The following article was written by 14 year old Roger Campbell, an entry into a contest while an 8th grader at Enemy Swim Day School. Roger was killed by a drunk driver on August 23, 2003. We wanted to share this article with you because it means so much to us and it shows us how important life is and that we should never take it for granted because we never know what is around the corner or beyond the next hill. Roger was born and grew up on the Sisseton-Wahpeton Reservation and he saw first hand what alcohol can do to families and to the people around him. For many of us it is a lesson to be learned and thoughts from Roger that will remain in our hearts forever.

Why it is important to be alcohol and drug free

I think that the more we are alcohol free the more we will live better and have a happy life.  If people drink everyday they are putting their lives at risk.  So next time I see someone drinking I'm going to tell them that if they want to live longer then maybe they should quit drinking and smoking. So even though everyone experiences it that doesn't mean they are going to die right away. But that doesn't mean they should do it all the time.  Then when it comes down to them having to go to the hospital they're going to be regretting it. 

So I wish I never take that road to start drinking because I have seen people who drank for a long time and some of them had died and most of them are living unhealthy. I am in the group called T.A.T.U. that stands for Teens against Tobacco Use so I want to help people to not start smoking and to quit smoking. I think that we are all smart enough to show young kids that smoking and drinking are both bad for you. People that do any of these bad things will probably suffer in the future.

If I were the person that has a say so I would keep beer and cigarettes out of people's lives. I understand that it's going to be hard for them to quit but I wish they could try anyway. I really wish there are no more car accidents dealing with drinking and driving because that is really sad when people have to die like that. I want young people to realize that they don't have to go out trying to be cool smoking and drinking.

I want people to know that when they do something bad it doesn't mean they have to be bad all the time. I really wish that when we all grow up we will understand that it's not right when we do those bad things. Its going to be tough in all trying not to drink when everyone is depressed over the war and all the violence. I want people to know that if I could change the world I would make it so no one gets hurt by drinking and driving.

In this world I want there to be no fighting, killing, drinking or smoking. I wish that everyone could grow up with respect loving and caring. When people drink and do bad things it could really affect the way you do things in your life. If I was the president I would help all the poor people that are on the streets. I would give them a place to stay and food to eat. I want to be drug free so I could do more things in life. I want to go to college and get my professional degree.

I would want to have a good life so I can have a big house and help the people that are on the streets from too much drinking. If I could have one wish it would be I wish there was no beer in this world. Then if someone brought it up to pull all the beer and bad stuff off shelves. So that way no one will get hurt or killed by drinking and driving -- I don't want to ever start drinking because it will mess up my life and I have pretty good plans ahead of me.

            By Roger Campbell, 8th grade.