Substance abuse is something that has hit close to home. After graduating high school in 1999, I have had several peers struggle with an addiction to meth and witness meth take over the farming community I grew up in in Southern Minnesota. Now, nearly twenty-five years later, numerous high school classmates are deep in their addictions and wear the story of it on their quickly aging faces. However, I also had an uncle who admitted to using drugs. My uncle Ralph was a smoker first and he said it was pure innocent, something all the kids in school did. Then, it shifted to marijuana and he found the high to eventually not even happen due to his chronic use. Eventually, he turned to meth and primarily smoked it. Very quickly, he lost his wife and family because of his addiction and it took him several decades before he woke up and realized he wasn't happy. Unfortunately, he also was struggling to swallow his food and drinks. His ex-wife was still in contact and he told her about what was going on. She suggested he go to the doctor, so many months later he finally did. Sadly, he had advanced-stage throat cancer and the doctor was not going to do anything for him until he was willing to stop every single substance. It took about a year, but eventually, he had no choice because he couldn't eat or drink. His tumor started growing outside his throat and he went back to the doctor when he was thirty days clean and sober. He did a chemotherapy treatment and agreed to be drug tested regularly during the process because any substance could cause greater harm while on chemotherapy. It was during these two years that my Uncle and I spoke often. He was terrified to die, ashamed of the results of his choices, and highly aware that he was losing his life young at 54. He knew he wouldn't see his grandkids grow up, remarry his ex-wife, or even see me again. His ex-wife stayed by his side to the end and helped me as he journeyed onward. When my Uncle passed away, it hit me very hard how substance abuse can destroy not only a life but also an entire family unit. My Uncle Ralph texted me when he couldn't speak anymore and told me one time, "I wish I would have known that chasing the high was a death sentence. No one told me as a young kid, no one warned me as a young man, and maybe it wouldn't have mattered, but I was ignorant. I should have known better. I don't want to die, but I know it is close." These heavy conversations were so hard, but they are my closest and dearest memories of my Uncle Ralph. Since losing my Uncle Ralph, I began to rethink my life and what I was doing. At the time, I was still a college dropout and had no dream, no goals, and didn't know what career I wanted. Eventually, I knew I wanted to help people in counseling to overcome their trauma. Comorbidities with post-traumatic stress disorder most commonly include depression, anxiety, and substance use disorder. This challenged me to also include substance abuse treatment in my future goals. I have earned my Associate's in Social Work, so I am transferring to the University of Texas at Arlington this fall to earn my Bachelor's in Social Work and a minor in Substance Abuse Counseling. I will continue to get my LCSW so I can offer counseling to honor my Uncle Ralph.

A lot of people think the pumpkin spice latte is synonymous with autumn, leaves falling all around you, and breathing in the crisp air. I just always thought it was a basic latte trying to be more than it was, like every gym rat posting their workouts with poor form all over social media -- I wanted more. The day finally came when the pumpkin cream cold brew came along! I can drink a good cold brew all year- rain, sleet, ice storm, blizzard, and the 110F days in the Texas sun. I just can't get enough of them! When they added the pumpkin flavors to the cream, I just couldn't resist. For me, pumpkin is the main character in the fall. After living in Minnesota most of of life, an amazing pumpkin patch was a significant part of my life every autumn. Now that I'm in Texas, pumpkin patches have been replaced with pumpkin stands, where you walk around all shapes and sizes of pumpkins, but don't get to pick them. There are no hay rides, no face paintings, no families taking photos throughout the farm, and no tractors. It's very anti-climatic and leaves you wondering what happened to fall. When I grab a pumpkin cream cold brew, I think about the cold brews I would have while I was riding the hay rides and I smile. When a new school year starts, it gets incredibly overwhelming. I feel this pressure every year as a college student and it takes a good month before it goes away. It is around this time that Starbies releases their fall drinks and it makes me smile every time! After stepping into the unknown, preparing my classes, and reading all the syllabi I grab my pumpkin cream cold brew and I know that all is right in my little world! I think it is incredibly important to have traditions every year so that you're able to appreciate the seasons of life, and the changes going on in the world around you, and to recognize the normalcy and beauty of change. For me, the pumpkin cream cold brew reminds me that I will be just fine as another year starts to come to an end. Sipping on this drink ahead of the crazy finals week and holiday season also helps me to mentally prepare for what's ahead. For me, the pumpkin cream cold brew is a symbol of peace ahead of the chaos.