This is what SADD is all about. It's not just any ordinary organization; SADD is an attitude and a feeling that every member tries to share with others. It's an empowering group that promotes a change in attitudes throughout the nation.
Do you have a story about SADD or issues that young people face? Please share it. Submit your story at mystory@nlsadd.com. All confidentiality will be kept and anonymity ensured.
During junior high, I was a pretty shy kid, and I felt a little abandoned by a lot of my classmates. So many of them seemed to be interested in trying to act older and being popular among the older kids in the high school. Well, I still just wanted to be 13 years old. This alienated me from much of my class. Until I was a sophomore, I loathed each day of school because nobody talked to me, nobody said hi to me, and I felt I was never included in anything. When I tried to speak up, people ignored me. Older kids made fun of me when I'd walk down the hall. Each day it seemed to get worse.
Self-esteem plays such a huge role throughout junior high and high school. If you get knocked enough times, you and your self-esteem come tumbling down. Luckily, all it takes is one person to catch you and get you back on your feet. Sophomore year, I went to State SADD and found hundreds of arms ready to help me back up because I was in such a rut. That conference forever changed my life, and since then I've dedicated myself to being there for people. More importantly, I try to prevent people from going down that road in the first place. SADD stands for who I am, and I know thousands of people across the state feel the same way.
-Cory, ND
Tonight, most of the kids in my class were out at a drinking party, and I was looking for something to do. I ended up watching a movie with a few friends of mine, and we had a pretty good evening. Later, we met up with a few other kids at a small parking lot in town where the kids get together. One boy started asking me about why I won't ever go to the parties, and why I am against, essentially, destructive decisions. I found it extremely hard to put into words the reasons I have for choosing this lifestyle. I finally tried to explain to him the self-worth and confidence I feel because I can choose to do things that are healthy for myself. He still didn't understand, and I told him that making the decisions that are right for me are so much more important in my life that gaining the popularity that comes with drinking and partying. I realize now that I'm home, I could never do this without SADD. SADD has instilled in me a sense of belonging, of self worth, and confidence. This organization has helped to make me the person I am today, and I feel I'm a better, stronger person because of it. I'm proud to belong to something so powerful.
-Lisa, ND
I am a SADD member and a Minnesotan. At my high school, SADD is not the most popular thing, or the most actively-participated group. We also do not have a state-wide organization. Before I was in contact with Lee Erickson, I didn't understand what it meant for SADD to be such a big deal. Then I attended the 2007 SADD regional conference, and it changed my life. I now understand exactly what SADD is fighting for: no use for every student. I strongly believe in this message, and now that I understand the overwhelming number of people that are also fighting for this, I find it much easier to spread this message in my high school. Without North Dakota supporting SADD, our entire region, not just North Dakota, will suffer. This fight has only just begun; I know every Northern Lights SADD member wants to see this program survive. Please do not let our dream die.
-Becca, MN
SADD means to me more than I can ever express. My parents divorced when I was young because of alcohol along with other problems. SADD to me was an opportunity for me to prove the statistics wrong when they say just because you have a parent who uses alcohol, you are likely to as well. SADD in high school was a support system and a great opportunity for me to make memories that will last forever. Now as a college graduate, SADD has given me a lifetime of friends and better, more positive outlook on life. I cannot imagine the person I would be had I not been given the opportunity to explore the world and be who I really am. All of these things were possible because of SADD.
-Valerie, ND
I just thought you should know you have literally saved my life by having SADD in North Dakota. When I say that, I really mean that when I was in 7th grade, just before I was introduced to the SADD lifestyle, I was planning on killing myself. Thank God for SADD. That very day I learned about SADD I realized I wanted to stay here and be who I am today!
I want you to know that I have the SADD organization to be so thankful for. I wouldn't be here without you guys.
-14, ND
A few years ago I was a depressed person who didn't know where I was going in life. I didn't know what SADD was, because it wasn't common around here. SADD changed my life. It made me realize that my lifestyle of not drinking and not smoking was the thing TO DO... and I had over 600 kids on my side. SADD has slowly made underage drinking less common. I love SADD and can't wait for CSI. I plan to go to state conventions still. Northern Lights SADD is the thing to do and to support, because if it weren't for us and other prevention programs... underage drinking would be a lot higher.
-17, ND
Someone asked me the other day: Why was I in SADD? I had to tell them. When I was elementary school, I was picked on and sometimes beat on by the other kids. It seems that it always happens in elementary school. I thought that no one knew what I was going through. No one could help me, so I never bothered to tell any one about the kids that were hurting me both physically and emotionally. In my 7th grade year, I had switched schools. I saw the poster in my school about SADD. The pictures that were on it showed people having fun with friends. I never really had any friends, so I thought I would go to the next meeting. I found out that there were and still are people just like me. Some that were being hurt and did something about it. So when that someone would ask me 'What does SADD mean to you?' I would always answer them "More then you'll ever know."
