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Columbia, South Carolina 29223 
(803) 419-5318 

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Student Essays  click on the author's name to read their essay

Alexis - Rice Creek Elementary

Dare has changed my life! I’ve learned so many knowledge and skills to help me make healthy choices! Officer Aul has been an excellent D.A.R.E. officer! He has taught me how to make wise decisions and to be a leader instead of a follower to have a better life.

I have learned so many facts and lessons about being DRUG FREE. Here is some- Tobacco: Even though tobacco is a crop, doesn’t mean it’s healthy for you. It can be a life risk as well. Over 400,000 Americans die from tobacco-related this year. Even though the legal age is 18, I think no age is legal to smoke something that would risk your life. Victims have died because of breathing other people’s smoke. This is called second-hand smoke. If people don’t care if they die at an early age or not, then they should at least think about other people who are breathing it that want to live an everlasting life. Smoking can cause so many diseases like lung cancer, heart disease, etc. If you really care about your appearance then you should stop smoking because it can: dry your skin out and cause wrinkles. Also, it can yellow your teeth and give you bad breath. Marijuana: Marijuana affects your brain and body. Examples are:

      Short-term memory loss.

      Loss of the ability to concentrate.

      Slow coordination and reflexes.

      Affects your ability to judge distance, speed and time.

I’ve learned that people can be sent to prison for using or selling marijuana on the streets, school, anywhere!!!! This is because it is illegal in the United States. Alcohol: Alcohol is illegal for anyone under 21. Alcohol is very harmful and dangerous because it goes into your bloodstream and can increase your risk for tons of diseases. It can also destroy every organ in your body. People have died in car crashes because of alcohol. This is called drinking driving. Beer, wine, and liquor is the same amount as alcohol. I have taken all of this into portion to not do drugs AT ALL and to be responsible in being drug free.

I have learned so many lessons about being DRUG FREE and learned so many new facts. I have learned to not have peer pressure in myself. I’ve learned to not to do what everyone else is doing just to be cool. People are going to want me to do so many harmful things throughout life that I don’t want to do, but Officer Aul has taught me to just say NO! Thank you Mr. Aul for teaching me life lessons about not doing drugs. Thanks to you, I’m DRUG FREE!

I pledge to be drug free throughout my life, to make wise decisions about any kind of drug. The lessons I’ve learned are kept in my mind to always do the right thing. I put my commitment to always BE DRUG FREE!

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