What does incarceration mean to you? Hello my name is Bonnie and I am a recovering addict. I have been clean and sober since July of 2017. I started using crystal meth when I was 12 years old. Growing up, my dad sold meth as his primary income source. I'll never forget the first time I tried it. That day marked the beginning of the end, to a very long road ahead of me. By the time I graduated High School, my father had passed away from lung cancer. I spent my teenage years in and out of Juvinal Hall, adolencent impatient psychiatric facilities, outpatient drug and alcohol programs, and extensive therapy. None of which had the power to help me overcome my addiction. During my senior year of High School, my oldest brother drowned in the Feather River. The autopsy later showed that he had methamphetamines in his system when he died. Two years later, in 2009, my second oldest brother was electrocuted by a fan, when it fell into the bathtub. The breaker failed to trip, and the force kiled him. Methamphetamine was found in his system as well. At 21, I became pregnant with my son. I knew I had to turn from the drugs for his well being. I did just that for a couple of years. Shortly after my son turned 1, he was removed from my home because of my drug use. Looking back, it was a blessing in disguise. I jumped through all of the courts hoops, and continued to attend my visitation meeting with him. All the while still heavy into my addiction. It wasn't until 2012 when I was put on 5 years of felony probation, and referred to an impatient duel diagnosis substance abuse rehab that my life started to turn around. I completed the 30 day intensive impatient program, and my life was changed forever. The psychiatrist at the facility prescribed medication for ADHD, and anxiety disorder. It was at that time that I learned what self medicating was. I had been self medicating since I was 12. I struggled with ADHD and found that I could control my symptoms by using a stimulant. The medication that the doctors put me on, opened up a whole new world for me. I didn't need to use meth to feel normal anymore. In fact, I didn't really have cravings or withdrawals from it either. For the first time in 20 years I was free from my brokenness, and from the addiction that had taken me down roads I should have never been down. Today I am 36 years old. My son is 14. He has been in my custody since March of 2017. We have an amazing relationship. I thank God for him everyday. I am currently cleaning houses 4 days a week to make ends meet. I spend the rest of my time participating in online courses at Grand Canyon University. I am studying to obtain my Bachelors in Psychology with a emphasis on addiction. My graduation date is 2029. During my recovery I learned about a drug and alcohol rehab that allowed mothers to receive treatment without being separated from their child. In addition to drug and alcohol treatment, the program focused on providing parenting classes, and workshops for recovering mothers. The primary focus of the program was to create a safe place for mothers and their children to create lasting bonds, and develop a healthy parent- child relationship. My long term career goals are greatly influenced by my personal experience with the devastating effects that methamphetamine has not only on the user, but on their entire family. I plan to open a 90 day impatient drug and alcohol program that allows mothers to keep their child with them during their recovery. The facility will have 12 beds. 6 for the mothers and 6 for the children. I want to take my experience with addiction, and turn it into something that will save the lives of women, and give them a second chance at being a good parent. I know I am here for a reason. I believe that reason is to not just be an example of recovery, but to help others to overcome addiction without losing custody of their children during the process. Receiving this scholarship will help me tremendously on my academic journey. The funds will help me feel more secure financially. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration.

What is this life for? We all ask ourselves that question at some point in our lives. Hello, my name is Bonnie and I'm a recovering addict. I'm a 32 years old single mom with 9 years clean under my belt. The recovery process is a difficult one, and not everyone makes it through to the end. My oldest brother drowned in the Feather River in 2009. He had large amounts of methamphetamines in his system. My brother was a wonderful dad of 3 beautiful boys. He went to work everyday and loved his family so much. Unfortunately his addiction to meth eventually took his life at the young age of 42. He was the rock of our family and I know I'll see him again one day in heaven. Just two years later, my next oldest brother was in the bathtub when a fan fell into the bathtub and landed on his back. The breaker failed to trip and my brother was electrocuted to death on his 41st birthday. There was no foul play involved, however, my brother had large amounts of methamphetamines as well as opiates in his system. Upon his death my mom and I took in his 8 month old little boy who was in line to be a ward of the court due to my brothers drug addiction. That little boy is now 15 years old, and is becoming an amazing young man with so much potential. Despite the fact that his mother used meth for 7 out of 9 months of her pregnancy. He is a blessing from heaven, and reminds me everyday why I'm clean and why I'm going to give him a better life than his parents had. I believe God gives and takes away. There are so many positive things that have happened as a result of my brothers death. I want to create something that will help others struggling with addiction to have the same positive experiences. After completing and recieving my bachelor's in psychology with an emphasis on addiction, I plan to open a residential treatment facility. The thing that will make my facility unique is that mother's can have their children there with them during their recovery process. I believe that in order to be successful in our recovery, we need to have a reason other than ourselves to do it. I hope to bring families together and help women and children reunite and bond deeper with one another. I will create a safe place for them to come and educate them about addiction, as well as parenting skills and life skills. Methamphetamine has been a monster in my life, and I want to save other family's from the pain of this horrible drug... When my son was 1 he was taken away and put in foster care because of my addiction to meth. Over the next year, I completed programs and did what the court wanted me to do in order to get my son back. The more I think about it the more I realize just how lucky I am to have him in my care and have the experience of raising him. I didn't let my addiction to meth take away my son like it did my brothers. I fought for him and everyday is a blessing from God that we get to be together. This scholarship will help me to be able to support myself financially while I go to school to obtain my Bachelor's in Psychology with an emphasis on Addiction. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing from you soon.

My educational goals are to obtain my Bachelor's with an an emphasis on Addiction. From there I plan to open a residential facility where women can be in recovery and have their children there with them. I believe it's so important for a woman to have her child if she is going to be successful in her recovery. I speak from personal experience. I will make an empact on the LGBTQ community by inviting all people regardless of their sexual orientation to be a part of my resdential treatment program. I am a lesbian woman with big dreams. I want to help others recovering addicts as well as LGBTQ people in our society. I plan to educate my residents about the world of LGBTQ and to be a part of the LGBTQ rights movement in my community. Thank you in advance for your time and consideration. I look forward to hearing back from you soon.