My name is Alex, and I am an incoming undergraduate student at Northern Illinois University pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Psychology. I intend to earn a master's degree in Art Therapy. I have chosen this path because I struggled with anxiety, depression, and addiction from an early age. I became an IV drug user around age 15 and lived a miserable and destructive lifestyle for the next 15 years. As I write this, I am grateful to share that I am four years clean and sober from meth, cocaine, and alcohol. There is a saying that goes, "If I don't put my recovery first, everything I love will come dead last." Recovery is important to me because if I don't put it at the forefront of my life each day, I quickly forget that I can't have "just one on the weekends." Daily renewal of my commitment to recovery is a small investment that allows me to live a fulfilling and meaningful life despite my past. I've been in nine 28-day drug and alcohol treatment programs, four intensive outpatient/partial hospitalization programs, and more than 12 inpatient psychiatric hospitalizations. Toward the end of my addiction, I was homeless, estranged from my family, and in psychosis, seeing and hearing things that put myself and others in danger. I realized I needed something more long-term than another 28-day rehab, so I moved into a sober living facility, where I lived for two and a half years. There, I learned not only how to stay sober, but how to enjoy the process of recovery. While living there, I earned my Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS) credential through the College of DuPage in 2024. Today, I am grateful to work full-time for the same sober living facility that helped save my life. Working in recovery allows me to keep sobriety at the center of my life while helping others navigate the challenges of early recovery. In addition to working at the sober living facility, I facilitate two anger management classes and an understanding addictions class at our local county jail. I also facilitate recovery meetings at a 28-day treatment center and a bridge group at an outpatient behavioral health center. My role is to share what my life used to be like, what happened, and what my life looks like today. Today I am sober, happy, and have found purpose, direction, and meaning in life. I have been able to transform the darkest moments of my past into my greatest assets because those experiences allow me to connect with and support others. I have rebuilt a terrific relationship with my family, found a meaningful career, and enjoy spending my free time painting, going to the gym, or watching scary movies. I live with my boyfriend, who is also sober, and our two dogs, Rollo and Gizmo, who are both sober too. My dream is to become an art therapist and combine my passions for recovery and art to support others who are still struggling. I believe my purpose is to show people that recovery is possible and that the life waiting on the other side is worth fighting for.

My name is Alex, I am an incoming undergraduate student at Northern Illinois University pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Psychology. I intend on going for a Masters Degree in Art Therapy. I have chosen this journey because I have struggled with anxiety, depression, and addiction from an early age. As I write this, i am 4 years clean and sober from meth, cocaine, and alcohol. There is a saying that goes, "If I don't put my recovery first, everything I love will come dead last." This is true for me whether it be recovery from depression or recovery from meth. Mental health is important to me as a student because if I don't work on taking good care of my mental health on a daily basis, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning let alone take a single college course. It is a small investment I choose to make daily to ensure that I have a fulfilling and meaningful life in spite of my depression and anxiety. I've been in about nine 28-day drug and alcohol rehab facilities, 4 intensive outpatient/partial hospitalizatipn programs, and more than 12 in-patient psychiatric hospitalizations. Towards the end of my using career, I needed to try something different, something even more long-term. So, I moved intoa sober living facility where I lived for 2 and a half years. It was at this sober living facility where i learned not only how to live life sober, but enjoy the process of recovery. While there, I learned about a non-clinical, peer-level credential called Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS). This credential is for people with lived experience who are at least one year in recovery and want to help others advocate for themselves and navigate the ups and downs of early recovery. I went to College of DuPage and completed my CRSS in 2024. Today, I am grateful to get to work full-time for the same sober living facility I lived at for over two years. I love being able to give back and try to help others walking through our doors struggling to find their footing on solid ground. Additionally, I facilitate 2 anger management classes and one understanding addictions class out of our local county jail. I facilitate recovery meetings out of a 28-day treatment center in Woodridge, Illinois, and I facilitate a bridge group at an outpatient behavioral health center. Essentially, my role is to talk about what my life used to be like, what happened, and what my life looks like today. Today I am sober, I am happy, I have found purpose, direction and meaning in life. I have a terrific working relationship with my family and a meaningful career. I enjoy spending my free-time painting, going to the gym, or watching scary movies. I live with my boyfriend (who is also sober), and our two dogs, Rollo and Gizmo (who are both sober, too). I want to go into art therapy to combine my passions for recovery and art to help support others who are still struggling with being vulnerable. I still have depression and anxiety, but I'm at a place in my life right now where with the help of others and my coping skills, my depression and anxiety are manageable. My life is manageable. My way of advocacy is showing others that recovery is possible, and it is so worth the effort fighting for it.

