I chose the wrong path with drugs and alcohol and now that I am in recovery I have to deal with the choices that I made while using everyday for the rest of my life. I destroyed my family, friends and my life. I have been in jail many times, had thousands of dollars in fines, inpatient rehab, car crashes and watched my friends die. If only I had chosen not to take the first drink or drug, my life would be totally different. My advice is not to let other people make choices for you. Life is so much better without drugs and alcohol. Tyler is a graduate of Arrowhead High School.

I was very involved in horseback riding for most of my youth. I didn't even know about drugs until I was a junior in high school. As for the drugs out there, I was so afraid that I would be the one to try the drug and die so I never tried them. I also have a brother that started using drugs at the age of 11. He stole from my parents, went to jail and it put such a strain on our family. Now that he is in recovery, I can actually have a relationship with my brother. I have two messages to the youth. The first is if you know someone, family member or not, get them the help they need even if they hate you for it at the time.  The second message is it only takes one time to try a drug and die. It's not worth the risk. Ashleigh is a graduate of Arrowhead High School.

I firmly believe there are no small choices.  I witnessed the reality of this when none of the people I looked up to as a teen showed up to our 10-year high school reunion.  Confused, I asked a friend why.  He informed me that they were ashamed.  The majority of the “popular ones” who were envied partiers in high school had wound up with beer guts, divorces, and lived with their parents after all those years.  Needless to say, I was saddened by their plight yet thankful for the road I chose.  My main message to the students is that their choices are leading them somewhere, and making the right ones now helps them invest in a bright future.

I chose not to use drugs or alcohol. I was involved in sports and other school activities to keep me on the right path. I also chose the right friends who weren't using drugs or alcohol. I am currently engaged to a recovering drug addict and alcoholic. I have been with him during his sobriety and relapses of drugs and alcohol. I experienced what it does to you as far as the difference between him as a person when he is sober and the addict side of him.  I was by his side and witnessed first hand how horrible withdrawals are on an addict. My advice to youth is if they are dating anyone, or even know of anyone at all who is using; don't sit back and watch it happen, get them help before it's too late. Chalyn is a graduate of Hustisford High School.

I chose the wrong path with drugs and alcohol, and now in recovery, I don’t look back, and don’t miss it one bit. Life is all about learning from your past, and that’s why I’m choosing to speak. If I can help one...just one kid that went through what I did with divorced parents in middle school, fighting all the time, trying to "fit in with the cool crowd", partying, alcohol always being someone’s scapegoat from reality- that’s what matters to me. As RESULT of my actions, I have spent a couple summers in jail, rehab, wrong friends, losing friends, loss of jobs, wasting A LOT of money and time, family and friends not knowing what to do or how to handle it. I was in football, wrestling, rugby, MMA fighting, personal training, U.S Army, and a firefighter IN the army. Drugs and alcohol, and my actions and results of it, caused all of it to end. Now in the rebuilding phase it’s much harder to work back against the grain, but its NOT HOW HARD YOU GET HIT, BUT HOW FAST YOU GET BACK UP AND KEEP MOVING FORWARD. My main message is to be different, to NOT be "normal", to stand UP for what you believe in and stick to it. It IS ok to be "wierd"..I sure am, and proud of it! To be a true leader is hard, but is worth it in the end. Being a follower is the easiest, and led me down many wrong paths, to failure. Be who YOU are and live up to YOUR capability, No one else’s. Everything in your life is YOUR CHOICE.

You have a choice, make one you won't regret. Stand up and be who you truly are. Ricki is a graduate of Oconomowoc High School.

No matter what you do, drugs are never the answer. It's easy to fall into the wrong crowd and it's hard to get out.  It's easiest to just say No. Ricky is a graduate of Arrowhead High School.

I chose not to do drugs because I never felt the need to use a substance to make myself feel happy. Living life is an adventure in itself. I witnessed quite a few close friends experiment with drugs and alcohol. I watched my friends change from fun loving, intelligent, and genuinely happy individuals who I wanted to hang out with, to strangers. I’ve had a few friends who were arrested, and I’ve also watched a few friends throw away live changing opportunities due to their actions and use of drugs and alcohol. Fortunately, some of my friends have learned their lesson and are changing their lives by heading down the right path. But, there are still some who are struggling to live without relying on a substance.  Life is full of twists and turns, never give up and never give in to those things you know aren’t right. Be your own person and find someone you can freely talk to about situations that may arise. We all can’t get through life on our own, so it’s important to have relationships with our family and friends to guide us. Amanda is a graduate of Hartford Union High School.