Dearest Father Francisco,

It has been a long time since my days at Rosaryhill, I hope that the years have been good to you. The recent events concerning drug use by Rosaryhill students has surprised me and I cannot accept your apology as I believe that the fault lies not in your hands.

Firstly, I am and will always be proud of being a Rosaryhill alumni, as the education I received from the school has in many ways molded the person I am today and for that I thank you. Drugs and drug use is nothing new. It has always been a controversial issue and prevalent taboo in society since the days I attended Rosaryhill. That said, there should never be excuses for recreational drug use today, especially by children who are old enough to make educated choices. In hindsight however, there is always more that could have been done to deter students from experimenting with drugs. And most importantly, this is what I have been questioning myself upon reading the news about the Rosaryhill drug use incident; What can I do to bring the message across about the negative consequences with drug use? What can I do to help children make the right decision during that critical moment? In the end, what can I do to stop children from taking drugs?

I cannot say that I have done extensive research concerning the statistics of drug use, nor can I say by experience that drugs are bad. I believe that there are enough references in popular culture that explore the negative results and impact that drugs can have on people and their friends and family. It is because of this, that I had made the clear decision not to experiment with drugs. And although there have been those around me who have used drugs, I have never given in to peer pressure. In the end, it is my body and my life, and those are my responsibilities.

If I could be of any help, it would be my honor to have the chance to speak with this new generation of Rosaryhill students. It's not my intention to teach them about the negative aspects of drugs for those I am sure they already know. Instead, I would like to share with them parts of my life story, how I have progressed through my studies and my career without having to either credit drug use for my success nor blame it for my failures. Unfortunately, due to my pregnancy, this may not be the best time for me to speak to them, however, I would love to have the opportunity in due time should you be interested. Please extend my words to ALL those at Rosaryhill, and let them know that it is my sincere intention to be able to speak to them once convenient.

Regards,

Kelly Chen