“Changes happen in an instant with car collisions and the pain will affect either you or another person,” Thompson said. Photo courtesy of blog.drivedifferent.com.

On July 1, 2021 Senior Jadyn Thompson and her mother were parked in their driveway when a distracted driver lost control and hit their car. The car spun out causing Thompson to hit her head on the window resulting in a brain injury that she still faces challenges from today. 

Thompson was an athletic child who grew up playing volleyball. Throughout childhood she loved cars and was very excited to start driving. However, after the accident Thompson felt everything had changed. 

“Before the accident, I was obviously very excited for high school. It kind of just shifted everything in a matter of seconds because I got a brain injury,” Thompson said. 

The recovery for Thompson hasn’t been quick or easy but she has come a long way since the accident that occurred during her freshman year. 

“My recovery has been extremely slow, but I’ve come a long way from when my medical issues forced me to complete freshman year from home,” Thompson said. “I felt isolated for quite awhile when I was recovering at home, so when I returned to school my first goal was to finally get involved in our community.”

Her drive to better the community is what has led Thompson to create this senior project– a walk against distracted driving. On Oct. 12, 2024 Thompson is leading a community walk to spread awareness on the dangers of distracted driving. Volunteers of any age and school can attend the event. The walk will begin at 10 a.m. at the Wheatlands Elementary School and end back at the school around noon.

Thompson hopes to share her experience and spread awareness about the dangers of distracted driving with the community in order to prevent future accidents similar to hers.

“I wanted to bring awareness to accidents because I feel like we don’t talk about it as much, we kind of just accept it,” Thompson said. “My vision is to bring our community together in order to help prevent situations like mine from happening to other people.”

Thompson also emphasizes the fact that many people don’t realize how life changing a decision can be to you or others. When it comes to car collisions, just a few seconds can have a significant impact on anyone on the road. 

“ The actions you take on the road impact everyone who shares it with you, so I feel that it’s important we fully operate cars with responsibility. As young drivers we’re bound to make mistakes, but we need to stop making easily avoidable ones like distracted driving,” Thompson said. 

Without the support of the community and her advisors Thompson wouldn’t have been able to put this event together. She thanks Valerie Talton for bringing her vision to life through the A.C.E. (Accelerate Career through Education) mentor program and thanks Aurora Alderman Edward Bugg for his highly valuable help with the project.  

“We’re all human and I really care about others. I felt like something small I could do was start with bringing awareness to distracted driving because of my experiences,” Thompson said.“It’s been really nice to see all the support coming out from the community because I honestly didn’t expect it.”

If you are interested in volunteering at the walk a meeting will be held Oct. 9, 2024 at three p.m. in East’s community room. Volunteers planning to attend the walk should also go to the meeting to help make signs and learn more about plans for the event. If you are unable to attend this meeting you can reach out to Jadyn through email at 170001878@students.sd308.org or WADDinfo@mail.com.

Written by Senior Jordan Fikis. Edited by staff writers for Oswego East’s online news magazine The Howl.