Rhonda
My name is Rhonda and I have struggled with drug addiction for many years. My life had become totally unmanageable. I had lost contact with my family, and could no longer hold a job. My life consisted of drug use on a daily basis. I was totally miserable feeling like my life would never amount to anything. There was no hope for a bright future for me. Then I started getting arrested to top off the total mess. I started going to jail on a regular basis I really thought things would never change for me.
In June 2001 I was sentenced to 16 months in prison where I served one year. While I was in prison I was put in a drug program. One of the benefits of the program in prison was going into a residential treatment center when I paroled. On April 9, 2003, I paroled to a treatment center in North Hollywood. That was the beginning of my life totally changing in ways I thought mine never could. As time went by in that treatment center, I started feeling better about myself due to going to groups meetings etc. After being in that treatment center for three months it was time to look for work.
Although I was feeling so much better about myself, better then I’d ever felt in my whole life, looking for work was a very scary thing. I went out every day looking for work with no luck. This was becoming very discouraging for me. I felt like I would never get a job. There are not a lot of employers out there who want to give drug addicts or parolees a chance. After quite some time of looking for work my case worker at that treatment center I went through, told me about this program. I started the Apprenticeship Program August 8, 2003. I totally believe in this Apprenticeship Program and what it can do for people who are trying to change their lives. Since I’ve been here I’ve learned so much. I’ve been given the tools and skills to leave here and get a decent job.
Currently this is what’s going on in my life. I now have almost three years clean and sober. I manage a sober living house with twelve women. I’ve been discharged off parole, my family is back in my life and I have a driver’s license and a car with insurance too. Some of these might not sound like such a big deal but to someone who was wasting their life away on drugs for years these things are huge. Also I have confidence and feel so much better about myself. I’m truly grateful to that treatment center, and for this Apprenticeship Program. My life has totally turned around, and is better then I ever could have imagined. Also, this Apprenticeship Program is currently helping me get my GED. I really can’t say enough about this program and what it’s done for me.
UPDATE: 6/1/06
Rhonda has completed her apprenticeship program and has been hired on as a mentor and Executive Assistant. She continues to manage a women's sober living.
