Let me set the scene for this article. I was with one of my friends in the dorms who happened to be carrying an open beer when the Resident Assistants spotted us and made us give them our Student IDs. I wasn't carrying any alcohol and they didn't even ask to search me, but I still got in trouble.

Part of my punishment is a reflection on what this experience has taught me, so cue the ~apology~ letter:

After reflecting on this incident, I’ve concluded that drugs, including alcohol, are sinful. I should refuse to even associate with people who do drugs. Drugs, like alcohol, are incredibly damaging to the human brain. Through this experience, I have learned I should choose my friends more carefully. I should never choose to be friends with someone who would openly drink anywhere near me.

Obviously, I was in the wrong to be in the dorms with a friend who would openly drink alcohol. As a result, I called my dad and discussed the dangers of alcohol and decided I shouldn’t consume alcohol ever if the risk is this high. It just isn’t worth the risk.

As a direct result of this incident, I have realized that drinking alcohol is sinful. My father recited multiple verses from the Bible that back up my new method of thinking. As the Holy Bible states, “For you have spent enough time in the past doing what pagans choose to do—living in debauchery, lust, drunkenness, orgies, carousing and detestable idolatry” (1 Peter 4:3).

This quote really puts the University Student Code of Conduct into perspective for me. It only makes sense for violations such as these to occur in the dorms. Of course, the Resident Assistants are just trying to save us from the dangers of alcohol and other drugs and to stop us from living like pagans.

When I was talking to my father about this incident, his views really made sense to me. He explained that I am represented by the people I surround yourself with. Thus, I should get in trouble with my friend because I am responsible for my friends’ actions. Therefore, I need to surround myself with better people.

I’ve learned I need to save myself from the dangers of alcohol now! My father informed me that my family has a history of alcoholism, so it’s beneficial that this incident happened when it did! Now, I’ll never have any desire to even take a sip of alcohol. How could I even put something so poisonous in my body?

Another passage from the Holy Bible really sums how I feel, “Let us behave decently, as in the daytime, not in carousing and drunkenness, not in sexual immorality and debauchery, not in dissension and jealousy” (Romans 13:13). This passage proves that only bad things will happen once people start drinking alcohol. Regardless of one’s religious views, the Bible is a best-selling book and a groundwork for many people’s morals within our society. Personally, the Bible helps back up most of my moral framework.

Post-graduation, I don’t plan on continuing to live in the United States, but I’ll always stay away from alcohol and those that do drugs. That’s really what this incident has taught me. I should refuse to associate with those that don’t fit my ideal standards of friendship; I should only maintain friendships with people that are always sober and 100% morally right. I will never drink alcohol as a direct result of this incident.