Many students are learning how to drive and applying for their driver’s license. When at the DMV, they are asked to list their personal information i.e. weight, height, date of birth, sex etc. Some may be unaware that it is possible to apply to be an organ donor.

There are 21,000 people in California awaiting organ donations at any time making up 20 percent of the organ donation waiting list nationwide according to the California DMV Organ and Tissue Donation Information website. The process of post mortem organ removal is surrounded with stigma, some finding it disrespectful for the deceased or just off putting that organs are being taken out of their body.

So how do VHS students feel about being an organ donors?

When asked how she felt about being a organ donor, junior Samantha Henley said, “I feel like I’m contributing to a good cause. I wouldn’t want to keep any of my organs if it means helping someone else.”

When asked about being a licensed driver and organ donor, junior Shannon David said, “I do have my drivers license. I got it a couple months ago. When both me and my brother applied, my dad told us not to apply to be an organ donor. Obviously being an organ donor seemed like a no brainer to me considering a transplant could save or transform the life of a person, but my dad being a possibly insane, gullible, conspiracy theorist, he thinks if the elite need organs, they will turn to young people and stage ‘accidents’ to kill kids in order to save themselves. So I’m not an organ donor until I turn 18.”