Brighton High School junior Sean Hines took 15 people to his first Prom on Saturday, May 17th. Now 15 students from teachers Lisa Johnson, Kevin Prohaska, and Becky Lucas' Transition to Independence Program (TIP) have the memory of a lifetime.
“I woke up one morning and God spoke to me and pointed me in that direction,” Hines said.
Hines visited Johnson’s class weeks ahead of Prom to get familiar with students in the class. The TIPS team are a group of students who perform tasks around BHS that help enhance job skills, such as delivering mail or shopping for groceries for Bake Shop.
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Hines had originally planned on taking one date from the TIPS program but when students felt uncomfortable being singled out, he opened it up to the group. This allowed several couples and some going stag to go to the high school dance.
“I had a blast with all my friends. I want to thank Sean, otherwise I wouldn’t have gone to Prom,” senior Clayton Chenoweth said.
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Students met at the Brighton Mill Pond gazebo for pictures, then headed over to Aubrey’s in Howell for dinner. Some parents felt reluctant to let their kids go on to the dance without them. Hines reassured them, then proceeded to make two car trips in his Chevy Traverse, driving the students from Aubrey’s to the dance at Cleary University in Howell.
“Sean is an anomaly. He is so genuine. Watching him with those students was one of the most heartwarming things I’ve ever seen,” Johnson said.
Parents were grateful after, sharing a fear their son or daughter would not have gone had it not been for Hines. He recalls students having a great time on the dance floor.
“Everyone deserves a chance to go to Prom. Every student deserves something to look forward to. I thought I’d give them that chance,” Hines said.
Several participants made the night one to remember. The Derrig family (Hines’ aunt and uncle) paid for the group's dinner, Brighton Tux discounted Hine’s tux, and Four Seasons florist provided the students with boutonnieres and corsages. The flowers were presented to the students by Hines when they arrived for pictures at the Millpond.
“I think the smile on my face was bigger than the one on theirs,” Hines said.
Hines stressed he tries to live according to the following:"Work for a cause, not an applause. Live life to express not to impress. Don't strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt."
