The reason why I really wanted to become a drug and alcohol counselor again today and back 17 years ago is still for the same reason, to help save a life. Back in 2008 I had started my journey to become a drug and alcohol counselor I did my internship at a men's DTF. I really learned a lot about the 12 Core functions, what I really liked was the group counseling. During this time I was a recovering Addict and I had just learned that going to prison, being gang affiliated, and selling drugs isn't how everyone lived, that was a big slap in the face.
I was taught by my family when I went to prison, just to go do my time and they would be out here waiting on me to hustle again, and they where with money, dope and a place. I've been to prison all my adult life from the age of 18 years of age till 46 years, my first term was 18 months but added time I did 3 years, the longest term I did and it was my last term was 8 years, I never did county time i always did prison terms, it was just a way of life for me no big deal. In between those years the state had a great idea and made up a program to rehabilitate addicts on the yard and to send those who qualified to DTF and if you where chosen you did not have a say so if you want to participate or not. I was chosen and had to do the whole process unwillingly, I tried everything to get out of it but it wasn't going to happen. When they sent me to DTF with a good fight I didn't give in right away but i finally stop fighting the process, learned about my disease, and finally realized not everyone went to prison and hustled drugs, and my family lied to me, it was really hard to except and change was hard.
Going through prison rehab, then DTF then Capistrano Drug Treatment in my home town I had a lot of great counselors that didn't give up on me, that taught me about my disease, that pushed me to understand my self and the process. I was living in the drug world thinking it was a way of life and I couldn't do nothing else. At Capistrano is where my life really changed my whole world was turned up side down for the good, I learned to be a productive citizen to society. I worked the 12 steps, got a sponsor, worked the program whole heartedly, got a job, graduated from the program and got my own place all on my own. My family was really upset with me but I learned to live a productive life on my own and I had some really strong and firm counselors along that journey, I'm very grateful for all of them in my life. A few of them have passed and a few of them I still speak to and get encouragement from till this day.
I ended up getting a scholarship to attend the Extended Program at Cal State of Bakersfield California Drug and Alcohol Program. I was on fire at the time to want to change lives as other counselors did in my life, I wanted to be that counselor that changed lives. I put my all into it and passed and graduated the course and did my internship with an open mind and was teachable by all great counselors. I completed my internship hours got my portfolio all done up, then I made a big mistake and took on a job at an other facility after my internship. The job fell through the day that I was to start at the new women's DTF they didn't get the funding, I was out of a job. Long story short I gave up, let everything go, went back to what I know selling drugs, doing drugs, hustling the street and I got a 8 year term and I didn't even care it was just life as i knew it.
When I finally made it home it wasn't the same once you know how recovery works and you have the tools then you start getting tired of that life and realize there is something different, if you really work it for yourself. So for a couple of years I struggles with both side of the world drug world and recovery world.
One day I just got so tired that I did something different and this is why now becoming a counselor is really important to me, I CRIED OUT TO JESUS!!!!!!! The first time around I learned all about my disease and got the tools I needed and the education, I had really good counselor and strong ones too that didn't give up on me when I was so against the process. But I was lacking one important element to all this recovery process and it's important to me to let everyone know, we CAN NOT DO IT WITHOUT JESUS, we have to believe in a higher power.
There are so many people dying on the streets from that horrible drug Fentanyl, I know this because I go out and feed the homeless on my days off and with my church. I have learned with Jesus all things are possible and I am so grateful that Jesus chose me to be his child and my purpose is to reach that one out of the ninety nine. There are some places that we can not mix religion with counseling but I won't stop speaking Jesus and planting those seeds of hope. An addicts needs hope and deliverance from Jesus there is no other way it all connects together.
I truly trust in God that he is going to use me to help the addict and homeless with my education as a drug and alcohol counselor because this time around I really believe I couldn't overcome all that I have without Jesus, my life has changed tremendously with Jesus that I wouldn't trade it for the world. It's important to me to be the best counselor I can be with Jesus to help and with the knowledge that so many good counselor have given me and education, just helping that one person would be great. So many of us addicts just won't get it but just that one is what really matters. Thank you for all the education you helped me with, now to pass the exam.
