Underage party not the end of the world

By Mike Ullery
Chief Photographer
mullery@dailycall.com
Another prom season has come — and gone.

The good news is that our kids all came through it safely. The bad news is that there were a few bumps in the road for some.

As sometimes happens, some of our kids were involved in a a party that included underage consumption of alcohol. The resulting uproar produced a number of expected, and some unexpected, reactions.

As so often happens, a lot of the heat was turned toward the Piqua Daily Call because we made the decision to report the incident and publish the names of those involved.

To address that particular issue, there is no law that prohibits a newspaper from publishing the identities of accused subjects, including juveniles.

Sometimes the decision to publish information, and the related names, is not a popular one. Which side of the line one stands on, usually depends on if one is, is related to, or is friends with, an involved subject.

That fact of the matter is that a group of respected young residents, did in fact, have a party and were caught with alcoholic beverages. Were their actions illegal? Yes. Was it the end of the world? Not at all.

One way to look at this is that potential tragedy may have been averted. It is entirely possible that if one, or more, of these kids had left the party and attempted to drive, prom weekend could have taken a more tragic turn.

As it was, no one was hurt. A few egos may have been bruised. Those involved are going to have to face the consequences of their actions. But, it is not the end of the world for anyone.

These are good kids. They are a bright hope for the future of Piqua and for themselves. Everyone makes mistakes. Let's just be happy that these mistake, in the grand scheme of things, were minor.

How many of you, during the course of this story, probably related to friends, family or co-workers an incident from "the good old days," when you were involved in a questionable activity? Yes, I know. Most of us have a story or two.

In a nutshell, our kids learned a life lesson. Sometimes, the best lessons sting a little. That way, they are better remembered.

My message to the kids involved is, don't let this get you down. Yes, you made a mistake and will have to pay the price. It is okay to be ashamed of what you did, but do not be ashamed of yourself. Your accomplishments far outweigh this setback so move on and continue to live life.

You are all just getting a good start on life's path. Hang in there. We are counting on you.