My name is Crystal Fultz. I have 3 kids and am currently pursuing a Masters in Educational Administration. I came from a very low SES and have overcome poverty, teenage pregnancy, and many other adversities. I want to be a school teacher in a low SES neighborhood. I currently work at a school as a Substitute where poverty and its effects are prevalent. I want to be an example to young learners that hard work and dedication actually does pay off no matter what challenges you face. Growing up I had many great teachers that proved this to me and I would love to be that for struggling children. In a poverty area you see very much diversity. I'm interested in the positive schooling technique where school can be these children's resource and safety net. I have a firm belief that education is the key to better things. I went to upper level education for 17 years on and off before I graduated with a Bachelors in Psychology. From there I wanted to incorporate that unique aspect in the role of Educator in the classroom. I love to see children excited for learning. I currently volunteer my time and knowledge with students from other schools offering a free tutoring service and homework assistance to those that need. I educate parents on the importance of talking with their children on what they have learned and seen in the classroom for the day. I encourage parents to have these conversations often. My major accomplishment is getting my degree only followed by raising children. My family is very important to me. I have inspired my husband to return to upper level education and finish his degree. I have also mentored friends to go back to school as well. None have been disappointed. I currently owe almost 100,000 in student loan debt. It is the only way I have been given this opportunity to be able to give back in such a rewarding way. I come from a Hispanic family that truly believed that we were meant to be in poverty. I want to show them that there are other ways to succeed and even if you owe for getting a degree, the payout at the end is worth it. I hope to pay off my vehicle and buy a house for my children. I want for them to be able to have some kind of legacy in life and leave them without worry that their mother passed away and left them debt.

My experiences in life have led to many great things. Out of any negative consequence I have had, many positive outcomes came from them. “Jails, Institutions, or Death.” This is a phrase you will hear quite often in the Narcotics Anonymous program. Yes, I’m a grateful recovering addict. I used to walk the streets late at night looking for my next way to escape my hopelessness and next fix to get high. Nothing changed my way of life. Not being behind bars and not even becoming pregnant would I change my lifestyle. I finally got fed up with all the fighting one day when my kids were taken away from me. The cops came to my home and even though I begged and pleaded, they still took my babies. They said “we can tell you love them but you need to get yourself better first.” In desperation, I walked through the doors of my first Narcotics Anonymous meeting. It was nothing like what I had imagined it to be. It was so many people, sharing my same story. Every time someone else began sharing, I swore it was a different piece of my life they were talking about. I thought they would have judged me, the girl who just lost her kids because she was pathetic. But, they were all just like me! They finally got to the end, and explained how the new comer was the most important person. I stood up and started to talk, and between sobbing and talking I finally let out my whole story. Thinking they would have stared at me instead they came to hug me, everyone did! I have been now sober over 5 months. My addiction is the most difficult challenge I have ever had to face in my life. Not only is it a hurdle itself, but it is full of all sorts of mini hurdles. There are multiple obstacles I have just been pushing aside as a result of my addiction. I got my kids back and am also back in school. Consequences of my addiction have now led me to a place where I have no choice but to pay out of pocket for the end of my schooling or rely on outside scholarships to make it happen. I will be the first one in my family to graduate with a Bachelors degree. I try to be an inspiration to my children to show them that people can change and overcome anything! After this semester, I will have 14 hours left to my degree (or about 5 classes.) I know with God’s help and my perseverance I will accomplish this goal. Nothing can get in my way because I’m doing better now! This whole experience has caused me to be committed to helping those who may be hanging on to life by a thread. Those who feel they have no where to turn. All it takes is just one person to make someone feel like they are worth something. I know that I am able to be that person for so many people. I currently involve myself with organizations like the Corpus Christi Hope House and Narcotics Anonymous. I now have have job where I am able to touch even more lives at a substance abuse treatment facility. I am currently a Behavioral Health Technician at Cenikore, where their motto is "well beyond recovery." This is perfect because it goes hand in hand with my degree I have been striving for in Psychology. My dream is to one day become a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor.

