Author's Purpose

“NO” TO DRUGS, “YES” TO YOUR FUTURE Carol Sager How many of you are familiar with the Energizer rabbit – the one that keeps going, on and on and on? How many of you know where that rabbit is going? Everybody knows about the rabbit. Everybody knows what he does. Nobody knows where he’s going. In other words, the Energizer rabbit, is going nowhere – fast. And the same can be said about anyone who gets involved in using tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs. Sooner or later, users end up like the Energizer rabbit – going round and round in circles – going no place fast. I decided not to tell you to say “No” to using tobacco, alcohol, and other drugs. It’s not that I don’t care whether or not you use drugs. I do care very much. It would break my heart to see any one of you end up like the Energizer rabbit – going no place fast. I’ve been in the drug-use prevention business for a long time. I have seen too many young people – just like you – end up in wheelchairs or worse because they said “OK” when a classmate asked them to try some dope. Drugs can kill – even the first time you use them. Yes, I do care. So why am I not going to spend the morning telling you to say “No” to drugs? I have two reasons. First, when I was your age, it seemed that all adults ever did was tell me what not to do. Don’t chew with your mouth open, don’t throw your clean clothes on the floor, don’t wipe your nose on your sleeve – don’t, don’t, don’t. After a while, I would stop listening every time an adult used the word don’t. So I won’t say don’t. You’d only tune me out when I talked. The second reason why I won’t say don’t is that most of you will say it yourself. That’s right – most young people don’t and won’t use drugs. As part of my business, I talk with a lot of young people all over the country. Most of them know that using illegal drugs or using legal drugs in ways other than what a doctor prescribes is against the law and harmful to their health. They also know that drugs use is costing the country billions and billions of dollars. They know that this money could be used to find homes for the homeless, discover a cure for cancer, or make sure no one had to worry about having enough food to eat. Young people like everyone else, want to live in a safe environment. They want to be able to walk down in street and not be afraid that some drugged or drunken drivel will run up on the sidewalk and crush them. They want to come to school and not be afraid of gangs and violence. They know that the increases in crime, violence, and fatal accidents are all directly related to drug use. Most importantly, most young people know that using tobacco, alcohol, or other drugs is not cool. Wherever I go, I hear the same comments. Kids tell me, “I am not going to smoke because I don’t want to stink. Besides, everyone looks down on smokers.” Or they say, “I’m not going to drink because alcohol makes people act silly,” And “Cocaine? No way! That stuff kills you!” So instead of telling you what to say “No” to, I want to talk about what I hope you will say “Yes” to. As I look out at all of you sitting here at this assembly, I see the future senators, future writers, future engineers, and future scientists of this country. I know that among you are all the talents and skills needed to make this a better world, to build lasting peace, and to ease pain and suffering. I also know that you are my future. Someday, I am going to have to depend on you to take care of me. The thing I want you to do for me and mostly for yourselves is – stay healthy! Eat nourishing foods. Get plenty of rest. Exercise your body. Avoid harmful behaviors. Be sure to exercise your mind, too. Set challenging goals for yourselves. Whatever you choose to do, give it your all. The world doesn’t need a bunch of Energizer rabbits, going no place fast. In conclusion, someone once defined “horse sense” as the good sense horses have not bet on people. But you and I have no choice. We have to bet on people for our future. And, when we bet on people, it’s good to know that there are clear-headed, healthy people like you around. As I look at you, I have faith in the future because I have faith in you. You will stay healthy. You will say “Yes” to your future. Krgueriña09 Reading Comprehension Workshop Author’s purpose/making judgment