Positive Effects of a “Anonymous” Program for Students

While going to college I have seen first hand how a 12 step campus can help someone. I myself am not an addict to drugs or alcohol, but I do have family and friends who fall into those labels. One of my closest friends joined a anonymous groupon campus 90 days ago and the results have been incredible. She has taken that courageous first step of admission, and surrendered her decisions to a higher power alongside a group of supporters. This has enabled her to curb her addiction one day at a time. The anonymous group for students she is a member of makes her feel able to stand tall in tough situations where her addiction could normally get the better of her. Within ninety days she has increased her positive energy, her healthy habits and most of all, her enjoyment of life. She writes in her diary every evening after doing her homework and before going to sleep, about the ways in which she grew that day. She calls her sponsor at 6:45 every morning before class to talk about her plan for the day. The amount of resolve she has to this twelve step program is admirable and makes me question what I’m missing out on. I claim no uncontrollable vice of my own, but is that the truth?

Her newfound way of life brings me to question my own decisions while living on campus. I wonder if I could be happier, healthier, more mentally and physically fit if I figured out what my vices were and found a 12 step program of my own. I decided to do some research. What I found quite shocked me. There is literally a twelve step program on my campus for almost everything! From online gaming to workaholics! And if there isn’t one, then surely it could be brought up with the campus administration and arranged. I have yet to figure out which program would be right for me. I think sometimes anger management may do me some good, or procrastinators anonymous. If there is a program on campus for manic depressiveness, that would certainly be my place to be. It makes me wonder though, if all of these manic depressives gather every week in the same place, would their cycles align? I can see it now. One day everyone in the room is ready to just frown and pass out, and then next week we decide to throw a party with a banner that says, “Nothing Can Stop Us!!!!” I don’t know. There are certainly things that I can change, and maybe I need some sort of intervention to find out what needs the most attention. I suppose that if the problem is big enough, it will find me. But until then I continue to draw inspiration from watching this brave college student better her life one day at a time.

But as well as making me question my own habits, her new ways have been rubbing off on me Because we are so close her lifestyle has a profound effect on my own and we tend to feed off each other’s habits. In this case, because her lifestyle has changed for the positive and I am entirely supportive, I no longer do anything that contradicts her program’s creed. All said and done, I have an enormous respect for my campus for providing anonymous groups for students to help people gain control over the things they do not have the strength to overcome alone. I have seen first hand the positive changes that are possible as a result.