Feature Article

Learning the Hard Way

A while ago, our son, Jason, turned seventeen. Two days after his birthday, Jason went to a concert and accepted a couple of alcoholic drinks. After the concert, he and his friends got into his car and headed home. On the way, a police officer noticed the brake light was out and pulled them over. Jason failed the sobriety tests. He was arrested and taken to the police station in handcuffs.

Jason had to deal with the consequences; a possible DWI, and the court system. He lost his driving privileges. He also lost his chance to play in sectional soccer games for his high school. Obviously, he was not using good discretion that night. It was a blessing no one was hurt.

The day after his arrest, Jason said to me, “I guess I wasn’t ready to drive.” Jason wanted me to use his story in this book. He planned to join a school club called SADD (Students Against Destructive Decisions), and hoped to help others make smart decisions. His ability to use discretion the next time improved with his experience and understanding.

Jason is learning discretion. As well as having the Intention to not hurt others, we also need to use our mental abilities too. We need to remember that drinking and driving is extremely dangerous for everybody. Then, we can think before we act. We can say, “No thank you” when offered alcohol and want to drive. We can also say, “No thank you” to drugs or other experiences, which can be self-destructive, or harmful to others.

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