Don’t Drink and Drive

Stefani
Deines

January
28, 2020

Scholarship
Essay

Don’t
Drink and Drive

The
night before Thanksgiving, during my Sophomore year of highschool, my
childhood best friend decided to get into the back seat of a car whom
the driver was intoxicated. I had woken up the morning of
Thanksgiving with a phone call from another friend informing me about
the incident. Immediately, I broke down and could not comprehend the
reality of what happened. Someone who was severely intoxicated
decided that they were okay to get behind the wheel and sped down a
dangerous road, lost control, and my best friend was partially
evicted and pronounced dead on the scene. In 2017, nearly 2,000 lives
were taken due to drinking and driving and my best friend was one of
them. I took what happened to heart due to me being out of state and
the accident occurring less than a mile from my house. I felt as if I
were home, I could have prevented it from occurring and been a
designated driver which would have saved my friends life. Others who
were in the car suffered minor injuries, and another woman had passed
away later that day in the hospital. My best friend’s boyfriend who
had been in the car with her told me that you could not even
recognize my friend due to the impact the car had done to her body
and skull. I had not even had my license yet and I was scared to ever
get behind the wheel. My
entire life changed in seconds because of the negligence of a drunk
driver.

Due
to this tragic event, I learned that drinking and partying is not an
essential in life and only results in trouble and mistakes. I was
depressed and missed days of school to just stay in bed. I felt as if
I lost everything and could not find any light in any situation.
Repeatedly, I kept saying “she will come back, this is not real,
why did this have to happen to her.” I reflected on all my
friendships and relationships and no longer wanted to take any for
granted. Before, I never realized how short life is and how at any
second it can be taken away; I now try to live life to the fullest,
for my friend, and myself. After this occurrence, I vowed to never
get behind the wheel with any alcohol in my system and to try my
hardest to prevent others. I no longer have my best friend by my
side, but I know she is here with me living every moment and I push
harder to reach my goals for her.

Many
can prevent these tragic events from happening if they vow too. Ways
you can make sure you don’t risk your life or others if you decide
to drink is to carry a breathalyzer and “blow before you go”, ask
a sober friend or family member to take you to your needed
destination, call an uber, taxi, or lyft, or don’t drink at places
if you know you will have to drive somewhere later that day. If you
are over the age of 21, know your limits and do not binge drink.
Lastly, be a good person to others and stop people from getting
behind the wheel. You never know, you could have saved your friends
life, or someone else’s.