Most students who find themselves in situations or places that they hoped they’d never be do so because of tiny compromises that they made early in their life journey. I have never met a student who has ever identified alcoholism as a career goal. Neither have I met an ambitious student whose “Top 10 Things to Do Before Graduation” included becoming a parent prematurely, getting kicked off the team, or losing the trust and respect of their parents.

Although most students would want to avoid these misfortunes like the plague, many engage in behaviors that increase the probability of them experiencing these situations. These compromises are common among all teens, black or white, rich or poor, and regardless of whether they live in the city or suburbs.

Almost always, the common denominator is drug use. It doesn’t matter if it’s a cigarette here or there, an occasional beer or hard liquor drink, or weed, blunts, ecstasy or heroin. Drugs will always diminish the masterpiece that is you! You are a miracle of God. When you are high or enhanced, the end result of what you’ve smoked, drunk, popped or huffed will always be defeat.

Most of those who compromise do so because of the absence of three things: faith in Christ, commitment and accountability. I am so glad that when I was a teen, I had faith enough to believe that if I did what was right, all the right things in life would come back to me. I’m glad I had the courage and strength to commit to being drug-free and not turn to the left or right of that commitment. I’m also glad that I surrounded myself with like-minded people who held me accountable to my commitments.