Vanishing Point

I come from a family rife with alcoholics, and their drunk driving antics are something that has troubled me for years. Most of my family has some history with this to some extent. I personally don’t drink, but you’ll be hard-pressed to find young people in rural Iowa that I share that commonality with. These are often long term, personal and social problems, not exclusive to my family. While I’ve learned devoting myself to controlling the choices of other adults is a fool’s errand, there’s a lot that can be done to combat the epidemic of vehicular violence on a systemic level. I anecdotally hear the sentiment from some that there’s nothing to do in Iowa besides drink, and a lot of people speak concern about the amount of inebriated drivers on the roads during holidays or events. I believe these concerns are valid, there’s a stretch of highway five miles from my home notorious for the large number of fatal vehicle collisions often involving drunk drivers. Drunk driving in Iowa is a significant problem, and I will present here my plan to reduce the severity of the issue.

State sponsored preventative measures have not been significant enough to reduce the problem in my state. In my opinion, they are lax, and do not promote a long term deterrence to these poor, potentially lethal decisions. Many of those I know have been arrested and charged, but most of them regress back to their old ways. Studies conducted by the Department of Public Safety seem to conclude that the problem of drunk driving has not been met with an adequate solution, and is in fact a growing problem. The Department of Public Safety also concludes that many drunk drivers are repeat offenders. I believe discipline exerted by the state is necessary to combat drunk driving, however there are more preventative measures that could be taken.

When I go to college at the University of Northern Iowa, I want to contribute to fostering a culture of accountability on and off campus. There are plenty of fun dry events to be orchestrated, and plenty of activities that could involve alcohol which don’t necessitate driving afterwards. I want to be an available designated driver, and create a coalition of students who are willing to drive for others. Public transportation isn’t widely available in many Iowa communities, therefore I believe my agenda could provide a tangible positive impact. With the collaborative efforts of others, I will be able to make the community of the University of Northern Iowa a safer place.

College students are young and impressionable. This is an advantage that those opposed to drunk driving have. It’s not cool, and nobody likes to feel like an outcast. If the younger generation can manufacture a culture of sobriety, or at least that impaired driving is not cool, or at least hinders their safety and future as well as that of others, we will be able to put together something special. People drink to feel something, and life’s greatest feelings are to be found in the lived experience. It’s possible to build a campus culture that doesn’t accept drunk driving as part of a quality experience.

I know that I’m not alone in being of the opinion that drunk driving is a significant problem. I’m familiar with a lot of people in the rural Iowa area who were exposed to the uglier sides of substance abuse growing up. It’s not an uncommon circumstance in rural Iowa. The problem is too widespread for me to be the only young person who understands the issue is severe. I’m not the only person who has been affected by this personally. There are quality allies to be found in the fight against inebriated driving. It’s my responsibility to exhaust all avenues in pursuit of a safer campus, one where compassion and culture can be tools for building a safer community. With your help, I’ll help others leave drunk driving in the rearview at the vanishing point.

I am an Americorps NCCC alumni, and as a two-time former team lead, I am no stranger to coalition building. What is Americorps NCCC? The National Civilian Community Corps. It’s a team-based national service program where young adults live together on and off the work site, independently traveling the United States in a van to various non-profit organizations per Americorps staff direction. I have the resume of a leader, and I plan to make use of these skills in my pursuit of a safer state.

Unfortunately, Americorps isn’t a perfect program, not even close actually, and I ended up paying a lot of my team’s expenses out-of-pocket, such as food, equipment, and transportation. When our vehicle was damaged, I had to get us a ride via ride share services to and from the work site, in Los Angeles, for weeks, later in the service year. This commitment left me flat broke by the time our time with the service program was complete. I’ve been scratching and clawing to get by financially ever since. This is why I ask you to support me today, because I need help. With your assistance, I will attend the University of Northern Iowa, and contribute to a safer and more resourceful student body. I thank you for considering assisting me in this endeavor.