Former professional basketball player, author, and wellness advocate Chris Herren shared his powerful life story with students, faculty, staff, and families in King’s Performing Arts Center theater on Tuesday, January 14. Sponsored by the Parents’ Association Speaker Series, the presentations provided a powerful, real-world perspective on the importance of perseverance and early intervention in overcoming life’s challenges.
Middle and upper school students experienced “Chris Herren: The First Day” in divisional assemblies during the school day. Both presentations began with a screening of “The First Day: A Focus on the Beginning,” highlighting Herren’s rise to fame in basketball, his fall into addiction, and his complicated journey to sobriety. Following the film, Herren spoke directly to students, sharing additional details about his life as a teenager, athlete, and speaker, as well as his current work supporting youth recovery through his company, Herren Wellness.
“A lot of time in these kinds of talks is spent on the worst day, but not the first day,” Herren told the students, urging them to seek help if they, or someone they know, is struggling with drugs or alcohol.
Herren shared his message with families in an evening presentation of “Prevention Starts With All: The Chris Herren Story.”
The event featured a short film introducing his story and a brutally honest presentation about the realities of moving from addiction to sobriety. Additional insight was shared on themes of gateway drugs, prescription drug use, vaping, and the community’s collective responsibility in prevention.
At the conclusion of the event, audience members had the opportunity to ask questions, during which parents expressed their gratitude for the talk.
“I shed a tear during his presentations,” said Parents’ Association Past President Sandy Burgoyne P’27. “I came away from the evening feeling empowered and motivated to help those who need it and those who might not yet know they need help.”
Special thanks to the PA Speaker Series co-chairs Erica Van Wyck P’30 and Pam Breakstone P’30, Parents’ Association Vice President of Events Darunee Gambino P’27, ’29, ’32, Parents’ Association President Hillary Rosenthal P’32, and Past President Sandy Burgoyne P’27 for coordinating this incredible opportunity.