ANGP?

It means All Night Grad Party. I know, I know, you donsa国际传媒檛 need a lecture about safety, drinking, drugs, or making smart choices. After all, yousa国际传媒檙e a senior and about to graduate sa国际传媒� you know it all.

I also know that every year a parent is met at the door by a police officer and told that their graduating teen is dead or injured because of an accident at some bush party or a choice made to get behind the wheel drunk or stoned. Theresa国际传媒檚 also the lifetime sentences caused by alcohol/drug-fueled sexual assaults, permanent disfigurement from a crash, fights, or humiliation through video and social media.

Take a second, stop and think. Donsa国际传媒檛 get so caught up in the build-up and sa国际传媒渢raditionsa国际传媒� of all night parties that you lose perspective that yousa国际传媒檙e graduating so you can start a new life, not end it.

Isa国际传媒檓 not saying that you cansa国际传媒檛 party. Thatsa国际传媒檇 be unrealistic just make sure you do some planning and be smart. So, heresa国际传媒檚 a checklist for you.

1. Know who yousa国际传媒檙e with. That sound so simple and straightforward, but yousa国际传媒檇 be surprised how many young people will get into cars with a group of strangers all because theresa国际传媒檚 a common theme of sa国际传媒榩arty.sa国际传媒� Stick with your friends and make a decision together to stay that way. Keep an eye on each other. Thatsa国际传媒檚 what friends do.

2. Know where you are. Again, this sounds so simple, but if yousa国际传媒檙e going to a bush party in the middle of nowhere, for example, the roads all look the same at night and you could easily get lost. Do you have enough gas in the car? Also, will you still have cell service?If yousa国际传媒檙e out of range then itsa国际传媒檚 even more important to pay attention to point No. 1.

3. Know who your designated driver is. Every time you go out you need a designated driver. If you have a group of friends then you can rotate and switch it up. If yousa国际传媒檙e in town, make sure you have someone to call. I donsa国际传媒檛 care if itsa国际传媒檚 the third cousin of your best friends brother in law sa国际传媒� have someone reliable and mature enough to pick you up if trouble surfaces.

Note to parents/aunties/friends: If you have an agreement with a young person to call you (no matter what time or circumstance) to pick them up, then just do it. Donsa国际传媒檛 lecture or judge or ground because believe me, next time they wonsa国际传媒檛 call.

4. sa国际传媒淣osa国际传媒� means no. That goes for everyone sa国际传媒� male, female or otherwise.

5. Drugs, to me, are a loud resounding no. If yousa国际传媒檙e at a party, you need to know whatsa国际传媒檚 going on around you and not be so hammered that you cansa国际传媒檛 see straight. With so many pills, and even marijuana, being laced with fentanyl, it could be the end. That would really suck.

6. Are you going to the ANGP to be part of the crowd or because you want to? The parties arensa国际传媒檛 mandatory and are not a rite of passage. Theysa国际传媒檙e a reason to get drunk, act stupid, and make an ass of yourself. Think about it.

7. Donsa国际传媒檛 forget itsa国际传媒檒l all be recorded for prosperity. Do you want your boss to see you passed out? Or your auntie to see you naked and running through the fields. Umm, I hope your answer is no sa国际传媒� sa国际传媒檔uf said.

8. Find an alternative to the ANGP. Grad committees did this by adding in and supporting Dry Grad. There are many ways to celebrate and have fun with your friends without getting wasted and putting yourself (and possibly others), in harmsa国际传媒檚 way.

9. Donsa国际传媒檛 be a statistic. You donsa国际传媒檛 want to be that roadside memorial tribute with the fake flowers and half filled balloon flopping in the wind. A dead teenager kills all their potential. Get it?

10. Last, but definitely not least have some respect for yourself and others. Stop and think about how your actions, words, and choices are a reflection of who you are and how they can affect another.

Have fun, but be safe.

Faye Arcand is a freelance columnist living in the South Okanagan.