Personal Experience Last Mistake - Essay Example

We all know that nobody is perfect, and that everyone makes mistakes. Well, in November I made my own mistake. I chose to go to a party where alcohol was available and while I was there, the party was busted by the Sheriff's department. I received an alcohol citation and had to go to Teen Court, and I learned a lot of things as a result. This whole event has changed my life completely. I learned about the hazards of drinking and driving, and found out how bad drinking is for you and how many people have died due to alcohol.

I also learned that sometimes it's better to trust your own instincts instead of following the crowd. Teen Court is held in the court room at the Easton court house. Teen Court is similar to a normal court, but the judge, jury, and lawyers are all kids, 14-17 years old. When I went to Teen Court, some of my classmates were lawyers, and another was the Judge. I was given a chance to explain what happened at the party, and I was questioned by my lawyer and the opposing lawyer. When my case had been heard, I was sentenced by the jury.

They sentenced me to serve on three Teen Court juries, and to do thirty-five hours of community service. To make things worse, my parents were out of out of town and my grandmother was staying with me. I was so upset over this I did not know what to do. I wanted to tell my parents when they called, but decided to wait so that I wouldn't ruin their trip. It was on my mind so much I couldn't sleep, and I felt terrible that I had let my parents down. I was also worried that I would not be able to play basketball at school.

I love playing basketball; it's one of my favorite sports. Thinking about how I had done something stupid that might ruin my future dream of playing basketball at college was a real eye-opener for me. I have never driven while under the influence nor have I ridden with anyone when they were drinking and driving. I know that it is wrong to drink and drive and I do not have any intention of ever doing this. My mother's brother was killed when he was only twenty-seven years old because of drinking and driving.

I have also heard many terrible stories from my parents about people they went to school with, and how they died because of alcohol. Drinking and driving is a serious world-wide problem that affects thousands of people every year. In the United States, for example, more than 20% of all traffic fatalities are caused by drunk drivers. Drinking and driving has serious consequences. People who drink and drive can end up with a criminal record, with their license suspended or even revoked. It affects their lives, their families' lives, and worst of all, someone who drives while drunk can seriously hurt or kill themselves or someone else.

Even one drink affects your driving ability and judgment, and the more alcohol consumed, the greater the risk of accidents occurring. Drinking alcohol over a long period of time damages the liver and stomach, and damages the brain by affecting memory. These are just a few of the facts that I have learned about alcohol and drinking and driving. With all that we know about alcohol why on earth do people drink I have learned a lot from this experience. I've learned never to drink and drive, and to not let my friends do it, either.

I've learned that I should be aware that other people on the road may be driving dangerously. Most important, I've learned to think about the consequences of my actions. I realize now that I should not have gone to the party. At the time, I thought just going for a little while wouldn't hurt, but I was wrong. Next time I am in this kind of situation, I'll know to listen to my gut feelings and do what I think is right.