-Michele
I was taught by my family when I went to prison, just to go do my time and they would be out here waiting on me to hustle again, and they where with money, dope and a place. I've been to prison all my adult life from the age of 18 years of age till 46 years, my first term was 18 months but added time I did 3 years, the longest term I did and it was my last term was 8 years, I never did county time i always did prison terms, it was just a way of life for me no big deal. In between those years the state had a great idea and made up a program to rehabilitate addicts on the yard and to send those who qualified to DTF and if you where chosen you did not have a say so if you want to participate or not. I was chosen and had to do the whole process unwillingly, I tried everything to get out of it but it wasn't going to happen. When they sent me to DTF with a good fight I didn't give in right away but i finally stop fighting the process, learned about my disease, and finally realized not everyone went to prison and hustled drugs, and my family lied to me, it was really hard to except and change was hard.
Going through prison rehab, then DTF then Capistrano Drug Treatment in my home town I had a lot of great counselors that didn't give up on me, that taught me about my disease, that pushed me to understand my self and the process. I was living in the drug world thinking it was a way of life and I couldn't do nothing else. At Capistrano is where my life really changed my whole world was turned up side down for the good, I learned to be a productive citizen to society. I worked the 12 steps, got a sponsor, worked the program whole heartedly, got a job, graduated from the program and got my own place all on my own. My family was really upset with me but I learned to live a productive life on my own and I had some really strong and firm counselors along that journey, I'm very grateful for all of them in my life. A few of them have passed and a few of them I still speak to and get encouragement from till this day.
I ended up getting a scholarship to attend the Extended Program at Cal State of Bakersfield California Drug and Alcohol Program. I was on fire at the time to want to change lives as other counselors did in my life, I wanted to be that counselor that changed lives. I put my all into it and passed and graduated the course and did my internship with an open mind and was teachable by all great counselors. I completed my internship hours got my portfolio all done up, then I made a big mistake and took on a job at an other facility after my internship. The job fell through the day that I was to start at the new women's DTF they didn't get the funding, I was out of a job. Long story short I gave up, let everything go, went back to what I know selling drugs, doing drugs, hustling the street and I got a 8 year term and I didn't even care it was just life as i knew it.
When I finally made it home it wasn't the same once you know how recovery works and you have the tools then you start getting tired of that life and realize there is something different, if you really work it for yourself. So for a couple of years I struggles with both side of the world drug world and recovery world.
One day I just got so tired that I did something different and this is why now becoming a counselor is really important to me, I CRIED OUT TO JESUS!!!!!!! The first time around I learned all about my disease and got the tools I needed and the education, I had really good counselor and strong ones too that didn't give up on me when I was so against the process. But I was lacking one important element to all this recovery process and it's important to me to let everyone know, we CAN NOT DO IT WITHOUT JESUS, we have to believe in a higher power.
There are so many people dying on the streets from that horrible drug Fentanyl, I know this because I go out and feed the homeless on my days off and with my church. I have learned with Jesus all things are possible and I am so grateful that Jesus chose me to be his child and my purpose is to reach that one out of the ninety nine. There are some places that we can not mix religion with counseling but I won't stop speaking Jesus and planting those seeds of hope. An addicts needs hope and deliverance from Jesus there is no other way it all connects together.
I truly trust in God that he is going to use me to help the addict and homeless with my education as a drug and alcohol counselor because this time around I really believe I couldn't overcome all that I have without Jesus, my life has changed tremendously with Jesus that I wouldn't trade it for the world. It's important to me to be the best counselor I can be with Jesus to help and with the knowledge that so many good counselor have given me and education, just helping that one person would be great. So many of us addicts just won't get it but just that one is what really matters. Thank you for all the education you helped me with, now to pass the exam.
-Michele