You're out, socializing with a bunch of people who are around your age. Some of them are 21, some of them are underage. Alcohol is definitely involved with the vast majority of people. You hear the conversations of those surrounding you. From the "Wow, I honestly can't remember how I got here" to the "I'm definitely drunk, but I'd be able to drive" ones. Let's get one thing clear: if the words "drunk" and "drive" are mixed into the same sentence, I can promise you, you are in absolutely no condition to be driving.

Listen to those words together very carefully. If you can admit that you're drunk, you can admit that you are not invincible and you are unable to drive home. Think of the people you're surrounded by. Think of your family, your friends, and think of the person in the other car who you could potentially kill if you get behind that wheel. How selfish could one be to drink and drive?

Well, it is proven that nearly 300,000 people get behind the wheel every year after drinking alcohol. It's a miracle that some people can make it home without getting in an accident, getting seriously injured, or getting pulled over and arrested. But it's heartbreaking that some people don't make it out alive. For me, my half sister was recently killed in a drunk driving accident. She got in the car with someone who had been extremely intoxicated and out of the 7 teenagers involved in the car accident, she was the one taken from us.

Unfortunately, that's what happens when teenagers who find themselves invincible consume large amounts of alcohol and claim to be able to drive. How many fatal drunk driving accidents are going to need to happen for people to realize that it's never okay?

Just last night I was asked if I wanted a ride to a party from a pre-game where everyone had been drinking. My friends and I were the only ones who said, "No, we're gonna walk." The looks on some of the others faces were crazy. Until I had brought up that I wasn't comfortable due to my sister recently being killed in an accident, their faces were in shock. Once they realized the seriousness and reality of drunk driving, they opted to walk with us too.

The words "I'm a good drunk driver, I do it all the time!" are words I hate to hear coming out of college students' mouths. I hear it constantly. The worst part of it all is when they try and pressure those around them to go with them when they leave. Why would you want to risk the lives of the ones who love you? The ones who are begging you to stay the night so you don't get behind that wheel? The ones who took your car keys away from you, potentially saving your life?

Why?

I will just never understand how someone can be so selfish and childish to want to risk their life, and the lives of those on the road, over something that can be prevented. Stop drinking and driving.

Call your parents up, tell them you've been drinking and can't come home, and I can almost promise each and every one of you that they will beg you to stay where you are as well. No parent wants to get that phone call saying their child had died in a drunk driving accident, especially when it's an accident that could be prevented.