La Serna High School - Pennon Yearbook (Whittier, CA)

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If you wanna play, you gotta pay! Some were ready, some were excited, other , were unprepared, a few were scared, a couple didn ' t care, many were confused, most didn ' t know what to exjx-ct. But once he spoke, all was clear. This was not the actor or the story. This was the real Toma, who appeared hefore La Serna ' s 1,500 stu- dents at an assembly which lasted over two and a half hours. David Toma has devoted the past 23 years to warning kids about the dangers of drug abuse. In his lectures, Toma gives frightening and explosive accounts of what has happened to other drug users in an attempt to direct users and possible begin- ners away from drugs and alcohol. He had been a policeman in Newark for over 21 years. He served 16 of those years as a detective in Vice, where he became a master of disguise. Toma himself became addicted I ' M ' r s to tranquilizers soon after his son died from chocking on a piece of food. His son ' s death was ironic because Toma, that same day, had saved the life of a small child who had been choking on a piece of charcoal, yet he was unable to save his own son. Toma was ill the day he spoke. He had just lost his sister to injuries sustained in an accident caused by a drunk driver. That, in addition to the fact that he had a bad case of bronchitis, led Toma to break down quite easily while on stage. lomj After recognizing the presence of Whit- tier ' s Mayor, Gene Chandler, members of the Board of Trustees and PTA mem- bers, Mr. Camalich introduced David Toma. Toma told some of the fascinating stories about his life. He spoke of the hor- rors he faced while fighting the Mafia. They threatened him, his wife, and his daughter. This government within a gov- ernment is making money off the drugs that you kids take, said Toma. Toma spoke of the many chemicals and poisons in a typical marijuana joint. The effect a marijuana joint will have on a smok- er is totally unpredictable. Where the mari- juana was grown, how it was cultivated, what one had eaten that day, his mood, and even the weather influence the effect, Toma said. He told a frightening case of a boy who, under the influence of LSD, took his fin- gers and actually tore his eyes out of their sockets. Then he described an incident in- volving his daughter. After graduation re- hearsals, Toma ' s daughter called him and asked if she could go out with some friends. He consented, but brought her car to her because he wanted her to go separately. It was later discovered that the two guys she was to ride with got drunk and crashed their car into a tree while driving 80 m.p.h. Both bovs died. The highlight of the assembly came when Toma asked if there were any reco- vering addicts in the audience. Student Paul DeMarco stood up and walked down to the stage. Paul had been addicted to drugs for years. When Toma asked him why he quit, Paul responded, I just got tired of being tired. When asked what advice he would give to other students thinking about quitting, Paul just said, You c got to really want it. Whether students agree or disagree with his controversial approach, Toma is still respected for his definite stand against drugs. As Toma would say, And you can bet on it, bab) ' .

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(top) The entire cast of the play assembles on stage for a final bow. (above) Preparing to make their exit, Damian Tong, Chris Grubbs, and Jim Thomas graciously bow to Megan Eustis. (left) As Monsieur Bonnegoy, played by Jason Thom- as, prrpjrfs (o make himself comfortable, Megan Eustis breaks dorm m sobs. Fall Play

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