On Thursday, October 3rd five students from StepUP were invited to share their stories with approximately 200 freshman students at Benilde St. Margaret’s high school. I had the great opportunity to go with my peers, and we had a great turn out! We set it up as a student panel, all five of us sitting at the front of a huge room. We shared with the BSM freshman how and when we were exposed to drugs and alcohol for the first time and how it took over our lives completely. My peers and I all have very different stories to tell, which was good because it gave these young students a new perspective that it could happen to anyone, from the captain of the lacrosse team to the sweet, “goody two shoes” girl from Oklahoma.
Reflecting on my time with these students brings me back to when I was in junior high and I never thought that addiction and alcoholism would effect me (regardless that it runs in my family). I was ecstatic to help share my stories in hopes that they would get a better understanding. After going through addiction and recovery I have become so passionate about how I live my life today. Knowing it is possible for anyone to become an addict/alcoholic, but also knowing that almost anyone anywhere can recover from the dark life they formerly led. I can’t speak for my peers, but I’m certain some of them would agree that our recovery is not about what we did; it is about what others helped us do through trusting and having faith in a power greater than ourselves. It is remarkable and brings me to tears when I get to sit in front of these freshmen with a group of young, strong individuals and share not only our stories, but our successes. Not to sound cliche or cheesy but it truly is a miracle. The places that my friends and I have come from gave us little hope for the future and now we are in college, with goals and dreams to achieve, studying hard each night for our classes the next day, and willingly being of service to those around us.
We definitely had an impact on a few students in the audience, which was bittersweet. It is sad to know that someone could be living in that insanity, but I’m grateful that I got the opportunity to share where I had been and where I am today. I know that out of the 200 people there, if my story or my peers story only helped one or two people then we’re carrying a message that needs to be heard.