Cousins bring speaker to school for Red Ribbon Week

Last week for Red Ribbon week, a week devoted to helping prevent future drug-abuse in kids and young adults, Thompson Falls high school hosted national speaker Ethan Fisher who presented “LifeCONsequences: A Tale of Redemption.” Noxon, Plains and Thompson Falls high school students gathered to hear Fisher, who was brought to the school by siblings Declan and Caitrin Harrington. The Harringtons' cousin, Bridget Kirby, was killed as a passenger in a drunk driving accident. They raised funds to bring Fisher to Montana. The siblings got the idea after their aunt and Bridget's mother, Maureen Kirby, helped bring Fisher to Carroll College after Bridget’s death.

Maureen started the presentation telling the students that this week would have been Bridget’s 23rd birthday, and that “choices have consequences and have a ripple effect on everyone around you.” She said she was proud and thankful that Fisher was here to not only tell his story but to help bring light to the cause and effect drinking and driving has.

Fisher started with a quick freestyle rap to catch the kids attention, from there he asked if anyone suffered with mental illness, he gave a fact that before the 2020 pandemic only about 20% of people said they did. But after the pandemic almost half the population says they suffer from mental illness. Fisher said as the pandemic worsened, like a lot of people he went into a severe depression, saying he had the third worst mental breakdown of his life. He thought about ending it all, but then looked down and saw his two cute puppies and wondered who would take care of them, then he thought about the thousands of students he’s talked to. Fisher said he made a choice then, and that fear and anxiety isn’t as bad as you think. Fisher went on to explain that he has severe social anxiety, from which he turned that fear into a passion, talking with young adults. Fisher went on to talk about how hard it was growing up, not because of a hard life but because he was in a constant fight with himself and his mind. He said once he hit high school he started drinking after upper classmen took him to a house party. Fisher told the students how it started with him drinking on the weekends, then every day, before school, at lunch, and even before basketball practice. He made it through his senior year, and went on to get a full ride to college to play basketball. Fisher said he was sober, doing great, until the pressure of college got to him and he resorted back to drinking. Losing his scholarship he headed back home to restart, Fisher then went on to explain the same story twice more. By 2001 Fisher had gone to five different colleges, each time starting good until it wasn’t. Fisher explained that by the time he was 22 he finally saw professional help, and would get on medication to help combat his mental illness. Then Fisher had everyone close their eyes and think about people who cared about them, friends, family, coaches, teachers, the person maybe sitting next to them. As we opened our eyes, Fisher went on to talk about a fateful night, how he went to a party and drank wine for the first time. How no one took his keys, stopped him from leaving and how he didn’t remember anything until he woke up in the hospital. Fisher went on to explain how nurses kept asking him if he knew what he did, he didn’t. He said that they finally told him he had hit and killed a man, telling the students his name was Bill. Bill was going back home after star gazing, headed to his wife of 30 years. But Bill never made it home, Fisher hit Bill going 72 miles an hour and killed him on impact.

“Drinking doesn’t discriminate.” Fisher said quietly.

Fisher did three years jail time, he told the students that he went to a bootcamp program where 13 out of 46 inmates completed for lessen sentences, one being Fisher. Fisher then explained how he went on to play college basketball as an inmate, from the ages of 28-30. Joking that he was the second oldest player to ever play college basketball, he went on to earn his bachelor degree and other degrees. Fisher said he raised grant money for inmates, got awards at his college, and is 20 years sober. But all these good things, can’t bring Bill or Bridget back. He urged the students to think about five key things. Accountably, to set goals, choices and decisions, perseverance, and to have faith. After Fisher explained how he got his life back together, how his choices stayed with him and will stay with him forever, he urged the students to reach out for mental help providing several resources for anyone struggling. Fisher reminded everyone that each choice you make doesn’t just affect you but everyone around you, urging the students to stop and think before their next big one.