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My parents
always made me go to church, but none of my friends ever had to go. My
friends’ parents didn’t go and they didn’t make they’re kids. I never
understood why they couldn’t be like other parents. It was so unfair!
Sundays and Wednesdays became the dreaded days, because I hated going to
church. So, I spent as much time as possible away from my home, usually
at my friends’ houses. They’re parents were great, because they let us
do whatever we wanted.
I got everything I ever wanted and so much more. Eventually, I started
to believe I deserved to receive things, and I took everything for
granted, including my family. I was a spoiled brat, and I grew into an
arrogant, angry monster. I also wanted so much to fit it. So, I became
very loud and obnoxious in school. I disrespected my teachers just to be
noticed by my peers, and I started getting in trouble a lot. I had
already begun doing drugs and drinking, which only added to my
arrogance. I thought I was so cool. Knowing what a trouble maker I was,
the teachers and administrators at my school were always watching me;
and it did not take long for them to catch me smoking marijuana at
school. They then expelled me from high school, and my parents had to
pay for a private school. I only wanted to go because a friend told me
how easy it was to graduate from there. I was expelled from my high
school during my sophomore year and I graduated from the private school
a year later. Also during that year, I was arrested for possession of
marijuana and was placed on probation. At 17 years old, I was a high
school graduate and on probation.
By this time, my habits had become addictions. I was drinking everyday
now. The summer after graduation, I totaled two cars. Both accidents
were due to my drinking. In the second accident, I flew out of a van and
it rolled on top of me. I had to spend two and a half months in the
hospital having my leg reconstructed. I spent most of that time drugged
up on pain medication, and so I was not yet aware of the seriousness of
my drinking. All I knew was that I couldn’t live without a buzz, and I
didn’t consider anything else an option.
Later, I went to college in Indiana. I didn’t attend classes very much,
but I did manage to get a DUI, driving under the influence. Then, after
a year there, I transferred to another college, and attended there for 3
years. In that time, I was able to get 9 credits and a second DUI.
Knowing I didn’t have much to show for the 3 years I spent at school, I
finally gave up and came home. At 25 years old, I received my 3rd
DUI. My attitude finally changed from feeling good about my life to
feeling absolutely miserable. I drank from morning to night. I worked
just enough to pay my rent and buy alcohol, but eventually it wasn’t
enough. I visited my grandmother in a nursing home just to steal money
and blank checks from her, and I stole checks from my parents also. I
received 3 more DUIs that year.
Finally, everything began crashing around me. My grandmother died and I
was indicted for all the DUIs I had accumulated. I felt utterly
hopeless. The guilt from what I had done to my grandmother and the fear
of the sentence I was facing was overwhelming. I couldn’t keep myself
together anymore. I was going to die if I didn’t get some help. My
sister told me about Teen Challenge over the telephone and how she had
been praying for me. I couldn’t hold back the tears. I asked God to help
me, and the court allowed me to come to Teen Challenge. I am amazed at
how much God has changed me since I have been here. Instead of living in
total misery, I now live in total joy and peace. Instead of feeling
utterly hopeless, I now know that God has a future planned for me. Teen
Challenge has taught me how to have a personal relationship with Jesus,
and it was that relationship that I missed and needed all along!
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