On May 5, 2024, I nearly overdosed and nearly lost my life. I was only 17 years old and was a severe alcoholic. I would wake up, drink, get ready for school, then drink again, arrive at school and drink, return home from school and drink, and then drink again before going to sleep. On top of the alcohol, I also smoked a lot of weed and occasionally tried pills or hallucinogens. I didn't know how to say no to anything that was offered to me. I could not control my alcohol intake and blacked out almost daily. Then, when I overdosed, I said I was going to stop drinking and doing drugs. I got out of the hospital and immediately went right back to it. I was in a partial hospitalization program where I was supposed to be staying sober; however, I couldn't seem to do that. I drank and drugged so that I didn't have to feel like myself. I convinced myself that I was making the best decisions I could at the time to stay alive. However, those decisions were the same ones that almost killed me. On June 15, 2024, my mom gave me the choice to get sober or get out. I chose to leave, like many other addicts would've done in that situation. I thought I would be better and happier on my own. One week into being out of the house, I realized I couldn't do it anymore. I had hit rock bottom and knew I needed help. I got sober on June 22, 2025, and haven't relapsed since. I realized that if I didn't get sober, I would've died within the next year. I realized that I needed to do better for myself because I had already been through so much and had the ability to help so many people, but I could only do that if I got sober. I have been sober for almost two years and am currently 19 years old. My biggest motivations for staying sober are graduating from college, securing my dream job as a detective specializing in crimes against children, and one day starting my own family. None of that would be possible if I didn't get sober. I also have a very strong relationship with God, which also helps me stay sober because I now know that no matter what happens, God has a plan for me, and that plan is better than anything I could've planned for myself. It is very hard to stay humble and not try to control everything in my life, but I know that my trying to control everything is what led me to addiction in the first place, and I never want to go through that again.