Born & raised in Omaha, NE; I felt like I grew up with a typical life. My grandpa spoiled me rotten. We weren’t rich, we weren’t poor. I had survived through a lot of traumatic things that I kept silent about. What I became was simply broken with a good mask. Addiction crept into my life. Functioning is what I had manipulated myself into believing. There were periods of sobriety, but mostly not. I had top grades while taking college courses & working decent jobs. Slowly criminal activities, drugs, & chaos got bigger. In turn, leading me to my federal indictment.
Some days I feel like I’m truly one in a few who are genuinely thankful for my indictment. I know it was the start of a dramatic change in my life. These changes started while I was on Pre-Trial. I completed two very difficult drug treatment facility’s. Then, I was able to self-surrender to a camp. While I was there, I made a couple of poor decisions that brought me to an FCI. To me, it was a lesson learned. Just because you are doing good & not using drugs, that does not mean you can’t slip into old self-defeating behaviors.
Currently, I stay active in sports & exercise while signing up to do as many programs as possible. So far, I’ve completed NRDAP (Non-Residential Drug Abuse Program). I am still on the waiting list for RDAP (Residential), the Resolve program which focuses on trauma & cognitive behavioral therapy, & other workshop classes directed towards individual needs. This October 2024, I will be starting LCP (life connection program) which is a 18 month program. This program addresses major life issues from the perspective of my own religious/personal value system. I’ve been active in the PGS (peer success mentoring group). When i was in treatment i benefitted greatly from support groups, mainly aa/na. I’m still active in AA by writing letters, phone calls and video visits. i continue to work the 12 steps of aa. when NA was available here in prison i regularly chaired the meetings, doing what i could to help others.
As far as my future goes I’m very interested and committed to helping others. I stay in communication with the treatment facility’s i had completed and have been planning, before i started my incarceration to work at one of those facility’s. These facility’s have been running for more than 50 years, and are excited to have me join them. Meaning i get to grow continuously as a person and have opportunity to grow in the company too. This might not be owning my own business but knowing and helping others, watching people change, grow and break addiction is so fulfilling and keeps me grounded.
