Learning Experience

Every day we encounter experiences that help shape who we will one day become. Whether the events turn out to be good or bad, they ultimately leave a dent in our lives. One particular experience from my past has definably outlined part of who I am today. Ironically, I consider this event to be the best and worst learning experience of my entire life so far. “You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law. You have the right to an attorney. If you cannot afford an attorney, one will be provided for you. Do you understand the rights I have just read to you? With these rights in mind, do you wish to speak to me?” These 5 sentences forever changed me. When I was 18, I decided to resolve a dispute with another woman by vandalizing her vehicle. The story may seem short and simple, but this event was far from that, and it is something that changed my life completely. At the time, my reaction towards the dispute seemed harmless and innocent. Unfortunately, not everyone was on the same page and it came back to bite me in the butt. After I vandalized the woman’s car, she took down my vehicle license plate number and had the police at my house within a matter of minutes. I was arrested, taken into custody and booked into jail for a FELONY vandalism charge; my world was rocked and turned upside down. As I sat in the cold cell that night in jail, I looked back at my attitude towards life and told myself that I had to change. I guess you can say that I was a typical bratty and spoiled 18 year old who thought she could get away with anything and assume that she could always have her way with everything. Boy, was I wrong. After I was released, the real struggle was just beginning. My parents had to hire an attorney, pay fees, miss work days to take me to court appearances, and the list goes on. After months and months of court appearances, my sentencing was reduced to a misdemeanor first-time offense, and was let off on