Youth

I disciplined myself so strongly because I wanted change. I am so resilient. I always have been, but I didn’t see it until I had gone through treatment… I worked so hard to build up all my supports to be where I am today.

When I became sober, I felt like I became a completely different person. I was positive about life, talkative, met good friends, and felt like I was able to succeed and move on from pretty traumatic events in my past.

I want to study social work… [Education is] an essential part of life, right? I believe that education is the key to success. It’s part of society—you can’t give back if you’re not educated.

My advice would be don’t be afraid to express where you’re at. Showing vulnerability will lead you to success… If you go and tell someone you want to use, they can help you out in that moment, they can teach you things in that moment.

YESS was my support

YESS helped me with every single thing. They were my support. They gave me the energy and the courage to make better choices. They encouraged me. At the time I thought all the little things they wanted me to do were so small, but all those little choices were so good for me.

I became a different person

When I became sober, I felt like I became a completely different person. I was positive about life, talkative, met good friends, and felt like I was able to succeed and move on from pretty traumatic events in my past.

It feels like home

Every night when I sit and eat a hot dinner with the people at YESS, I feel like I have a family again. And for a little while, I don’t have to think about everything that I’m up against in my life. In a way, it feels like home.

I am meant to help others

Thanks to all the staff and all YESS had done for me, I have found my passion in helping others. I am meant to help others the way YESS once helped me; to advocate and fight for those who feel they can’t do so for themselves, the way YESS had done for me.