By Sean C.
September 2009 issue the courage to change
Sean C.
I was born into a healthy, Roman Catholic family eighteen years ago. As a young kid, I was always easily angered. One of my first memories is in Chicago where I lived until I started school. My two older brothers were playing on the street, and I went to go after them. Since I was only four years old, my mother pulled me back just as I got to the end of the driveway and I turned, scowled at her angrily and stormed back inside. I continued my life, angry as I was, with a lot of success. I played soccer and did well in school until I moved from Atlanta to South Carolina at age twelve. I started dabbling with drugs and alcohol toward the end of middle school and the beginning of my freshman year. It began to escalate, and at the end of that year I got suspended for using drugs with some friends. I duped everyone and pretended to do well, but the next year I was right back at it. When I got injured and was unable to play soccer, I began to get very involved with the wrong people and drank very heavily. Things only got worse my junior year. Towards the end, I was constantly drunk or high and exploded at anyone who tried to stop me, family or friends. One day I ran away and stayed with a friend. I explained how I knew I had a problem with alcohol and drugs but I couldn’t stop. He told me to ask for outside help, so I did. I spilled out almost everything to my mom after having been gone for three days. She agreed that I needed help, so she talked with my father on what to do with me. I was sent to Second Nature wilderness less than a week later. My recovery from addiction began in those woods and has continued for a year and a half ever since. AA has helped me get my life back on track. I am now graduating from high school and have plans for the future. I can spend time with my family without ruining it for them. On the whole, I give credit to my recent success to God and to my sponsor, Pete.
I was born into a healthy, Roman Catholic family eighteen years ago. As a young kid, I was always easily angered. One of my first memories is in Chicago where I lived until I started school. My two older brothers were playing on the street, and I went to go after them. Since I was only four years old, my mother pulled me back just as I got to the end of the driveway and I turned, scowled at her angrily and stormed back inside. I continued my life, angry as I was, with a lot of success. I played soccer and did well in school until I moved from Atlanta to South Carolina at age twelve. I started dabbling with drugs and alcohol toward the end of middle school and the beginning of my freshman year. It began to escalate, and at the end of that year I got suspended for using drugs with some friends. I duped everyone and pretended to do well, but the next year I was right back at it.
When I got injured and was unable to play soccer, I began to get very involved with the wrong people and drank very heavily. Things only got worse my junior year. Towards the end, I was constantly drunk or high and exploded at anyone who tried to stop me, family or friends. One day I ran away and stayed with a friend. I explained how I knew I had a problem with alcohol and drugs but I couldn’t stop. He told me to ask for outside help, so I did. I spilled out almost everything to my mom after having been gone for three days. She agreed that I needed help, so she talked with my father on what to do with me.
I was sent to Second Nature wilderness less than a week later. My recovery from addiction began in those woods and has continued for a year and a half ever since. AA has helped me get my life back on track. I am now graduating from high school and have plans for the future. I can spend time with my family without ruining it for them. On the whole, I give credit to my recent success to God and to my sponsor, Pete.
