High school graduation is a time of shared joy for parents, grandparents, and high schoolers. Whether you are a celebrating graduate or a proud parent, these are wonderful memories that will last a lifetime. After the photos are taken, and the gifts and cards opened, the next step that begins to take shape is choosing a college. The process of selecting and applying for colleges is an exciting experience, but can also be stressful.
I still remember walking across that stage, shaking the principal’s hand, and receiving my high school diploma. But before long I was your typical college fraternity boy, and I was waking up in handcuffs in the back of a campus police car not knowing how I got there. What happened? How did I get to this point? Let me explain.
Is Ignorance Bliss?
Have you ever heard of the phrase “ignorance is bliss”? Well, let me tell you ignorance is dangerous! Ignorant is the term I would use to describe myself entering college. I had no idea of the pressures of fitting in that presented themselves in the form of alcohol and drugs.
You see, the atmosphere of colleges in America is focused on one thing, partying. Whether it is classroom professors teaching you that now is the time for new thinking or counselors enforcing the concept of “be who you want to be, your finally free!” “If it feels good, do it”. I was completely blindsided and consumed with this new perception of reality.
Joining the College Fraternity
One night, while at a party, I was approached by a guy who was popular, good-looking, and everyone knew him. He began to tell me things like, “You seem really cool” and “I can introduce you to some really pretty girls”. This sounded so good to me, a young man trying to fit in. Little did I know that the address he gave me that night to meet him the next day was the address to a fraternity house. Before I knew it, I was a rushing pledge. Anything the “brothers” of the fraternity told me to do; I did it. The same guy that told me all of the nice things before, was now humiliating me in front of everyone.
Ignorance turned to depravity and depravity turned demonic. Everything came to a frightening halt one evening at the fraternity house. We (the pledges), walked blindfolded down into the basement and gathered into a circle. Once the blindfolds were removed, I saw three red candles lit inside three different metal triangles. A Bible was open to the book of Song of Solomon. When all of the sudden, the fraternity “brothers”, who were in hooded robes, began to chant behind us in some other language. I was now part of a satanic ritual! I was terrified.
But praise be to God, I was able to quit the pledge-ship a few days later, but sadly, my new life as an alcohol and drug user was just beginning. The college fraternity scene had turned me into an alcoholic.
Overcoming Alcohol
This experience opened my eyes to the spiritual battle that was going on in my soul. This caused me to seek recovery and victory over my addiction to alcohol. I went back to the church that I grew up in and met an RU Director from another church that was driving down once a week to my church to hold a meeting to help introduce people to the RU Program. I began working through the Overcomer and the Strongholds Study Course. But the urge of my addiction was too strong and I needed something more. I needed an added level of accountability in my life till I could grow strong enough spiritually to overcome my addiction. My pastor then recommended that I go to Rockford, IL where I enrolled in the RU Schools of Discipleship for Men. I spent 6 months in the home and God throughout the RU Program transformed my life and I can now say that I have victory over alcoholism.
Three Things I Learned
- As a teenager and young adult, I desired to fit into the crowd. Before you find your identity in people and things, find your identity in Christ.
- Heading into college I lacked in the accountability structure necessary to keep my life on the right path. Every young person should have a structure of accountability in their life. This means solidly built relationships between parents and their child as well as the pastor, and youth pastor to help young people to make the right decisions when it comes to choices of colleges as well as life choices.
- I would also say that growing up in a Christian home it was assumed that I would know certain things were bad such as joining a fraternity. Don’t live in ignorant bliss! I would urge parents to educate their young people on the dangers that face them upon graduation.
– Daniel
