On Sunday, February 17, I attended my first AA meeting at the "Grupo Fe y Amor" headquarters in Los Angeles. I attended the meeting in Spanish with my mother who had never been to a meeting before. As we walked into the meeting there were two older Latino men, Alberto and Ricky, who were very welcoming. I explained to them that this was my first meeting and that I was interested in learning more about AA. Then I handed them my flashcard with my name on it and they put it in a basket. I found it interesting that there was no one else at the meeting other than me and my mom, usually when I walk through the AA meeting I always see a couple of people. Say no to plagiarism. Get a tailor-made essay on "Why Violent Video Games Shouldn't Be Banned"? Get an Original Essay The meeting began with Alberto, the president, reading the AA preamble and then leading us in the Serenity Prayer in Spanish. After explaining what the AA meeting was about. He described AA as a group of people who work together to help its members stay sober and help those suffering from alcoholism and drug addiction achieve sobriety. Alberto then read the 12 steps of AA framed and hung on the wall and also gave a brief description of each step. I found the first step very powerful because it states that the individual must admit that he is powerless over alcohol and that his life has become difficult to manage. I can't imagine how difficult it must be for someone to have to admit that addiction has taken the best of them and their life. Another step that made me reflect on my life was step 4 which states that the individual must make a list of all the people he has hurt and is willing to be the bigger person and make amends to all of them . This made me reflect on the person I am today and realize how there have been times when my actions have harmed others. After retracing the 12 steps and other important information, Alberto gave his testimony. He is a Mexican born who has struggled with alcoholism and drug addiction. His story was relatable in many ways because I have family members who have faced the same difficulties for many years. Alberto told how he started associating with the wrong crowd and how his favorite drug was methamphetamine. He said that before his addiction he had a great life and was able to maintain a stable life in America. However, everything changed when he started craving drugs more and more. He explains that he went to work Monday to Friday and that on the weekends he drank and got high. Later, he began not only drinking and getting high on weekends, but also during the week after work and sometimes even during work. His addictions were slowly becoming part of his daily life and were not only harming him, but also his family, his relationships, and his ability to hold a job. He was eventually kicked out of the house because he could no longer be the responsible father and husband he once was. He remembers selling his car and all his belongings to get more drugs. His need for drugs became so strong that he began stealing and borrowing money from his family members. Alberto eventually hit rock bottom, became homeless and lost his family and his job. His family continued to insist that he seek help in these encounters but he did not take their advice into consideration. Only when Alberto admitted that he was powerless in the face of his addiction was he able to take the first steps to begin his recovery journey.recovery. During his testimony he emphasized that drugs and alcohol are real mental problems that need to be taken seriously. His testimony was very powerful because AA helped him regain control of himself and his life. Alberto has been sober for over four years and works hard every day to continue this journey. Ricky, the other AA meeting leader, also spoke about his experiences and how he had to work hard to become the man he is today. Ricky was born in Columbia and was first introduced to AA meetings when he was just a teenager. He discussed going to class with his mother because his mother was concerned about his drinking. He grew up with an alcoholic father and was always exposed to life as an alcoholic. The meetings eventually helped him resolve his drinking problems. However, after joining the army, he began experimenting with drugs and that's when his life changed dramatically. He started with marijuana and slowly moved on to harder drugs. After moving to the United States, his addiction continued and he eventually lost his way in life. At one point he lived on the famous Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles. Skid Row is known for its large homeless population. Ricky says he decided to change his life when he realized that if he continued to live like this his life could end soon. After attending AA again, Ricky was able to turn his life around and now lives in his own apartment and lives his best life. Some of the principles applied during the meeting included honesty, helpfulness, courage, faith, discipline, self-esteem. -value and integrity. The principle of honesty was applied when Alberto and Ricky were able to admit their mistakes. This shows that they are building positive character. No person likes to admit that they have a serious drug or alcohol problem, however, taking the step to accept help shows that they honestly want to overcome their challenges. The willingness is seen every time these men attend a meeting, they are willing to overcome mistakes and seek true potential. The principle of discipline is seen when these men and women get up every day to participate in these types of meetings and continue their journey to sobriety. It takes a lot of self-discipline and determination to stay on the right path. I think there is no right way to prepare a client for their first AA meeting. I would encourage them to attend the meeting when they feel ready. I would provide the client with basic background on AA and refer them to various locations. I think the worst candidate for this intervention is someone who is not ready to admit that they have a mental illness. In order for AA to benefit someone, that person must admit to themselves that they are no longer able to maintain a stable life and that their addiction has overwhelmed them. In my opinion, AA meetings are helpful because they are safe spaces where people with similar experiences and challenges can come together and talk about their situation. Some benefits of attending AA are that it is a structured environment, individuals gain a great deal by listening to the experiences of others, people gain motivation to avoid relapse, AA is free, and it is a worldwide phenomenon. Some disadvantages of attending AA are that it can lead to abuse from other members, some people attend meetings due to court orders, AA can be time consuming, and AA has a religious affiliation which can make it difficult for some to adjust. Please note: This is just an example. Get a custom paper from our expert writers now. Get a Custom Essay As I reflect on my first encounter, I have learned, 31(4), 685–707.