Paper #1
Alyssa Peterson
Attend an AA meeting

I attended an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting. The meeting I attended was on Monday night at 7:30pm and it was an open meeting. I had never been to AA meeting, so I really didn’t know what to expect. I went in with a very open mind. It was interesting and very eye opening for me.

When I arrived I walked in and didn’t know where to go so I went to the bulletin board and started reading some of the flyers and information hanging up. They’re where people gathered around in many of the rooms. A man walked up to me and asked if I needed some help, I told him I was there to observe an AA meeting. He led me around the whole building showing me where all the different meeting where held. He told me “there are no dues or fees to belong to AA, we are self-supporting through our own contributions. AA is not allied with any sect, denominations, politics, organization or institution” He then brought me to one of the rooms and introduced me to an older man who I will call Jon. Jon was more than happy to share the knowledge that he had learned over the last 29 years of his life. He told me “Alcoholics Anonymous is the fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other that they may solve their common problem and help others to recover from alcoholism” he showed me where I could sit and be apart of their meeting. A man started reading the mission of AA and then a women read the 12 steps that an alcoholic follows to gain sobriety. Then the lead lady introduced herself by saying “my name is”… and I am an alcoholic”, this went around the table and everyone would tell a short story on how they became sober. Some of them talked