LESSONS LEARNED THROUGH BAD CHOICES

Everyone makes mistakes. Some of those just happen to be worse than others. In April of my junior year of high school, I made a huge mistake that I wish I could take back. It has changed my decision-making and the choices I make when I am hanging out with my friends. It also made me realize how many people care about me, and I’m grateful for the support I received from family, coaches, friends, church and teachers.

On a school orchestra trip to Boston, I was rooming with three seniors. After room check, one of the seniors brought out a sandwich bag partially filled with an illegal substance and asked if we wanted to smoke. All but one of us agreed and started to smoke. Within five minutes, we heard a knock at the door. Suddenly, my heart started to race. I was scared to death.

My orchestra teacher walked into the room and asked if we had been smoking. Since I am not in the habit of lying to anyone about anything, I answered ‘yes,’ as did the others. She told us that she was extremely disappointed in all of us.

I did not sleep that night. But I did pray through my tears. I prayed that God was going to forgive me and help me be strong. I prayed the Lord’s Prayer over and over again as well as the 23rd Psalm. Both of these helped me a great deal in the days, weeks and even months to come.

Early the next morning I had to make one of the hardest phone calls ever. I had to call my mom and tell her what I had done. My mom was wonderful and supportive. She did say that she knew that we were all going to be in huge trouble, and she was right!

I was suspended for 41 days until I had a hearing to decide if I would be allowed back for my senior year. Luckily, I was allowed back, but I had to go through a great deal. I had to take four drug tests, and all of them came out negative. Also, I owed my parents more than $600 from the trip, lawyer fees and other expenses, so I got a job to pay that off as soon as possible. I was willing to do everything to be able to get my parents, coaches, friends and family to trust me again, plus graduate with my class.

Since then, I have grown as an individual. I cannot ever thank my parents enough for sticking with me, and I am just glad that they were able to forgive me and slowly trust me more and more. Not everyone gets a second chance, and I made the best of it by moving on, graduating from high school and now attending Radford University.

Prayer and God’s love helped me each and every day during this crisis. He continues to be there for me. I always knew that God was watching over me and would help me. I just did not realize that at the age of 17, I would need him as much as I did. I am so grateful that He was there for me.

— Stuart Rawlinson

Courtesy of The Church of the Good Shepherd United Methodist