My experiences in life have led to many great things. Out of any negative consequence I have had, many positive outcomes came from them. “Jails, Institutions, or Death.” This is a phrase you will hear quite often in the Narcotics Anonymous program. Yes, I’m a grateful recovering addict. I used to walk the streets late at night looking for my next way to escape my hopelessness and next fix to get high. Nothing changed my way of life. Not being behind bars and not even becoming pregnant would I change my lifestyle. I finally got fed up with all the fighting one day when my kids were taken away from me. The cops came to my home and even though I begged and pleaded, they still took my babies. They said “we can tell you love them but you need to get yourself better first.” In desperation, I walked through the doors of my first Narcotics Anonymous meeting. It was nothing like what I had imagined it to be. It was so many people, sharing my same story. Every time someone else began sharing, I swore it was a different piece of my life they were talking about. I thought they would have judged me, the girl who just lost her kids because she was pathetic. But, they were all just like me! They finally got to the end, and explained how the new comer was the most important person. I stood up and started to talk, and between sobbing and talking I finally let out my whole story. Thinking they would have stared at me instead they came to hug me, everyone did! I have been now sober over 5 months. My addiction is the most difficult challenge I have ever had to face in my life. Not only is it a hurdle itself, but it is full of all sorts of mini hurdles. There are multiple obstacles I have just been pushing aside as a result of my addiction. I got my kids back and am also back in school. Consequences of my addiction have now led me to a place where I have no choice but to pay out of pocket for the end of my schooling or rely on outside scholarships to make it happen. I will be the first one in my family to graduate with a Bachelors degree. I try to be an inspiration to my children to show them that people can change and overcome anything! After this semester, I will have 14 hours left to my degree (or about 5 classes.) I know with God’s help and my perseverance I will accomplish this goal. Nothing can get in my way because I’m doing better now! This whole experience has caused me to be committed to helping those who may be hanging on to life by a thread. Those who feel they have no where to turn. All it takes is just one person to make someone feel like they are worth something. I know that I am able to be that person for so many people. I currently involve myself with organizations like the Corpus Christi Hope House and Narcotics Anonymous. I now have have job where I am able to touch even more lives at a substance abuse treatment facility. I am currently a Behavioral Health Technician at Cenikore, where their motto is "well beyond recovery." This is perfect because it goes hand in hand with my degree I have been striving for in Psychology. My dream is to one day become a Licensed Chemical Dependency Counselor.

Get Yourself Better First My experiences in life have led to many great things. Out of any negative consequence I have had, many positive outcomes came from them. “Jails, Institutions, or Death.” This is a phrase you will hear quite often in the Narcotics Anonymous program. Yes, I’m a grateful recovering addict. I used to walk the streets late at night looking for my next way to escape my hopelessness and next fix to get high. Nothing changed my way of life. Not being behind bars and not even becoming pregnant would I change my lifestyle. I finally got fed up with all the fighting one day when my kids were taken away from me. The cops came to my home and even though I begged and pleaded, they still took my babies. They said “we can tell you love them but you need to get yourself better first.” In desperation, I walked through the doors of my first Narcotics Anonymous meeting. It was nothing like what I had imagined it to be. It was so many people, sharing my same story. Every time someone else began sharing, I swore it was a different piece of my life they were talking about. I thought they would have judged me, the girl who just lost her kids because she was pathetic. But, they were all just like me! They finally got to the end, and explained how the new comer was the most important person. I stood up and started to talk, and between sobbing and talking I finally let out my whole story. Thinking they would have stared at me instead they came to hug me, everyone did! In coming more often to meetings I have slowly discovered that there are so many people who need help with addiction who don’t have the resources to get help. I have become more involved with programs that help those in treatment centers get NA meetings by going and bringing the meeting to them. They call this H and I. “Hospitals and Institutions”. Linking up these people, an especially those with children like me, to places that can house them and assist them with items for their babies is what I have been good at. I have educated myself by being in these specific situations of trying to get my families needs met. I have become familiar with resources such as Sober living homes, places that assist with diapers and formula, and food pantries. My hope is to get my Bachelors in Psychology and someday become a licensed substance abuse counselor. I would love to be on the front lines of this disease that not only tear up families, but also whole communities.

