Do you know that DARE stands for DRUG ABUSE RESISTANCE EDUCATION? Well, Deputy Rieder taught me about making good choices for my life. My favorite thing she talked about is gangs. I do not want to be in a gang at all now that I know about how bad gangs are for kids.

First, I'm going to talk about how gangs get started. I need to be careful when I choose friends. Gang members might try to get me to join their gang. That would make their gang bigger and stronger.Second, there are some reasons kids might join a gang. They might just hate their parents and run away. Maybe his or her parents might just dislike their kid and throw them out of the house. Then, they could grow up and be in a gang. The gang is like their family. I am lucky to have a great family so I won't need to join a gang.Third, joining a gang is just like throwing everything that I learned in school away. School is important to me. I want to go to college to study and do sports. If I join a gang, all that will disappear.

Fourth, gang members live a terrible life. They are controlled by the gang leaders. They cannot make good choices. I think that I want to be in control of my own life.

Fifth, I'm going to talk about how gangs can retaliate. If you or I join a gang but decide not to go to the gang activities for a long period of time, the gang members might retaliate by killing you or me. Also, if you or I go to the police and tell them what the gang has been doing, the gang will angry and may try to hurt you or me.

In conclusion, I will never join a gang because DARE has taught me about what could happen. I am glad that DARE taught me to stay far away from gangs. I am glad that we have the DARE program at Willowdale. I wish every school in the country could have the DARE program because then all kids would stay away from gangs and that would be better for everyone. Thank you.

DARE Essay Index