Why I'll say NO to Alcohol and Drugs

The Winning essay of the
SDPOA's Annual Contest

By: Sheryl Kleinsasser

     My name is Sheryl Kleinsasser. I'm thirteen years old. About two years ago, January twenty-eight, in the year 2009, at about eleven o'clock at night, my dad shot my mom. I have four brothers and a baby sister, who had just turned one.My mom died instantly. My mom's birthday had been eight days before, and she had turned thirty-four.

     My mom was shot in our home while everybody who lived in our house was present. My baby sister was asleep and three of my brothers were downstairs. In all there were three shots fire. When I heard the first shot I ran to see what happened. I was there in time to see the shell from the shotgun he was using bounce across the kitchen floor. I saw the second shot fired and screamed and ran out the front door with one of my brothers. I then ran to the neighbor for help.

     The reason I won't do drugs and drink is because when all this was taking place and happening ••••••••••••••••• My dad was intoxicated.

     My dad did not know what he was doing. He also shot himself in the head. He almost died. When he woke up from surgery, he didn't remember a thing. One of the first things he said was, "Where's my wife? Where are my kids? I need to go home." Right now he is in prison serving an eighty year sentence.

     It was all so horrible. Alcohol has had a devastating effect on my family's life. Not only did six children lose their mommy, they lost their daddy too. In one horrible night my whole life changed, because of alcohol and my dad's choice to drink it.

     We have a huge family and had lots of support, which is great. I really miss both my mom and dad. I forgave my dad. I would like to see him sometime.

     Right now my oldest brother is separated from us. He had a choice where he wanted to go, and I think his foster family is awesome. He's going to be eighteen on April ninth of this year.

     My other three brothers, my sister, and I are living in a Hutterite colony. The people who adopted us are my uncle and his wife. When all this happened my uncle's wife was very pregnant, which made it all the harder. She's only 26 right now. She was amazing with us, and I really think that helped a lot. My uncle was really nice too. I felt and still feel safe around them for a number of reasons. The main reason is that my uncle doesn't drink. I think that's totally awesome. I was so used to being around people who drink and smoke that it felt really strange and weird.

     Drugs and drinking screw you up, and don't plan on getting screwed up ••••••• ever. It's bad enough if people think you're screwed up, or a bad influence. I've seen people who do drugs and drink and people don't want to go near them, or their kids. I don't want to be that person. It's bad enough just to think about something like that.

     Right now because of alcohol and some horrible choices; my mom's dead, my dad's in prison, we're separated from my oldest brother, and we completely had to change our life style. My opinion on drugs and alcohol is that they suck! I will never do drugs or drink alcohol. I have to stay strong for my family. I have gone through a lot and came out a stronger, better person. I've learned from my dad's mistakes. 80th drinking and doing drugs is really bad.

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