About a year ago I made the biggest mistake of my life, I drove under the influence of marijuana. Since then, my life has changed in immense ways. I have experienced things I shouldn’t ever have experienced as a teen. I have seen the inside of a police car, a ten-week intensive substance abuse program, and the inside of a courtroom. I have lost more than most people my age can say, like my license, my parent's trust, and my ignorant innocence. I did this to myself when I got behind the wheel, but I am lucky it stopped there. That night, I endangered my own life, my best friend’s life, and others on the road. I was careless, and that mistake will forever hang over my shoulders. The mistake I made was a really big one, but in hindsight, I am really grateful I was pulled over before something much worse happened.
That night, I was hanging out with my best friend, Delaney. I decided to get high and that moment changed my life forever. I was pulled over not too long after for not fully stopping for a right-hand turn during a red light. The feeling in my stomach when I saw the blue and red lights behind me was unlike any other. My stomach turned into a stone and my spine, a soggy noodle. My eyes filled with tears scared of what was to come next.
I then talked to the cops, Delaney was released to her mom and I had to go to the station...in handcuffs. From then my dad picked me up and I was grounded for what felt like forever.
After that, I went to court for the first time. I was given two classes to go to: M.A.D.D, mothers against drunk driving, and a driving course.
I went to M.A.D.D first. They have multiple classes every month, so I chose a day and waited. To be completely honest, that day I was so nervous to attend. I didn’t know what to expect, but when I arrived, I was taken aback in the most horrific way. There was a long line waiting to go into the church, a long line of people who have gotten D.U.I. I mean yes, I wasn’t alone in this, but seeing this was probably worse. Knowing that these many people have gotten D.U.I and there were multiple sessions per month, the math baffled me. I entered the church and took my assigned seat. I waited with my mom for it to start and then the night began.
A woman walked up and introduced herself, she was with M.A.D.D. She showed us statistics and the logistics, then introduced us to a woman in a hat. She had lost her sister, Amy, to a drunk driver while she was riding her motorcycle. It was a dark night and Amy was just riding her bike, unknowing of what was about to happen. It was a terrible collision that severed her spine, damaged her brain, and left her clinging to life for 111 days. He had more than a dozen drinks before getting into his car and eleven people called 911 suspecting a drunken driver on the road. I was taken completely aback. The man, a man with 17 D.U.I. charges was found guilty of second-degree murder, two counts of aggravated assault, four counts of aggravated driving under the influence, two counts of endangerment, and one count of criminal damage. by a Pima County Superior Court jury. The man will face a maximum of 59 years in prison, a sentence that could be stacked on top of an 11-year sentence he is currently serving in a prior DUI case. This night was just a normal night and it happened on a normal road, Sahuarita Road and Alvernon Way. These factors matter because there is always the possibility of a drunk driver on the road or a high one. This night in particular changed many lives drastically. It changed Amy’s, her family’s, the men, Amy’s biking friends, and ours, who heard her story at M.A.D.D.
The second story we heard was of Kevin. His dad was the speaker and he has also written a book about his experience of losing a child to alcohol poisoning. This one hit even closer to home because I was there with my mom. Kevin had just graduated and wanted to get out of his parent's house, like any other kid. He had his truck, found an apartment, and told his parents his plan. The day finally came when Kevin would move out, but before he left with his friends he talked to his dad. His friends had planned a housewarming party that night and Kevin was excited. Just before going, Kevin said he’ll come to get his toothbrush tomorrow, and that was the last conversation that Barry had with his son. Later that night, Kevin had drunk a ton, crashed on his bed, and left a few drunk calls to his sister. His friends laid him on his side, but that wasn’t enough. Early the next morning, Kevin died of alcohol poisoning. This news came to Barry by cops at his front door. Even when he opened the door to see them, he didn’t expect to hear what he was about to hear. No one does. No one should automatically think that a loved one has died, it’s too morbid to think about, but it’s real life sometimes. Barry was told that his son had died and of course, it crushed him. So to honor his son, Barry chose an ambitious journey. Barry wanted to walk with Kevin’s ashes from Arizona to Montana, where he and Kevin would go during the summer. Kevin loves it there and said many times that’s where he wanted to live when he was older, but he never got the chance. Barry walked 1400 miles in honor of his son, alone. It was a big task, but it was a way for him to say goodbye. The thing is, he shouldn’t have had to say goodbye. Alcohol poisoning is preventable and the outcomes are horrific. Losing a son is unimaginable to all but the ones who have already lost someone. It hurts my heart knowing that this is the reality for some, showing myself that my actions can come with rippling effects and consequences. I must be sure to think about the risks I am taking before doing something I will regret later.
The second class was a traffic school, but I accidentally took two. The first one was 5 hours in a hotel conference room. I arrived early with paper and pencil in hand, checked in, and picked a seat. For the next five hours, I learned all about the rules of the road. This instructor went into such depth that I catch myself repeatedly saying them just while being a passenger. They taught us these rules for a reason, to help us become better drivers. By knowing these rules, we can be defensive drivers and help others as well. There are people on the road, completely oblivious to the law, and they have the chance of getting in trouble or possibly getting hurt. By taking this class and knowing the rules, it is less likely for me to make the same mistakes. The second class that I took was an eight-hour long class and was all about traffic survival. Here they had us fill out a book with different activities and tests to help us understand the information. We took a test on what driver we are like and we watched informative videos that we dissected after watching them. Later in the class, we talked specifically about DUI and this helped open my eyes even further. Getting deep into the actual law of it all is different than knowing the gist. Getting deep, not just into learning all of this, but retaining the information has helped me become a better driver without getting behind the wheel.
Additionally, on top of all of this, my parents made me go to a substance abuse program. It was 10 weeks long, Nine hours each week. While I didn't see myself as'The same' as other students there I realized I was. I needed to be there and I needed to learn. Instead of rejecting the class and fighting it, I instead excepted where I was and that I'd put myself there. I went in with a good attitude and finished the course in a great spot In my life.
After these classes, being in a car hasn’t been the same. I made the mistake to get behind the wheel, but I also made the rippling effects on loved ones and myself. This was a hardship that was 100% my fault. I seem to keep that day on my mind all the time and it seems to follow me around too. I did this to myself and I am where I am. That night and every memory attached to it have impacted me in a new way, but I have a good mindset knowing that my mistakes do not define me unless I let them, so I will not let this mistake take over my life. I will move past this because I am better than this, I know I am. Today, September 30th, 2019 I am 372 days sober and I am proud. Knowing that I have achieved this gives me hope for my future. it will be bright because I learned from my mistake. My DUI impacted my life in immeasurable ways, but it taught me so much, things I will never forget.