My name is Alex, I am an incoming undergraduate student at Northern Illinois University pursuing a Bachelors of Science in Psychology. I intend on going for a Masters Degree in Art Therapy. I have chosen this journey because I have struggled with anxiety, depression, and addiction from an early age. As I write this, i am 4 years clean and sober from meth, cocaine, and alcohol. There is a saying that goes, "If I don't put my recovery first, everything I love will come dead last." This is true for me whether it be recovery from depression or recovery from meth. Mental health is important to me as a student because if I don't work on taking good care of my mental health on a daily basis, I wouldn't be able to get out of bed in the morning let alone take a single college course. It is a small investment I choose to make daily to ensure that I have a fulfilling and meaningful life in spite of my depression and anxiety. I've been in about nine 28-day drug and alcohol rehab facilities, 4 intensive outpatient/partial hospitalizatipn programs, and more than 12 in-patient psychiatric hospitalizations. Towards the end of my using career, I needed to try something different, something even more long-term. So, I moved intoa sober living facility where I lived for 2 and a half years. It was at this sober living facility where i learned not only how to live life sober, but enjoy the process of recovery. While there, I learned about a non-clinical, peer-level credential called Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS). This credential is for people with lived experience who are at least one year in recovery and want to help others advocate for themselves and navigate the ups and downs of early recovery. I went to College of DuPage and completed my CRSS in 2024. Today, I am grateful to get to work full-time for the same sober living facility I lived at for over two years. I love being able to give back and try to help others walking through our doors struggling to find their footing on solid ground. Additionally, I facilitate 2 anger management classes and one understanding addictions class out of our local county jail. I facilitate recovery meetings out of a 28-day treatment center in Woodridge, Illinois, and I facilitate a bridge group at an outpatient behavioral health center. Essentially, my role is to talk about what my life used to be like, what happened, and what my life looks like today. Today I am sober, I am happy, I have found purpose, direction and meaning in life. I have a terrific working relationship with my family and a meaningful career. I enjoy spending my free-time painting, going to the gym, or watching scary movies. I live with my boyfriend (who is also sober), and our two dogs, Rollo and Gizmo (who are both sober, too). I want to go into art therapy to combine my passions for recovery and art to help support others who are still struggling with being vulnerable. I still have depression and anxiety, but I'm at a place in my life right now where with the help of others and my coping skills, my depression and anxiety are manageable. My life is manageable. My way of advocacy is showing others that recovery is possible, and it is so worth the effort fighting for it.

I want to become an art therapist because it would combine my passion for art with my passion for recovery. I was raised by an artist and college art professor who taught for more than 35 years and always supported and encouraged my artistic abilities. Since a young age, I struggled with anxiety and depression—I always felt uncomfortable in my own skin. I sought solace in alcohol, cocaine, and eventually methamphetamine. By age 15, I had become an IV drug user and spent years going in and out of treatment centers. I was homeless for a brief period near the very end. While standing in the pouring rain with what little remained of my belongings in suitcases at my feet, I heard a familiar voice call my name. It was my high school art teacher, who recognized me, picked me up, and drove me around. We talked, and I broke down. It was the first time I felt comfortable being vulnerable with someone, and I shared everything with her. At that moment, I needed a guardian angel, and I felt that her being there was no coincidence. Shortly afterward, I finally got sober on June 9, 2022. After a 78-day stay at Gateway in Chicago, I moved into a sober living facility, where I lived for the next two and a half years. While there, I began reconnecting with my roots and started painting. I began by painting my family members' dogs as Christmas gifts and have been painting ever since. Painting became a valuable outlet during a time when I struggled to be vulnerable with others. I love creating art because, when I am painting, I am not focused on the past or the future—I am focused on the present moment: color, shape, form, texture, and composition. Art therapy groups were always my favorite part of treatment. In addiction, I felt that my life was meaningless and without direction. In sobriety, I discovered meaning and purpose. Just as there were many people who supported me throughout my journey, I want to help others who are struggling with addiction and mental health challenges. While living in sober housing, I attended school and became a Certified Recovery Support Specialist (CRSS), which served as my foot in the door to the helping professions. Today, I am grateful to work full-time at the same sober living facility where I once lived—a place I believe was instrumental in helping me stay sober and pursue my passions. But I do not want to stop there. When I reached three years of sobriety, I decided to return to college to complete my associate degree in art. After that, I enrolled at Northern Illinois University, where I plan to pursue a Bachelor of Science in Psychology beginning in the fall of 2026. For the first time in my life, I know what I want to do. I want to earn a master's degree in art therapy so that I can help others who may benefit from creative outlets as they navigate their own journeys toward lasting and meaningful recovery.

Recovery to me means giving up one thing to have everything. It means remaining true to myself, living up to my potential, reaffirming my values, and staying connected one day at a time. Ultimately, recovery to me means connection. When I was in active addiction to cocaine and crystal meth, I isolated. I only focused on me, myself, and I. I sat on the sidelines of life feeling sorry for myself as I watched my life pass before my eyes. Today, I am in recovery because of the village of people it took to help me get and stay sober. I'm in recovery because of relationships I have made with the long-timers who taught me there is a life worth living beyond addiction; that recovery is possible. I'm in recovery because of the newcomers I get the opportunity to work with; it's difficult to stay in my own head when I'm focusing on the needs of others. I am in recovery because of my amazing family whom loved me unconditionally even on my worst days. Today, my life is meaningful because of the people I am privileged to share it with. My recovery does not belong to just me, it belongs to all those around me. I am grateful for all of my life experiences-- the good, bad, ugly, and the even uglier--because through them I learned what is truly important in this life--connection with others.