Bad decisions can destroy one's future
Campus Times
December 10, 1999
A certain word, a thought remembered will stir within someday. People
will recall the good times, the bad times and the worst of times. Many events
in a person's lifetime occur without notice. Many events, however, are altered
or changed by the decisions we make.
A decision that a good friend of mine made during Thanksgiving break
could have seriously damaged his future. My friend, "Joel" (whose
true identity shall remain anonymous), is typically a smart person who makes
good decisions. He is outgoing and enjoys the party scene. Joel will graduate
this spring from the university he attends.
Entering Thanksgiving break, Joel was looking forward to seeing all
his high school friends and spending quality time with his family.
On his first night out, the 21-year-old student was driving to a party
with a close friend who attends an out-of-state college and had just arrived
via airplane. The two were drinking beer out of paper cups from 7-11, the
same place where they purchased the alcohol.
With cups in hand and the 40-ounce bottles in the back seat, the two
were catching up on old times.
Less than five minutes away from their destination point, the two found
themselves being pulled over by a police car. Frightened about the booze,
the two tried to cover the containers with a jacket; however, they were
unsuccessful.
Joel admitted that he was drinking when questioned by one of the officers
after handing his identification and registration to him.
While one of the two police officers searched the vehicle for possible
drugs and weapons, Joel and his friend stood cuffed on the sidewalk.
As the officer pulled the bottles and cups and placed them on top of
the car in the cold November night, Joel's heart plunged into a dark abyss.
Accepting that a D.U.I. is in his midst, Bob looks into the future.
"My parents are going to kill me. I'll lose their trust. I won't
be able to drive to my own graduation. I'll probably lose my job since I'll
have no transportation to get their. No senior trip," he thinks to
himself.
As the two stand in the cold, motionless due to fear, the officers write
up tickets. Each receives one for an open container in the car. Joel receives
another for the original reason why he was pulled over: rolling a stop sign.
The officer explains to Joel that he is probably at the illegal alcohol
level (.08) but does not make him take a sobriety test. Trusting that he
is safe enough to get to their destination and respecting the fact that
Joel told him the truth about him drinking, he only told the two to dump
out the beer and go on their way.
Joel and his friend were lucky. This was not the first time that either
of them did this. Neither is it an uncommon thing for college students to
do. Many people know of others, if not themselves, who drive home a little
tipsy or drunk.
Parties, clubs and other social gatherings are fun and alcohol is will
always be a part of them. It is important to drink moderately or plan ahead
for someone else to drive you home. There is no harm in consuming a little
"liquid courage" to loosen you up from the stress from school
or work, but take precautions before doing so.
Remember that a .08 alcohol level is equivalent to one glass of beer
per hour, so you do not need to drink a lot of beer to be legally drunk.
Little decisions like these can keep you from enduring the bad and worst
times.
Damien Alarcon, a senior journalism major, is managing editor of
the Campus Times. He can be reached by e-mail at alarcond@ulv.edu.
