For more than 18 years of his life Joel had worked hard both in his primary level education and in high school.
Indeed, in January 2nd 2006 his name was in the local daily. It was all about “Joel tops once again”.
It is usually unusual for someone to top national examination both in the primary level and secondary level. Joel had done it. His parents were overjoyed. They thought he would be a blessing. His three brothers had indeed disappointed the parents who were peasant farmers, by their unusual drinking behaviour. Though they were bright in school they ended up never completing their university education.
Alcohol turns people apart, get help today!!
Gifts and presents of all sorts were presented to him. It is a norm that the head of state and the head of government, being the president and the prime minister pay a personal visit to a candidate who leads the national exam. It was all smiles as the two CEOs of the nation visited Joel and his parents.
* For a whole week the media was obsessed with this genius Joel.
Every one anticipated he would be a doctor as he had said. Newspapers called him “the doctor in making”.
Some months later he was admitted in campus to study medicine. He was tops once again. Indeed as a first year the university awarded him a first class honours in human anatomy for an exemplary performance in this field; a very rare event. The president was there to honor him again. He was put under a full salary equivalent to $3000 every month.
$3000 was accurse in disguise. Joel started drinking alcohol. He would spend nights and days in a night club. He missed his lectures and as a celebrity, newspapers and the media were at it again. ‘Alcohol turns a genius to a walking cabbage’. There were photos of him drunk and sleeping on the road sides.
* A few months later he was expelled for missing examinations.
His salary was withdrawn. Once in the village and an addict he turned to local brews. One day he consumed a local brew that was poisonous. He first lost his sight. Imagine of a blind genius! Two days later he started vomiting blood.
On being rushed to the hospital, he was admitted to the intensive care unit. He lay in bed for ten days. His parents could not afford the rising hospital bill and he was transferred to a common ward. Within two hours after the transfer he went to be with the dead by passing on.
* * * Alcohol had turned a national hope to a corpse. * * *
Author: National Addiction Resources
America's Best Treatment Directory
Leave a Reply