Sometimes people learn lessons the hard way – resulting in loss, injury or even death.

Unfortunately for Mark Sterner and his four best friends, one night of fun resulted in all of this, as well as a life full of sadness, reflection on what would have been and the constant memory and pain of that fateful night.

Sterner spoke of this night and its aftermath Sunday in the Sun Room of the Memorial Union to a room full of somber students, faculty and friends who listened intently to his powerful lesson.

During spring break of 1994, Sterner and his friends were on their last night in Sanibel Island, Fla. Sterner was driving the group home when he lost control of the car and crashed. His three friends – Jim, Pete and Aaron – were killed instantly.

Sterner began his lecture by showing the video of his friends at the bars, taking shots and dancing. He followed the video immediately with still shots of the totaled car after the accident.

“We wanted to make a video that we could look back on in 15 years and say `Man, we were so stupid back in college,'” he said.

“Now we won’t ever be able to look back, because 15 minutes after this video was made, three of my best friends were dead.”

Sterner was sentenced to two years in prison and 12 years of probation on three counts of DUI manslaughter.

“I would have been the first [in my family] to graduate from college, but now I was the first to go to prison,” he said.

Jennifer Sikute, staff psychologist for Student Counseling Services, said Sterner had an important message to send.

“I thought it was an excellent message, especially coming directly from the source,” Sikute said.

“It is important for students to hear these things from someone who has been through this, not just someone preaching at them.”

Unable to rid himself of the constant guilt and sadness, Sterner now travels across the country speaking at colleges and universities, hoping to stop students from making similar same mistake.

“If you listen to what I have to say, my friends didn’t die for nothing,” he said.

“People tend to believe they are invincible, but this nightmare will play over and over again in your head for the rest of your life if you’re not careful. Believe me.”