'what are you doing?'

At a party one night, college athlete MATT LAWRENCE took a good look at himself.

BY MATT LAWRENCE AS TOLD TO SUZANNE SMEDLEY

IN HIGH SCHOOL, I didn't feel any peer pressure to drink. I had a group of friends who liked to have fun, but they weren't into drinking.

Going off to college was a new experience. My school was big on the party scene, and I was the only Christian Scientist on campus. I was also a member of the baseball team, and I desperately wanted to fit in with the team socially. It seemed as though everyone drank, especially the athletes. Instead of the typical big frat parties, my friends had small, personal parties in their dorm rooms with a few people, so there was more peer pressure to drink.

Freshman year, I was practicing Christian Science during the day—reading the weekly Bible Lesson and praying with the idea that God was the true source of my energy and my health. But at night, I'd turn the switch off and join the party scene. It was risky because if I'd been caught, I could have been kicked off the baseball team.

About the author

Matt graduated from college last year and lives in Boston. He is a videographer for professional baseball teams, supplying video clips for commercial and promotional use.

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