Staying Sober In My 20s Comes Without A Catch | The Odyssey Online
Start writing a post
Student Life

Staying Sober In My 20s Comes Without A Catch

Is alcohol too much of a negative influence in your life?

1054
Staying Sober In My 20s Comes Without A Catch
Christian Ferrer

As a junior in college, I have made the decision to get and stay sober. Why? The effect that alcohol has had on my studies, relationships, extracurriculars, jobs, and most importantly, my body, has not been a beneficial one. Everyone who knows me personally tends to agree and support my decision to stay sober, however, some of my family and friends have asked me how the will affect my "college experience."

To that I say, there are so many other rewarding activities that I can take part in while attending college than drinking alcohol and partying. I was never the center of the party kind of person, to begin with, so why would I become that person for the sake of a "typical" college experience. I can join book clubs, writers groups, musical groups, and other campus initiatives that all appeal to my interests without the component of partying or alcohol.

Making friends who are also sober has been a key element for me.

These women have been rocks for me to lean on during stressful times. During instances that I would normally turn to alcohol, my sober friends have been indispensable. Even on late nights, these women have been on the phone to talk through whatever situation I find myself in. Whether it is stress about schoolwork and classes, or relationships with friends, or a fight with my family, my friends are always there to listen. In times like these, without fail, they have valuable advice for me and the best part about it is if the situation was reversed, and my friend was stressed, I would be there to offer advice to them as well.

Staying sober has not been an easy task. I have had to reevaluate myself as a person and ask myself why I used to turn to drinking in order to "solve," or more like numb, my problems. Most often, it was to cope with some kind of external stress, which is not a healthy coping strategy by any means.

Additionally, my journey in sobriety has caused me to become a more honest person. I have been able to closely examine my patterns in relationships familial or otherwise without the negative influence of alcohol. This has been the roughest part of my sobriety merely because it has allowed a ton of my grievances to come out of the comfort zone in my head and into the world for other people, and their opinions, to digest. However, this is an essential part of my sobriety and the main reason why I made the decision to get sober so early in life.

I needed a clean slate to examine myself, my strengths, and my faults. It is imperative for me to repair my relationships with others that I have affected, and in turn, grow or mature into adulthood, alcohol-free.

Report this Content
This article has not been reviewed by Odyssey HQ and solely reflects the ideas and opinions of the creator.
Featured

15 Mind-Bending Riddles

Hopefully they will make you laugh.

190004
 Ilistrated image of the planet and images of questions
StableDiffusion

I've been super busy lately with school work, studying, etc. Besides the fact that I do nothing but AP chemistry and AP economics, I constantly think of stupid questions that are almost impossible to answer. So, maybe you could answer them for me, and if not then we can both wonder what the answers to these 15 questions could be.

Keep Reading...Show less
Entertainment

Most Epic Aurora Borealis Photos: October 2024

As if May wasn't enough, a truly spectacular Northern Lights show lit up the sky on Oct. 10, 2024

14780
stunning aurora borealis display over a forest of trees and lake
StableDiffusion

From sea to shining sea, the United States was uniquely positioned for an incredible Aurora Borealis display on Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024, going into Friday, Oct. 11.

It was the second time this year after an historic geomagnetic storm in May 2024. Those Northern Lights were visible in Europe and North America, just like this latest rendition.

Keep Reading...Show less
 silhouette of a woman on the beach at sunrise
StableDiffusion

Content warning: This article contains descriptions of suicide/suicidal thoughts.

When you are feeling down, please know that there are many reasons to keep living.

Keep Reading...Show less
Relationships

Power of Love Letters

I don't think I say it enough...

457748
Illistrated image of a letter with 2 red hearts
StableDiffusion

To My Loving Boyfriend,

  • Thank you for all that you do for me
  • Thank you for working through disagreements with me
  • Thank you for always supporting me
  • I appreciate you more than words can express
  • You have helped me grow and become a better person
  • I can't wait to see where life takes us next
  • I promise to cherish every moment with you
  • Thank you for being my best friend and confidante
  • I love you and everything you do

To start off, here's something I don't say nearly enough: thank you. Thank you, thank you, thank you from the bottom of my heart. You do so much for me that I can't even put into words how much I appreciate everything you do - and have done - for me over the course of our relationship so far. While every couple has their fair share of tiffs and disagreements, thank you for getting through all of them with me and making us a better couple at the other end. With any argument, we don't just throw in the towel and say we're done, but we work towards a solution that puts us in a greater place each day. Thank you for always working with me and never giving up on us.

Keep Reading...Show less
Lifestyle

11 Signs You Grew Up In Hauppauge, NY

Because no one ever really leaves.

26576
Map of Hauppauge, New York
Google

Ah, yes, good old Hauppauge. We are that town in the dead center of Long Island that barely anyone knows how to pronounce unless they're from the town itself or live in a nearby area. Hauppauge is home to people of all kinds. We always have new families joining the community but honestly, the majority of the town is filled with people who never leave (high school alumni) and elders who have raised their kids here. Around the town, there are some just some landmarks and places that only the people of Hauppauge will ever understand the importance or even the annoyance of.

Keep Reading...Show less

Subscribe to Our Newsletter

Facebook Comments