Dare Graduation

Lex, Emi and ShayLex is an official D.A.R.E. graduate now. This past week she got to put on her fancy shirt and sing “D – I don’t do drugs, A – check my attitude, R – respect others, and E – educate myself.” Alexis wrote the following essay to wrap up her DARE experience. Her friend Shaylyn was selected to read hers at the graduation, she was proud of her friend.

If your friend stuck her tongue to a frozen flag pole would you? If you did, it could really hurt. It wouldn’t be worth it just to follow the crowd. Drugs can be like the flag pole in your life and really harm you. Friends can be important to you and you might lose them by saying no to drugs and violence, but I think you’re future is more important than that. Here are the effects of some drugs.
Meth can cause many sicknesses such as gross skin, high temperatures, and it can also raise your heartbeat. There are some popular commercials playing on television saying, “Meth � not even once,” and it’s true! Nine people out of ten will be addicted to Meth after using it for the first time. Do you want to take the risk?
Another type of addiction can be alcohol. It doesn’t just make you light headed; it can cause accidents and death. I have tried on beer goggles before and decided that I wasn’t going to drink alcohol. Alcohol goes right to your blood stream and causes your brain to slow down. Accidents and death can happen to you as well as others. People who choose to drink and then drive can cause injury or death to many people. Do you want to cause injury or death?
If you do drugs while you are in a sport it will only slow you down and harm your body, so don’t think it’s some type of medication. If you swim and do drugs, prepare to drown because you’ll be so dizzy that you’ll give up and sink. Do you want to drown?
Inhalants can kill brain cells and can also make you dizzy. Anything scholastic will not help you in a situation with this drug. Many of the things you have spent time learning all of your life will go away such as, names, facts, or even important events. If you are questioning to take any drug just don’t do it, there are better things in this world namely, sports, music, or watching a good movie. Do you want to have a bad memory?
All drugs can also cause people to act violently. When drugs change your mind and body controls there is no going back. You lose the ability to think before you act. Once you have acted in violence the damage is done and behind bars you go. Do you want to go to jail?
My pledge to myself is I will resist drugs and violence by just saying no. Specific ways to get out of being tempted are, turn your back, walk away, use humor, or change the subject. I want to be able to play sports and musical instruments with a good mind. I want to graduate from high school and then go to college. I want to see and play with my kids as they are growing up without drugs slowing me down. I will always say no to all drugs. I am in charge of my own future and I’m not going to let that flagpole get in my way!

Lex and Christina (yes they are the same age!)

Taking her walk of glory