I will never forget the stiffened cold metal that clung tightly around my wrist, the hawk eyes trained to follow my every move, and the quiet yet obvious chatter that went on as I walked by. I will never forget the burning sensation in my chest, the feeling of shame along with anxiety and confusion, and the frown on my friend’s face that insinuated the worst was yet to come. But, most importantly, I will never forget the look of disappointment expressed on my mother’s face.
Cliche as it sounds, people often fail to realize that their actions have subsequent consequences. I am no exception. My mother always warned me to stray away from bad decisions and not let others influence me. She constantly reminded me of all the things that could potentially ruin my life, and truthfully, it was annoying. I used to pretend to listen and agree to her advice while in the house, but once I was out and in the company of my friends I would disregard everything she said. Being with people my age was my escape from all the redundant nagging, it was my chance to behave and act the way I wished without being reprimanded. I was under the impression that being a teen meant behaving reckless, so that is exactly what I did. The lifestyle was enticing, the thrill was almost like a drug that would make me feel elated. I was high on life. That was until I committed the biggest mistake of my life.
It is inevitable to pick up bad habits as a teenager. I am very susceptible to peer pressure and I tend to achieve social acceptance by following the crowd. That is how I lead myself down the wrong path. I began doing things outside my comfort zone and started surrounding myself with people that did not necessarily have the best intentions. Eventually, the consequences of my actions caught up to me.
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It was a Tuesday afternoon and instead of staying home, I decided to head out and lie to my mother about my whereabouts. That day, one bad decision led to another, and I found myself in the back of a police car headed to the nearest correctional facility. A place that certainly made my skin crawl and my toes curl up, a place that I insist no one ever intends to visit. I was fortune, though. Fortunate enough that I have parents who would go through whatever means possible to help me. My mindset changed completely once I was released as if the spell I was under had finally unleashed me free.
I despise that an incident like such was the catalyst that changed my character and morality, but I am grateful for it helped me become the person I am today. Initially, I was blaming everyone, but myself. I failed to realize that I was the one who lost my parent’s trust, I was the one who fell into peer pressure, I was the one who ignored my mother’s words of wisdom. When I came to terms with myself I concluded that going to jail was only one of many mistakes. Ignoring useful advice, undermining its value simply because I was not yet ready to receive it was, rather, the biggest mistake of my life.
