remember waking up in a hospital room. Everything around me was white: the walls, the lights, the machines quietly beeping beside the bed. For a brief second I looked around and thought, What am I doing with my life? Then I realized something even harder to face. I was completely alone. Addiction had pushed everyone away. That moment didn’t change everything overnight, but it was the first time in a long time that I saw my life clearly. I began using drugs and alcohol when I was twelve years old. What started as something I tried to fit in quickly became something I could not control. Addiction followed me through my teenage years and into early adulthood. By the time I was attending college in California, my life had become unmanageable. I had been suspended from school multiple times because of my behavior while using and was trying to complete classes online just to stay enrolled. I kept telling myself I could manage addiction and academics at the same time, but the truth was I could not manage either. My relationships were falling apart. I had lost contact with much of my family and the friendships I had were shallow. More than anything, I felt empty and directionless. The day my mom called and told me she was flying out to get me, something shifted. For the first time in years, I felt relief. I did not know what my future would look like or whether I would return to college. I only knew that I could not keep living the way I had been living. Recovery did not happen overnight. There were setbacks and a lot of learning along the way. But on May 3, 2022, I found lasting sobriety. I completed an intensive outpatient program and became involved with the FullCircle Program, a nonprofit recovery community organization that supports young people and their families. Through the program that helped save my life, I found something I had been missing for years: purpose. Over time I began volunteering with the program, then interned, and eventually moved into a staff role. Today I work directly with young people who are struggling with substance use and the same feelings of hopelessness I once experienced. I help facilitate meetings, meet with participants individually, and help create sober social spaces where young people can build friendships and community without drugs or alcohol. One moment from this work stands out to me. I was sitting with a young girl who told me she had no hope and did not believe she could stay sober. I shared my story with her and she began to cry. Since that day we have met every week. Today she has been sober for over one hundred days and recently shared in a meeting that she never thought she could actually like her life the way she already does. Addiction was the greatest struggle I have faced, but it is also the reason I discovered the purpose that now guides my life. I am currently returning to college to finish my degree in sociology and plan to pursue a master’s in social work. My goal is to continue helping young people and families find the same recovery and community that once helped save my life.

One moment from my addiction has never left me. I remember waking up in a hospital room. Everything around me was white — the walls, the lights, the machines quietly beeping beside the bed. For a brief second I looked around and thought, What am I doing with my life? I was completely alone. I had pushed everyone away. That moment didn’t fix everything overnight, but it was the first time in a long time that I saw my reality for what it truly was. I began using drugs and alcohol when I was twelve years old. What started as something I was trying to fit in and have fun quickly became something I couldn’t control. Addiction followed me through my teenage years and into early adulthood. By the time I was attending college, addiction had taken over my life. I kept telling myself I could manage addiction and academics at the same time, but I couldn’t. I felt completely empty and directionless. Today I understand that my experience was not unique. Youth substance abuse is one of the most urgent social issues affecting young people and families across the country. Many teens and young adults who struggle with addiction do not have access to long-term recovery communities that support both them and their families. When my mom called and told me she was flying out to get me, something shifted. For the first time in years, I felt relief. I didn’t know what my life would look like or whether I would return to college, but I knew I couldn’t keep living the way I had been. Recovery was not immediate or easy, but on May 3, 2022, I found lasting sobriety. I completed an intensive outpatient program and became involved with the FullCircle Program in Denver, a no-cost nonprofit, peer-based recovery community organization for young people and their families. Through the program that helped save my life, I discovered something I had been missing for years: purpose. Today I work directly to address the same social issue that once nearly took my life. I now serve as a staff member for the FullCircle Program in Colorado Springs. What began as one program in 2019 has grown into six locations across Colorado’s Front Range, expanding access to recovery support in more communities. In my role, I work directly with young people struggling with substance use and the families who love them. I help facilitate recovery meetings, meet individually with participants, and plan sober social events. One recent moment stands out to me. I was sitting with a young girl who told me she had no hope and didn’t believe she could stay sober. I shared my story with her, and she began to tear up. Since that day we have met every week. Today she has been sober for over 100 days. Recently she shared in a meeting about hope and how she never thought she could actually like her life the way she does. As FullCircle continues to expand into new communities, I want to grow alongside it. I have about a year and a half remaining to complete my bachelor’s degree in sociology. The reason I did not finish college years ago is the same reason I am committed to finishing it now: addiction. The difference is that today my experience fuels my purpose instead of controlling my life. Completing my degree will allow me to continue addressing youth addiction so that more young people and families can find the hope that once saved my life.