The ability to learn from other's mistakes is a very important skill that can save you a lot of pain, struggle, and heartache in life. Go Ask Alice is the diary of an anonymous girl and her hardships between her 15th birthday and the end of her life. During these times she deals with common temptations in a teenager's life such as drugs, sex, and giving up in school. Although her story has a sad ending, she learns many significant lessons about the way things work. Through her amazingly honest entries you can learn to understand the importance of family, persistence, and self confidence, in dealing with whatever life hands you.
             The author is continually surprised and thankful for her family's unconditional love and support. Whether she has had a bad day at school, moving to a new state, or even coming home after running away from home for months they are always there to encourage her and help her in any way possible. "I felt like the prodigal son being welcomed back into the fold and I shall never go away again" (p 74). Like a good family should they show their true love for her by forgiving her and just being happy that she is safe and home again even though they have been worried and hurt that she left in the first place. Her mother is also willing to give advice whenever she will open herself up and share her feelings. "Mom was right," (p 178) is heard a lot when she talks to her mother and gives her a chance to help. No matter how much you mess up in life your family should always be there for you.
             Persistence is an essential factor to not falling back into an old lifestyle that you have pulled yourself out of. "And now Chris and I have both pledged to each other that we're going to stay clean" (p 56). Regardless of how many times she makes the resolution to stay clean, the author always seems to fall back into the world of drugs. When she is in the
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