The effects of Drunk Driving and How It Impacted My Life

One decision can cause a lifetime of pain. The people that suffer from the tragedies of drinking and driving are inflicted with overwhelming grief and depression. We as people should take more care of the souls around us. We must make better decisions for ourselves and others as well. One moment will change the rest of our lives. Not only are we responsible for ourselves, but we are responsible for the safely of others. Things like ride-sharing has made it possible to reduce drinking while driving and I believe that we can do better as people to make good decisions. I have dealt with the pain firsthand by losing my father, living with a parent that suffers from depression, and being in a single-parent home. Drunk driving has impacted my life emotional, physically and mentally.

Loosing my father has always weighed heavy on me. I was a daddy’s girl, so I’ve been told. The pain of not having my father around for school games and family functions never goes away. Times get easier and easier but there is a void to have him to talk to when I’m going through a tough time. I see my friends and cousins with their father and I can’t help but wonder what type of relationship I would have had with my father. I felt depressed in middle school and my mother would always tell me that he loved me. I just wanted to experience it for myself. I feel robbed in a way and there is nothing that can change my reality. I’m better than I was mentally five years ago. I learned that I can’t change my reality, but I can help others. I met a girl in middle school who was getting pick on. There was a group of girls that would make fun of her and tell her mean things relating to her deceased father. In that moment, I felt an urge to stand up for her. I told the other girls that it was not okay to pick on her. I shared with the girl that my father had passed as well. I felt good in that moment to help her and relate to her in a empowering way. I gave her the same advice my mother gave me.

My mother always tried to cheer me up even when it didn’t work. I grew angry with her, and I just felt like I would have a great life if my dad was around. She suffered from chronic depression because she was in the car with him. I never understood her pain. I just wanted my father to be here with me. She left me and my sister with my grandmother. She always assured us that it was the best decision because she was not in the right space. I really didn’t get it until just a couple years ago when she told me about her nightmares and anxiety. She was crying and said, “I could never tell you before because you were young and I wanted to protect you”. She admitted to still be in pain due to the accident and she still cries from time to time. I knew that the pain would never go away but I will survive it.

My father didn’tdid not get the chance to see them play basketball or see my good grades. I felt hopeless and although I want to make him proud; my accomplishments would mean more if he could see them. Due to his death, I was raised in a single parent home, and it affected my family financially. I didn’t get to do a lot of things due to my mother not having the money. I’m grateful for every opportunity I received from supporting counselors and teachers. Through the tragedy of loosing my father I learned to appreciate the people I have. I do not take anything for granted. I appreciate any support I receive.

The drunk driving has to live life knowing he killed someone and took someone from his family. I imagine that is a pain that never goes away. I deal with the pain of not having my father and that is a pain that never goes away. All the family members on both sides of this tragedy experience some level of pain. Our decisions effect other people and we should be mindful of that when getting inside a vehicle intoxicated or under the influence of alcohol. It becomes a loss and burden for all.