My Voice, My Choice: Living My Life Substance-Free & Judgement-Free

By Ardra Arwin

I’ve always believed that you don’t need to change who you are to have fun. You just need to be around the right people, doing the things that make you feel alive. For me, that’s what it means to live substance-free. It’s not about saying “no” to something — it’s about saying “yes” to myself! It’s about protecting the parts of me that make me who I am: my creativity, my curiosity, and my love for life.

When I’m dancing, I lose myself in the rhythm. Every beat feels like it’s syncing with my heartbeat — and in those moments, nothing else matters. When I paint, I find freedom in my colors. My brush tells stories that words sometimes can’t. When I’m paddle boarding with my friends, laughing as the water splashes around us, I feel light — like the world is reminding me how beautiful it is to just be here. And when I’m hiking, surrounded by trees and sunlight, I breathe in peace and exhale gratitude. Those are my highs — the natural ones, the ones that don’t fade when the night is over.

There’s so much pressure sometimes — to fit in, to look cool, to go along with what everyone else is doing. It’s easy to think that trying drugs or alcohol is a “rite of passage,” something that everyone has to experience. But I’ve realized that true confidence doesn’t come from fitting in — it comes from standing out. It’s in saying, this is who I am, and being proud of that. 
Living substance-free doesn’t mean my life is boring or limited — it actually feels more full. My laughter is real. My energy is real. My emotions are real. I get to experience life with a clear mind, and that clarity helps me chase my goals and stay connected to what truly matters. Every time I choose to stay substance-free, I’m choosing to protect my future — the version of me who has big dreams, bright ideas, and endless potential. Embracing my culture and my identity is what makes me who I am and in a world where everyone has a version of you in their heads, be the best version of you for yourself, not to impress anyone but your own! 

Sometimes people assume that being substance-free means you’re “missing out.” But honestly, I think it’s the opposite. I’m not missing out on anything — I’m showing up for everything. The joy, the challenges, the adventures, the late-night talks, the big dreams — I get to live all of it fully. I don’t need a drink or a smoke to make a moment special. The moment itself is enough.

So when people ask me what gives me my “high,” I smile and tell them the truth:
I’m high on life. On laughter. On creativity. On love. On everything real.

⸻

Author’s Note

I wrote this piece because I know what it feels like to be a teen surrounded by pressure — the kind that whispers, “everyone’s doing it.” But I’ve learned that saying no doesn’t make you weak; it makes you strong enough to stand by what you believe in. I want other teens to see that there’s so much more to life than what you’re told you “should” try. Joy, art, movement, friendship, and nature — they’re all waiting to lift you up, no substances required.

Your voice matters. Your choices matter.
And you, too, can be high — on life.