Recovery means life. Sobriety means freedom. I followed both of my parents into addiction from a very young age. My father overdosed when I was 3 years old and my mother recently overdosed in November of 2022. I traveled down the rabbit hole and into chaos from the age of 16, till I was 26. I found myself desperate, coldhearted, hungry, homeless and hopeless. On the last day of my decade-long binge, I looked up to the sky and prayed to God for help with the physical toll it would take to get clean. I promised that I would stay sober if my physical suffering was somehow lessened. A few hours later I was put into handcuffs and removed from society, in which I was lucky enough that they detoxed me. When I was released, I stayed in a 90-day rehab, got a sponsor, worked my steps, went to meetings and started to build this new life that I had never experienced before. Recovery and sobriety is the most precious gift this life has ever given to me. After dropping out at 16, I have finally found the confidence to enroll in college. Today I work a full-time job, take care of my body, nourish my mind, and I am capable of being there for the ones I love. Without recovery, I would more than likely be dead. My major will be psychology, where I aim to inspire as many souls as possible through my life experience. Thank you.