Scituate High School students filed into the gymnasium on Tuesday, October 2nd, to find a podium, single microphone, and rows of chairs. Most students had heard rumors regarding the assembly, but no one anticipated the power behind the presentation that was about to unfold.

Christopher Herren came to the high school to share his experiences with drug abuse with the student body. Once a professional basketball player, his battle with addiction eventually led to his downfall. The former star player made himself relatable to the assembled students by retelling the story of how as a high schooler, he would sit in the back of the gymnasium during similar assemblies and tune out the presentation. Standing in front of the assembled students, Herren reiterated the mantra that most students believe, “all I do is drink and smoke.” This enforced that teens believe that they are not susceptible to drug addiction. His story proved these assumptions wrong as his innocent usages turned into hard, addictive drug usage during his first year at Boston College.

Cocaine use ultimately led to his expulsion from Boston College. He was then enrolled in college at California State University in Fresno, California after the basketball coach there told him that he was “a fan of second chances.” In California, Herren attempted to sober up. After a misstep here and there, Herren was eventually drafted in his senior year of college into the NBA.

“Since I was four years old I had wanted to be a Celtic,” Herren tells the crowd.

Herren’s story is full of ups and downs, detoxes and relapses. Eventually, Herren was forced to go overseas to find a team to sign him. Even in other nations, he succumbed to his drug fix and eventually stopped playing. At twenty four years old, he was a convicted felon. In August 2008, Herren finally sobered up and he now tours the country promoting his “Project Purple” campaign.

As they exited the gym, students and faculty alike were in shock from the presentation’s overwhelming information and touching story. Many had not felt the impact right away, but overall a great deal of students were hoping for a positive outcome throughout the school.

“I enjoyed the presentation because something that powerful makes one realize what a single decision can lead to and how hard it is to forgive yourself for that choice,” said senior Emily Richard. The community hopes to see a change in the mindset of students. Many students felt that an alteration in the school community is inevitable and needed.

“I think it will definitely make a lot of people rethink doing drugs especially because his experience is really recent and really detailed. I think it will definitely help to make a change,” said freshman Connor Hodges.

Although the presentation had to be shortened because of time constraints, the community seemed to digest Herren’s message with hopes to see a difference in everyday choices of Scituate students.

The F.A.C.T.S. organization brought Herren to SHS. F.A.C.T.S. stands for Family, Adolescents, and Community Together against Substances. There are 12 different sectors of the organization around Scituate including teachers, small business owners, and students here at SHS. The program is working to apply for a drug free community grant which could be used towards drug education, a safe teen space, or law enforcement.  Juniors Cathryn Blair and Victoria Johnson are two students at SHS involved with F.A.C.T.S. through SADD Club.

“We pretty much are the student representation, so we talk about what the students want,” Blair said. “Personally, I think being that a person that doesn’t use substances, I want to promote it. I want to make the school aware that the choices you make will affect you.” The students and the organization are looking to improve the choices Scituate community makes as a whole, and Herren’s presentation was just the first step in the journey.

Herren’s final question in the auditorium rang out loud and clear that Tuesday afternoon: “Why do you need to become someone different on Friday and Saturday nights?” He followed up his question with a powerful statement: “Be who you are, because you’re perfect that way. Be the kid who never had to change himself.”