The High Life

I know that there are people of all ages who struggle with addictions. I'm an avid watcher of the show "Intervention" and it is so heartbreaking to see these people give up on life. What gets me the most is when I see teen addicts. Sure, most of them have suffered some type of abuse (but haven't we all??), but it is so shocking to me when someone who is 18 years old seems to think that there is no hope for their life. I look back at how much I have grown since I was 18 and the life I once lived seems like a complete strangers'. So many things have changed and so many opportunities have come my way-- for love, growth, and a more confident me.

J has his morning ritual of reading the news while brushing his teeth. He told me about an 18 year old girl who crashed a van into a home, killing a 69 year old woman. The teen was quoted saying, "The thing that made me not feel so bad was she was old. I mean, 70 years is a long time to live."

Kayla Gerdes was high on OxyContin and Xanax when she crashed her boyfriends van into a house. In another article I read, Gerdes' boyfriend was also high and not driving fast enough when Gerdes told him to pull over and let her drive. Moments later, the high, unlicensed driver, crashed into a house, killing a woman. Gerdes was running late to a court hearing for charges of stealing money and jewelry from her own mother. Her mom was hoping that the judge would order Kayla to drug rehab.

Then, on a completely separate note, she told police: "I want to see a newspaper or the news to see what I look like."

It is so sad to me that someone lost their life because of this girls stupidity and her addiction. It makes me sick to think that rather than find some sense of remorse, there are people in my generation who can easily justify the death of someone because they are old. It also sickens me that some people can be so concerned with their looks. Yeah, we all love to see a good picture of ourselves. But after killing someone and seeing your photo in the newspaper because of that? Definitely not. So, let's give this girl what she wants. Everyone should look at her picture. Everyone should remember her face. Hopefully someday she will feel a little embarrassment and remorse for what she's done.

If you want to check out the article, visit the website below:

http://wcbstv.com/local/kayla.gerdes.teen.2.1650435.html