MADD Teen Influencer
September 2024
leading to lifelong dependencies. Given my family’s history with alcoholism, I would be wise to avoid having a drink at my seventeen years of age. Alcoholism is considered a familial disorder and genetics can play a part in development. Knowing this prior to starting high school, I was aware that social and environmental factors could be highly influential on me, so my decision to avoid drinking altogether completely made sense.
In addition to addiction, teenagers who are caught drinking alcohol can face legal consequences, including fines, hours of mandatory community service, loss of driving privileges, or even jail time. In California, a minor who consumes or purchases alcohol in a public place is guilty of a misdemeanor. These charges can and will appear on permanent records. No high schooler would want a college admissions officer to see a reckless and careless offense when evaluating a prospective student. It is in my best interest, or that of any other aspiring college student, to avoid committing any crimes, no matter how “harmless” or “minor” they may appear. Over the past three years as a teen influencer for
MADD, I have learned that what is popular is not always right and what is right is not always popular. Where there is resistance, change often follows, so I continue to be loud while advocating for my community to confront issues like alcohol abuse head on. I can’t stop every teenager under the influence of drugs and alcohol from getting behind the wheel, but I can help tackle my community’s most vulnerable trigger points in order to make it safer for all individuals.
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