There was a girl in my Spanish class a few years ago that really made an impression on me. She was by no means a good role model—she was quite the opposite, actually. She bragged about doing things I couldn’t ever imagine doing, because I was in my own little bubble at that point.
Pictures on Facebook showed her passed out on a floor with a mysterious red cup, staggering around and “having fun.” From that point on, it was clear to me that I didn’t want to be that person. I didn’t want to look like a fool. I was always an innocent child. Call it good morals or a good upbringing, but while everyone else went out to parties every weekend in middle school, I stayed home and did homework, watched TV, and invented new andfun games with my little sister. I had friends.
High school was my reality check. I had known the kids my age went out and got drunk, but high school is when it really clicked. Kids make bad decisions in high school, some worse than others. Some continue to make those bad decisions in college. It’s unfortunate, but that’s the truth.I’m sitting on my bed right now with a bath towel wrapped around my hair, writing an article about drinking on a Friday night while my peers are probably at a party with their own red cup, doing things they will probably regret later.
After moving away, one of my good friends turned to alcohol one or two times, because her new friends were doing it, too. I love this girl and watching her go down that road was one of the most painful things I’ve had to go through. I wanted to do all I could to prevent her from turning into the girl in my Spanish class.
I’ve managed to stay away from poor choices because of my friends, the driving force for my temperance. Friday and Saturday nights we walk around the local shopping hangout, pointing out cute guys and eating at various places. We have sleepovers and enjoy ourselves by going to theme parks, watching movies, even playing video games.
Luckily, I’ve been able to stay away from other people who don’t do the same, and I try to always guide my little sister in the right direction. Staying above the influence has been a prime factor in my upbringing, and having such morally stable people such as my friends and family is something I will never take for granted. I will never, ever be like the girl in my Spanish class.
– Rebecca Plunkett
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