Meland 1

Ernest Meland (Tripp)

1/12/17

UWRT 1104-014

Mrs. Jizi

Event that Changed My Life

As far as I can remember I have always been searching for the next best thing. I was

impulsive with money, actions, and my words. I didnt know how to control myself in social

situations and I was always doing things that could get me into trouble. It wasnt until the

summer of eighth grade when I found the best thing yet, Alcohol.

From the beginning of my drinking career I did not drink but once every two weeks. I

was so new it and I feared getting in trouble. Alcohol wasnt the easiest thing to come across as

a freshman in high school either, but as time went on I began drinking just about every weekend

and I found better ways to get ahold of a drink. As days went on I remember my regards for

those around me steadily decreasing. I began looking for the next time I could drink, it didnt

matter who I was with, as long as I could get a drunk I would be happy. My relationships started

to fall, my grades started declining. My memories of sophomore year are vague, but my junior

year was full of excitement.

Junior year started out rough for me, I ruined a family vacation because of my drinking

and outrageous actions, and I got into some trouble with the law. By this time, I had also

realized how easy it was to bring a bottle of liquor into class with me to drink throughout the day.
 Meland 2

My family and friends where concerned about me and my habits, I started fights and wasnt

scared of anything, or so I thought. Dec. 10, 2014 was a day that changed my life.

I didnt know what the approaching day was about to bring that morning. I got up and

did my normal routine of taking a shower, getting dressed, and filling my flask up with 120 proof

Medley Brothers Bourbon. I wasnt all to hungry that morning so I went without breakfast.

Upon arrival at school my girlfriend at the time got into my truck to hangout before class started.

I took a couple swigs while we were sitting in the car and she didnt think much of it at the time

because I didnt typically drink that much around her. It was 7:10 by this point and I had

finished about a third of my bottle. While I was walking to class I realized that I hadnt even felt

a buzz yet so I decided to down the rest of that 120-proof whiskey in a couple gulps. That was

not a good Idea.

About 15 minutes into class, I hit a brick wall. Everything was a blur. When people

talked to me I didnt reply. I was uncomfortable because I knew I had too much. I took out my

old kindle fire tablet and attempted to play a game called Hungry Shark, but my fine motor skills

where very bad so I got frustrated at it. An old buddy of mine called my name and asked to play

the game on my tablet. In my drunken state, I grabbed the tablet and flung it across the room

like a Frisbee, it smashed into the wall destroying it. The entire class starred at me in disbelief,

not even phased by the event I put my head down on the desk. I dont remember much of

anything about this day, being that I was beyond blackout, but the one thing I do remember is

hearing someone in the class smartly yell ooh hes got the spins because apparently, I appeared

to be rolling across my desk as if I as in the hull of a boat. I also vaguely remember the school

security guard waking me up after what felt like hours but was probably only about ten minutes.

He helped me stand up and get my things from my desk. He asked me to follow him outside
 Meland 3

which ended in me face planting in the front of the classroom for everyone to see. Once I finally

stumbled outside I remember it was a very bright day unusually warm for December as well.

Mr. Colson, the security guard, began to ask my questions like why I was doing what I was

doing, a how long I had been drinking for. Looking back now I can tell that he really cared for

my wellbeing and wanted me to get help. Mr. Colson called my mother on her cell phone in the

parking lot outside of the classroom to save me from getting expelled if he were to take me to

administration in the front office. My mother picked me up not 15 minutes after the call, she was

justifiably distraught. I can remember the sadness and anger in her eyes.

I woke up at around 4 oclock in the afternoon, I had been asleep since about 8:30 am

that day. Upon waking up I remember throwing up in the toilet a couple times and then getting a

bottle of water from the fridge. My mother was in the living room with red eyes from crying all

day. She had made numerous phone calls to different treatment centers and counselors. She told

me that we were going to a recovery meeting for young people. I had never even considered

getting sober until that day when I saw the hurt my addiction brought to my mother. She

mentioned that I was to meet with a man named Steve, a drug abuse counselor and leader of a

rehabilitation program called Insight. My first meeting with Steve, the counselor, was very

memorable. Being that I was still a little buzzed and very hungover I was physically

excruciatingly uncomfortable, but besides the discomfort I felt understood and comforted for the

first time in a long time. My parents re the most loving people I know but with the

circumstances I was in they just couldnt understand what I was going through. He could relate

to just about everything I was going through because he was a recovering addict as well. I

participated in a meeting with about 20 other high school and college students like myself, as

well as a few dropouts, that where all part of the support group and recovery program called
 Meland 4

Insight. That day was the first day I attempted to get sober. I started intensive outpatient, I went

every day and talked about things that bothered me and related to the other recovering people

like myself. I worked on developing principles and morals and we had fun. The program is

based on enthusiastic sobriety which is my favorite part about it. After just about four months, I

finished out patient. I stuck around with the group for a while but eventually I got too caught up

with my selfish ways and began fading away. That eventually led to me falling off the deep

end again. I went on for about two months getting carrying on with drinking, but it wasnt fun

anymore. I felt like a terrible person for letting myself down and throwing away all the sober

time I had. It took that second time of hitting a bottom to realize that life for me is better in

sobriety. One Sunday morning I went to a new church with my mother, I guess one could say I

had a spiritual awakening and after some prayer and thought I decided to try again and I went

back to the support group that accepted me back in with loving arms.

The day I decided to get sober stands out over every other event in my life because it

turned me around and got me on the right path. Since that day, I have been active in the support

group and I have been helping other young people through some of the same struggles I have

experienced. Alcoholism is a never-ending fight for me and many other people like me, but

through support of other alcoholics and through confidence in God and myself I have managed

to stay completely clean for over a year. As far as an affect that the original event of me getting

sober goes, I have developed many character traits that help me continue growing into the person

that God has made me to become. I love seeing what other people become through my love,

help, and support. If I had not gotten sober, there would be no telling where I would be today, I

most definitely would not be at UNCC. Another important aspect of my time in recovery is the

fact that I have discovered things about myself that I would have never even thought of. I have
 Meland 5

accomplished set goals such as graduating high-school and getting into a good college. I have

gotten over fears. And I have gained many important life changing tools that I can use to grow. I

have learned how to get close and connect with people. I know how to hold relationships. I

have learned how to get through tough situations without turning to drugs or alcohol. I have

learned how to have fun. I know how to put God and other people before me. God knows how

grateful I am for all the love and support of those around me that pushed me to grow throughout

these past few years. That is the Event or more so the time in my life that change who I am

today.