I knew it was a bad idea, but I had to take the leap to prove I had what it takes. Being the only one who never jumped made the pressure unbearable. I had to jump; I couldn’t look scared in front of all the people from my school.
So I jumped.

When I hit the water, I thought I had broken both my legs. The pain was worse than a car hitting me dead on. The water was like ice, after ten seconds I couldn’t even feel the pain in my legs anymore. When I came up from underneath the water, I heard everyone cheering. Everyone saw me jump; I was now part of a click of fearless individuals that would jump off anything into water for attention. Maybe now I could become part of something bigger than just a guy known for being in no sports. When I went back up to the top of the bridge from where I jumped, everyone still acted if I didn’t exist. They gave me a smile instead of a weird face, but still didn’t even try to talk to me. Leaping off that bridge was a waste of time. Everyone saw and knew what I did, but didn’t care. I was still the same person as the day before, but now I wasn’t labeled as a pansy or a girl.

The next day at school everyone acknowledged me, but didn’t actual try to talk to me. Being one of the kids in all advanced classes didn’t help either. I wanted to fit it more than graduating with honors and going off to a good college. Having no social life in today’s society was the worst thing someone can have under their name. Without a social life I was at a disadvantage if seen through other people’s perspective. I couldn’t do things like copy someone’s paper, or even just getting help from a friend on an assignment. School was more of a social pariah than a learning environment. Making it in school meant becoming popular or being really good at sports.

I had my name somewhat known; now it was my chance to become not only known, but to have the label popular under my name. I had to come up with a way to make people want to hang out with me and be my friend. My first idea was to be in the talent show, but my talents that people would find amusing are slim to nothing. I would have to do something they would enjoy and make them want to be friends—so I had an idea. Since we were all in high school all everyone did was smoke, drink, and party. All three of these things were the exact opposite of me. But sacrifice was a given and a must if I wanted to have a memorable social life. So the beginning of the end starts here.
This is my story.

One night my friend and I were hanging out and he told me about a party that was happening this weekend. The kid’s parents were out of town and he had the house to himself for the whole weekend. My friend over heard them talking and knew they had no way of getting any alcohol. This was my chance; I could prove that I was one of the cool kids. My dad owned a brewery, so there were always crates and kegs lying around the house. The next day at school I told everyone that I could get them some beer for the party. Obviously they were ok with it and were now counting on me to make the party a real party.

Once I was able to take the beer without my mom noticing I went straight to the party. My dad wasn’t home so I didn’t have to worry about him catching me in the act. Once I arrived at the party everyone was trying to be my friend and talk to me. Most likely the beer being the only reason, but I didn’t mind. Everything at the party went great. This party was the best thing that ever happened to me. I was hanging out with people I never thought I’d even talk to. Taking my dad’s beer was the smartest choice I had ever made—or so I thought.

When I got home that night after the party my dad was there waiting for me. I could see the disappointment in his eyes. He knew I took the beer and he knew that I knew he knew. I didn’t know what to say or what to do. My whole body shut down and I couldn’t move. My dad sat there yelling and lecturing me about how he could have gotten fired and ho I could have gone to jail. He told me if I didn’t get a job within the week to pay him back he would send me away to the Marines. I obviously chose to get a job and follow his rules because I did not want to be a marine. On top of all that I was grounded from everything and anything until a graduated from high school. Everything came crashing down on me and only me. How come I didn’t hear of anyone else getting in this much trouble? My life was slowly falling apart all because I wanted to fit in. I still felt it was all worth it even though the punishments were pretty unbearable.

The next day at school it was as if I became a famous celebrity and showed up at a random school. Everyone wanted to get to know me; people were wondering how I got the beer and asking if I got in any trouble. Being a person who fed off social in counters, I told them that I stole them and no one knew a thing about it. In reality I guess you could say I did steal it, just from my dad. Stealing the beer made me famous though, if I could re-do what was I done; I would do it all over again. That day when I got home my dad decided if I can follow his rules then I would be ungrounded; but if I couldn’t follow them, I would be thrown into the marines faster than I would know what to do. I obviously chose to follow his rules. I couldn’t back out now, everyone was counting on me. So I came up with a plan.

I had everyone planned out perfectly; I would get the beer from my dad. But this time I would take the alcohol out of the kegs and fill it with water to equal the weight. My dad never actually checked the kegs, he just delivered them. He would never know that any beer was taken. Of course whoever received the kegs my dad delivered would know, but whoever my dad’s company could easily be blamed for their not being any beer in the kegs.

Everything was going as planned. The party was going great; I had everything I’ve been wanting for years—until my dad got back from delivering the kegs of water. My life was over before I could even make try to explain myself. Rushing through things to get to the party faster, I forgot to make sure there were no finger prints all over the container. They found my prints all over the container of beer—and I just turned 18 the week before.
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According to the state of Mississippi, stealing and giving alcohol to minors was a felony. I was going to prison for 7 years. My dad tried to get me just house arrest, but the judge wasn’t being very understanding. I may be in prison, but I would have done it all over again if I could go back and change it. I went out a legend; just for some high school friends. I knew what I did was pretty risky, but I never saw myself in a prison—for the next 7 years of my life.