Discuss a time when your beliefs were challenged. How did you handle the situation? What was the outcome?
I choose to write about this experience because, as a serious athlete, drug use represents the end of the spectrum that I stand against. It clashes harshly with my personal beliefs. However, I'm worried that it may still make admissions officers peg me as a 'bad egg' or something.
Like many Saturday nights before it, me and my friends had been aimlessly driving around a town that was too small for us. I sat in the backseat of Janine's car, crammed between Michael and Jessica, while Chase claimed the passenger seat and control of the radio. I had no reason to believe that this night would be different from any other, assuming that we might catch a late movie or stop for pizza, so I was thoroughly confused when Chase advised Janine to pull into an empty parking lot.
"I've got a surprise," he had said with a mischievous smile.
His surprise turned out to be a bag of marijuana. My first reaction was to chastise him, but I soon discovered that I was alone in my disgust; everyone else was eyeing the bag eagerly.
"Come on, Karlie. Its not a big deal," Janine had said, waving off my reluctance impatiently. "Just take one hit. You'll love it."
I declined, but they didn't want to take no for an answer. Before I knew it, I was under the pressure of four people who thought I was out to ruin their night. I wasn't sure what to do. Looking at the foul-smelling bag, I knew that smoking was not something that I wanted to try. It was unhealthy, stupid, and illegal. Not only that, but it could seriously jeopardize my basketball career. The risks just weren't worth it.
I suggested that we go swimming in my pool instead. At first, everyone seemed a little disappointed, but soon the idea of swimming on a warm summer night lightened the mood. Chase tucked the bag away and the subject wasn't brought up again. Worried about being influenced by their lifestyle, I eventually started to spend time with different friends.
This experience taught me that I have to be willing to stand up for myself. If I hadn't stood by my convictions, I might have indulged in an illegal activity that could have jeopardized my future. It also taught me that its okay to say 'no' to anything that I didn't want. I'm grateful for this experience, because it helped me prove to myself that I'm capable of making my own decisions, even when faced with disapproval from peers.
I choose to write about this experience because, as a serious athlete, drug use represents the end of the spectrum that I stand against. It clashes harshly with my personal beliefs. However, I'm worried that it may still make admissions officers peg me as a 'bad egg' or something.
Like many Saturday nights before it, me and my friends had been aimlessly driving around a town that was too small for us. I sat in the backseat of Janine's car, crammed between Michael and Jessica, while Chase claimed the passenger seat and control of the radio. I had no reason to believe that this night would be different from any other, assuming that we might catch a late movie or stop for pizza, so I was thoroughly confused when Chase advised Janine to pull into an empty parking lot.
"I've got a surprise," he had said with a mischievous smile.
His surprise turned out to be a bag of marijuana. My first reaction was to chastise him, but I soon discovered that I was alone in my disgust; everyone else was eyeing the bag eagerly.
"Come on, Karlie. Its not a big deal," Janine had said, waving off my reluctance impatiently. "Just take one hit. You'll love it."
I declined, but they didn't want to take no for an answer. Before I knew it, I was under the pressure of four people who thought I was out to ruin their night. I wasn't sure what to do. Looking at the foul-smelling bag, I knew that smoking was not something that I wanted to try. It was unhealthy, stupid, and illegal. Not only that, but it could seriously jeopardize my basketball career. The risks just weren't worth it.
I suggested that we go swimming in my pool instead. At first, everyone seemed a little disappointed, but soon the idea of swimming on a warm summer night lightened the mood. Chase tucked the bag away and the subject wasn't brought up again. Worried about being influenced by their lifestyle, I eventually started to spend time with different friends.
This experience taught me that I have to be willing to stand up for myself. If I hadn't stood by my convictions, I might have indulged in an illegal activity that could have jeopardized my future. It also taught me that its okay to say 'no' to anything that I didn't want. I'm grateful for this experience, because it helped me prove to myself that I'm capable of making my own decisions, even when faced with disapproval from peers.
