We’ve all heard it a million times before: "stay in school, don’t do drugs.” But honestly, what is the fun in that? What is the fun of staring at a book when instead you could get high, and forget the worries of the world?

Well, let me tell you the fun of it: there isn’t much any. Once the high fades, and you fall back into the reality of the world, life seems to be even a little uglier than it was before. The worst part? It probably is. Life is messy, that’s indisputable, but I can assure you the one thing you can do to make your life even a little more disaster plus is throwing drugs into the mix, yes even if it’s as something as harmless as a hit or two of weed.

I know what you’re thinking, who is she to tell me what I should and should not do? And you’re right. I’m in no place to, but I want the chance to be heard. So many warned me of the dangers as I spiraled down my own personal struggle with drug dependency and all I did was ignore them. No one knew my pain, so no one had any place to tell me that anything I was doing wrong, or so I thought.

But wow, do I wish I would have listened.

Instead, I continued my habits that eventually morphed into a lifestyle, that eventually changed not only my everyday life but my entirety as a person.

Instead of taking pride in being a straight-A student like I once was for years, I sought pride from showing up to school in a haze, that is on the days I decided to even show. I stressed more about useless things like being able to pick up next rather than finals. My morals were not only wrong but completely unlike myself.

Of course, not everyone who dances with the dangers of drugs is going to end up like I did, but then it’s also important to realize that there are so many out there off much worse than I ever was. The chance of addiction is always present; a ticking time bomb waiting to rise, much like one awaits to feel high.

Too many users, even if they are only occasional, fail to realize the reality of why they’re seeking out substances. They reassure themselves with some excuse, failing to acknowledge the missing piece of their life that they instead substitute with drugs.

Some may be bored, some may be anxious, some may be sad, but no matter the reason (excluding medical purposes), substance abuse is unhealthy and risky. It’s as if you’re playing a dangerous game of Russian roulette, for it’s never known what hit will finally have you hooked.

So yes, drugs are cool if putting your future at risk is for you. If you’d rather take the lazy way out and deal rather than get a legal job for yourself, getting caught up with “friends” who sell is the choice for you.

If you’d rather receive mediocre grades versus excelling to earn scholarships, getting high before school is a great idea. If you’d rather live a life lacking clarity and comprehension, dancing with drugs is the perfect fit for you, but don’t be surprised when the day comes that you realize once your high faded that your future did, too.