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I had a loving family, good friends, and a
future in sports. My life was comfortable and seemed to flow smoothly
throughout high school. However, when I moved out to go to college, I
felt alone and depressed. I was uncomfortable and unsure of myself. I
failed out of the first semester because I spent most of my time
drinking.
An accident prohibited me from enrolling in the
next semester of classes. I got a job and was soon promoted, but this
did not help the loneliness that followed me. One of my coworkers
introduced me to crystal meth. The drug seemed to soothe my misery much
better than alcohol. It made me feel like a new man. I could stay awake,
get up in the mornings, and go to work, but only for a short time. I
soon realized I couldn't do anything without the drug. Even with it, I
felt the despair and loneliness growing inside me. Crystal meth
eventually helped me lose my job. I could no longer afford to pay rent,
buy food, or support my drug addiction. The money soon ran out, and I
moved in with my grandparents. I now had to figure out a new way to
support my addiction.
I studied and learned how to make crystal meth.
My life was soon consumed with making, selling, and doing drugs. I never
imagined I would turn out this way. I was supposed to become successful,
either through sports or academics, but I had only succeeded in dealing
and doing drugs. I manufactured crystal meth in my grandparents’ barn,
and when I burned it down, they kicked me out. I then moved the lab into
my truck.
As one of the biggest drug dealers in the area,
I thought I was invincible. However, the police began to notice my
suspicious activity. Over the next two years, I went to jail three
times. I wanted to stop, but I couldn't stand how miserable and
depressed I felt. A pastor came to visit me in jail and told me about
Teen Challenge. He explained that without a relationship with Jesus, I
would have to resist drugs on my own. I had already tried that, and I
knew I couldn't do it. I prayed and asked Jesus to help me get to Teen
Challenge. The judge allowed me to come. and I learned that Jesus can
not only provide a way out of a life of drugs, but He can replace the
darkness and despair with love, peace, and joy beyond what I ever
thought possible.
I graduated from the program in May 2004, and
served as an intern for one year. After completing the internship, I was
given the opportunity to become staff. I was the Intern Supervisor at
Teen Challenge for 1 1/2 years, am now enrolled in Zion Bible College,
and was recently elected President of my class.
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