It's pretty hard for me to understand what it would be like if I didn't live where I do, didn't have the parents I do, the teachers I have and have had, and all the other great people who have been part of my life. I know I have had opportunities not all kids get. I know I am loved. I was taught to love myself. I guess there are a lot of kids who don't have this kind of training.

Some people think I don't have problems. Well, I do. I don't always like my parent's rules or what they expect of me. I have had to move three times when I didn't want to. I would like a Nintendo 64. I would like a Game Boy I don't have to share with my sister. I would like to live in a house like we used to, and not in an apartment.

Sometimes kids make fun of me. They tease me for different reasons: They think I am a little geeky/dorky, because I like to learn. They think I am a computer nerd, because I am the webmaster for my school. I love to play sports, but I don't play them very well. And there will probably be more reasons why I will get teased. Take my last name for example.

I don't always like myself. I don't always believe in myself. Sometimes I don't even like me. But the way I see it is I can either be thankful for who I am or I can throw away all the opportunites that will be given to me. I realize I could throw away a lot of chances in the future if I do something "felony stupid" today (sorry, my Dad's favorite line). So I think about the future even when I am discouraged or upset with the way my life is. There are lots more reasons to live for the future than there are to take a chance of ruining my future.

The most important thing D.A.R.E. has taught me is that I do have choices I can make. I can choose to be Drug-Free, or I can choose to be addicted to drugs that would destroy my life and cause pain to the people I care about. There are ways to respond to invitations, but the best way is to be assertive without being aggressive or passive. I have the right to state my beliefs.

My parents have always talked to me about drugs, so I knew before the class started drugs were something I didn't want to take. But Officer Grissom explained the different types of drugs, what they do, and how they are harmful. Some drugs are more addictive than others, but even the "safest" drugs can lead to more addicting ones. Drugs will usually put you in a group of people who do not care about your best interests. Drugs will cheat you out of a future you can make for yourself.

I was surprised to learn that only 14 out of every 100 students take drugs. I think most of us think it is a lot higher than that. This fact gives the non-drug taking kids an advantage, because we now know we don't have to take drugs to be "in" with the crowd. WE ARE THE CROWD!

So, if you are considering just experimenting with cigarettes, alcohol, or any other drugs, think again. All the people who are now addicted to these drugs started by just experimenting. You will be joining the minority. You will be threatening your future, and possibly your life. You would NOT be doing something kewl (*cool*); you would be doing something really "felony stupid!"  :-)