Growing up I watched my mother and stepfather struggle with addiction while visiting my biological father in prison. I vowed to never be like them. Unfortunately, I ended up following in all of their footsteps. My addiction started when I was 15 and it only elevated over the years. For 23 years I struggled with addiction. Pain pills, heroin, crack, and anything that would take me out of myself. I didn't like who I was and continued to use to avoid the woman in the mirror. Legal consequences started in 1998 and continued until 2016. For 18 years I spent my life in and out of jails, institutions, sober houses, treatment facilities, and prison. At the age of 36 I was sent back to prison for my 6th number. It seemed that that was going to be my life. While incarcerated the last time I experienced real consequences. Going to prison never bothered me, however, when I called home to be on the phone while my stepfather was taking his last breath, I experienced consequences. I wasn't able to be there for my children, my sister, or my mother. I made the decision to do something different because I finally wanted different. While in prison I started college. I started and completed IOP. I became an active member of the recovery unit, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous. And then came my release. Since April 1st, 2019, I have done everything I can to turn my life around. I have opened my own business, a bakery out of my home, I have obtained 3 separate associates degrees, I have received my peer support certification through the state of Ohio, I started a job working with individuals with substance abuse disorder while handing out harm reduction supplies. I have gotten my license and a car. I have my own place. The first one I have ever had. The most amazing thing for me is that I have been able to establish relationships with my children and family. I have been in my sister's wedding, at the birth of her son, able to plan both of my children's gender reveal parties and been there for the birth of all three of my grandsons. None of that would be possible if I have not maintained the 4 1/2 years sober that I have. God willing, I'll continue to achieve long-term sobriety. If all goes well, I will have my bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration on December 17th. I was accepted into my school's master's Program, and I start that on January 2nd, 2023. I have done all of these things with the hopes of showing others struggling with addiction that recovery is possible. I want to help others that have been through the criminal justice system see that despite their past, they can have a positive, productive, and happy future. I also want to continue to help individuals in active addiction with harm reduction supplies with the hopes that lives will be saved, and treatment will be sought. I want to continue working with individuals being released from prison to connect them to resources in the community that will help them better themselves and their future. Learning to face hard things has just made me and my relationships stronger, especially my relationship with my Higher Power and my sober support group. It has taught me to ask for help when it is needed and pray when it becomes too much.

Growing up I watched my mother and stepfather struggle with addiction while visiting my biological father in prison. I vowed to never be like them. Unfortunately, I ended up following in all of their footsteps. My addiction started when I was 15 and it only elevated over the years. For 23 years I struggled with addiction. Pain pills, heroin, crack, and anything that would take me out of myself. I didn't like who I was and continued to use to avoid the woman in the mirror. Legal consequences started in 1998 and continued until 2016. For 18 years I spent my life in and out of jails, institutions, sober houses, treatment facilities, and prison. At the age of 36 I was sent back to prison for my 6th number. It seemed that that was going to be my life. While incarcerated the last time I experienced real consequences. Going to prison never bothered me, however, when I called home to be on the phone while my stepfather was taking his last breath, I experienced consequences. I wasn't able to be there for my children, my sister, or my mother. I made the decision to do something different because I finally wanted different. While in prison I started college. I started and completed IOP. I became an active member of the recovery unit, Alcoholics Anonymous, and Narcotics Anonymous. And then came my release. Since April 1st, 2019, I have done everything I can to turn my life around. I have opened my own business, a bakery out of my home, I have obtained 3 separate associates degrees, I have received my peer support certification through the state of Ohio, I started a job working with individuals with substance abuse disorder while handing out harm reduction supplies. I have gotten my license and a car. I have my own place. The first one I have ever had. The most amazing thing for me is that I have been able to establish relationships with my children and family. I have been in my sister's wedding, at the birth of her son, able to plan both of my children's gender reveal parties and been there for the birth of all three of my grandsons. None of that would be possible if I have not maintained the 4 1/2 years sober that I have. God willing, I'll continue to achieve long-term sobriety. If all goes well, I will have my bachelor's degree in criminal justice administration on December 17th. I was accepted into my school's master's Program, and I start that on January 2nd, 2023. I have done all of these things with the hopes of showing others struggling with addiction that recovery is possible. I want to help others that have been through the criminal justice system see that despite their past, they can have a positive, productive, and happy future. I also want to continue to help individuals in active addiction with harm reduction supplies with the hopes that lives will be saved, and treatment will be sought. I want to continue working with individuals being released from prison to connect them to resources in the community that will help them better themselves and their future. Learning to face hard things has just made me and my relationships stronger, especially my relationship with my Higher Power and my sober support group. It has taught me to ask for help when it is needed and pray when it becomes too much.