My experiences in life have led to many great things. “Jails, Institutions, or Death.” This is a phrase you will hear quite often in the Narcotics Anonymous program. Yes, I’m a grateful recovering addict. One day when my kids were taken away from me. The cops came to my home and even though I begged they still took my babies. In desperation, I walked through the doors of my first Narcotics Anonymous meeting. It was nothing like what I had imagined it to be. It was so many people, sharing my same story. Every time someone else began sharing, I swore it was a different piece of my life they were talking about. I thought they would have judged me, the girl who just lost her kids because she was pathetic. But, they were all just like me! They finally got to the end, and explained how the new comer was the most important person. I stood up and started to talk, and between sobbing and talking I finally let out my whole story. Thinking they would have stared at me instead they came to hug me, everyone did! I have been now sober over 5 months. My addiction is the most difficult challenge I have ever had to face in my life. Not only is it a hurdle itself, but it is full of all sorts of mini hurdles. I got my kids back and am also back in school. I will be the first one in my family to graduate with a Bachelors degree. I try to be an inspiration to my children to show them that people can change and overcome anything! This whole experience has caused me to be committed to helping those who may be hanging on to life by a thread.

Joseph de Maistre, a famous philosopher after the French Revolution once said "to know how to wait is the GREAT secret to SUCCESS". This is exactly what it means to be patient. To wait, and to do it calmly. I have seen that this is a skill many people have to work at to learn. It becomes so easy to rush through life as if it were fast food! But being patient became so important to me when I became stuck in unchangeable situations. A key factor to patience is not getting angry or upset over it. When someone can learn how to keep their temper under control while waiting for something, whether it be as small as in line at the grocery store or as big as going to school to finish your degree; then we become less stressed, more loving, and definitely more peaceful. Peace is something that is so priceless! Patience is important to me because it brings me the peace my soul desires.

Care? What is it. I like to think of it as an acronym for "Compliment, Applaud, Rejuvenate, and Empower" yourself. Tell yourself you look great today! Give yourself a pat on the back for all your hard work! I like to take a long hot bath to refresh my body. And then there is "empower." To me that last part is the strongest point in self-care. Empowering yourself is such a big deal! Knowing that you are worth it at the end is an amazing feeling. Since I started practicing self-care, I learned that my self-esteem has gone up, my patience with anything in life is better, and I am overall more loving towards other people. I am less angry and I can better express myself in situations. It has allowed me to learn boundaries with other people, because apart of self care is learning the proper way and time to tell someone else "No." Feeling good about yourself make you a better person and it also influences the people around you. People will see your peace and happiness and want that for themselves. After all, a smile is contagious!

Even as a young child, I was always trying to overcome obstacles to make it in life. We were considerably poor (a lot of family living in a small house and definitely on a budget.) At the age of 15, I found out I would soon be a mother. That was my sophomore year. I was put on bedrest a few months into my pregnancy due to age and complications, therefore, ending my year still a sophomore. I had my daughter over the summer and went back to school. Starting my junior year as a sophomore but ending it with a diploma. I graduated one whole year early and began college. Living on my own while caring for another human being was very hard, especially still under 18. I did okay for a while. But eventually got into a relationship with someone who was an addict. This was the slow beginning to everything around me that fell apart. I slowly and surely also became addicted to drugs. My drug addiction has led me to the places I never thought I would see. It wasn’t right away that I would finally lose everything, including my daughter. After a couple of years though, I did lose everything. My daughter went to go live with my mom and I was finally homeless on the streets. Eventually I became pregnant again, and I thought my life would change and it did a little. Finally after being fed up with struggling with the disease of addiction and wanting to change and become a better person, I got sober. I have been sober for 10 months now (which is the same time I have lived in a homeless shelter with my son and daughter.) I am also 8 months pregnant. I got my associates and am pursuing a bachelors in psychology. Even though I am having my baby next month, I haven’t missed any classes or assignments and am working closely with my advisor to get my bachelor’s within 1 years time. I really want to prove to myself that I can do something with my life, and show my kids to never give up on your dreams no matter what “curve-balls” life may throw at you. I was just told this semester that I have reached excessive hours. I am still not going to give up. The old me would have got depressed, but the new me is about facing challenges head on. With a lot of determination and assistance from some very good people, I was able to overcome growing up in poverty, teenage pregnancy, and addiction. Now knowing all the factors that have contributed to my life and addiction; including mental health issues, I want to use this knowledge to try to help others that could avoid what I went through. As I stated, I am a psychology major. I hope to be a counselor one day and help those who are struggling with addiction. I would like to be their example to see that there is a light on the other side and anyone can get back on track. *We Can Recover*