I am an addict in recovery. I struggled so much in my addiction that it caused me to take a massive step back from my studies multiple times. I’ve done college courses while in rehab for addiction. I have continued my studies and done my best to stay focused on progressing in my new found life and never look back. Throughout the years I’ve struggled with so many ups and downs. The one thing I always knew I wanted was a better life for myself that let me truly live as the best version of myself. I got lost in my addiction for years. I found my way back into the light with the help of narcotics anonymous. Since I was 15 years old I have always had a job or two. I worked throughout my whole addiction, which is very uncommon for most addicts. There was just something inside of me that wouldn’t let me get fully immersed into my addiction and jsut let go of everything. I knew there was a better way to live. I could see it in the people around me. I’m the only addict in my family, I would consider myself the black sheep of the family. I have found peace and acceptance in that. My addiction lead me to where I am today , so for that I am grateful. I have a program today that helps me look at myself and my actions in a manor of self improvement. There’s not many free programs that encouraged and helps people the way that narcotics anonymous does. After my second year celebration, I received a knock at my front door at 7am. I opened the door to see my dad in great distress with two police officers. I found out that my brother had died in a car accident that morning. My life was absolutely rocked and I just fell to the ground. I wasn’t sure that I was going to be able to stay clean through that. I call everyone in my network. Within a couple hours the women in my network came to support and take care of me. They are the reason that I am still clean to this day. It’s not often that we see people in the rooms of narcotics be able to stay clean through such had events like that. I’m grateful that I was able to stay clean from that and be the example in the rooms that you can get through anything clean. I stayed vigilant in my program and healed myself as well as I could in the mists of my grief. I found the strength and courage to go back to college and continue on with my studies because I know that my brother would be proud of me. My life has been anything but traditional. It’s been a very hard and rocky road that I have faced but I refuse to give up. I will continue on this journey and live my life in honor of my brother.

“Any addict seeking recovery need ever die”. I found my way into recovery in 2019, after my 15th relapse. I was tired, broken, and lost. I thought I knew how to handle this addiction on my own but I quickly learned that I didn’t know anything. I came back into the room with my tail between my legs. I took every suggestion that was given to me and started to work an honest program. Recovery has changed my life in more ways than I ever could have imagined. I am an active member of NA and I want other addicts to have what I have. It saved my life. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t give the program a real try. I am a productive member of society, an amazing daughter, a good sister, a trustworthy friend, and an honest person. There truly isn’t enough good stuff I could say about recovery. In majority of my classes for school if managed to get to write on recovery or addiction in some manner. I normally have to write to my professors and argue as to why I think I should be allowed to focus on that topic. I am always greeted with a yes from my professors because they can see my genuine love and appreciation for the transformation from addiction to recovery. A scholarship will allow me to continue to grow in this new life I have created for myself.