Awareness Rally, Black-Out Day, Vigils, Red Ribbon Week, seat belt checks, and zero tolerance meetings. This year’s club is moderated by Betsy Suskauer and is run by senior Sophia Guerra, president.

Their most recent event was the “Grim Reaper” simulation on November 5. The whole idea was to pick a SADD member to be “killed off” to show the effect destructive decisions can have on a school community by having that SADD member remain silent for the rest of the day. Each person selected shared someone’s true story and the effect their decision had on them. The stories chosen were about texting and driving, binge drinking, drinking and driving, and overdosing. The idea was used by Academy’s SADD chapter in the past, but was just now brought back to our school. Guerra hoped to “scare girls into realizing that their actions have consequences.” When talking about decisions such as drinking and driving, she strongly believed in the power of one person’s actions affecting a whole community. SADD club’s purpose in doing this was to “show our students that this can happen to you if you don’t make the right decisions.”

Be on the look out for the other activities SADD has planned for this school year! Guerra informed us that they are planning to do the Mistletoe activity once again that says, “don’t kiss your life away,” handing out lifesavers during spring break, and a “prom promise.”