Schools

After Losing Grandmother to Drunk Driver, Plainfield Teen Becomes MADD Advisor

Bailey Early turned a family tragedy into activism.

Submitted by Plainfield School District 202:

A  period of terrible heartache for Plainfield North High School sophomore Bailey Early may help other teens avoid similar anguish.

Two years ago, a drunk driver killed Early’s grandmother. 

Now she is one of nine students nationwide chosen to serve on the National Teen Influencer Group for the Mothers Against Drunk Driving (MADD) organization. Over the next year, Early and her counterparts across the country will try to help teens understand the dangers – and consequences -- of drunk driving.

Early knows that many teens don’t want to hear this kind of information. She also knows that they could hear much worse, as she did on the Fourth of July, 2011.

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“I remember my mom getting the call from (the hospital),” that Early’s grandmother had been hit by a driver with multiple drunk driving offenses. Her grandmother and grandfather had been walking home from a popular suburban summer festival.

“I was very close to my grandmother. She died the next morning. We spent the Fourth of July planning her funeral,” Early said.

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Fast forward to this summer. Early learned about the Teen Influencer program from her mom, who works for MADD, and decided to apply.

The teen advisors wrote essays about drunk driving and their interest in the topic, which were reviewed officials from MADD and their program partner, State Farm Insurance, said MADD’s spokeswoman, Anna Duerr.

The group now gets together throughout the year via conference call to discuss ideas and programs to help dissuade teens from drinking and driving, Duerr said.

The teen advisors held their first conference call in early October, discussing training opportunities and possible activities, Early said.

“We want to do things that will really resonate and make a difference,” like promoting special activities during Red Ribbon Week each year, she said, adding that there are 4,700 deaths each year caused by underage drinking.

Early has already met with PNHS Principal Ray Epperson to talk about ways she can share her message at the school. “We’re very proud of Bailey’s commitment to this program and look forward to working with her this year,” Epperson said.

Despite her strong feelings on the subject, Early made it abundantly clear that being out front on a program like this is not her cup of tea.

“This is way out of my comfort zone, but I want to influence people to not drink and drive,” she said. “If you can influence one person, then you can maybe save someone’s life.”


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