John B. – Class of December 2005
John B. graduated from The Family School in December of 2005. For his first six months after graduation, John lived at Betton House, and then enrolled at the Rochester Institute of Technology, majoring in mechanical engineering.
John has found the best help through his spirituality. He is very involved in his church group. After a short period of loneliness, John met a group of young people through his church and has been doing exciting activities with them since. Recently the group took a camping trip to the Adirondacks. “We do a bunch of really goofy things, but it’s a lot more fun than I thought it could be,” said John.
John feels that his biggest downfall after leaving FFS was calling old friends. He found himself disappointed because he had changed and his old friends really hadn’t. Since he found a new group of friends who share his interests, he says he is happier than he ever was before. To the upcoming graduates, John advises to figure out early ways to have sober fun.
Garrett M. – Class of June 2006
Garrett M. paid a visit to FFS on June 14 to share his experience with the students and participate in an on-campus AA meeting. Garrett graduated in June 2006. He was here for 22 months and was in Family Two.
“Life’s great,” said Garrett. He has been sober for three years outside of FFS. “I don’t have a big yacht, but things are pretty good,” said Garrett.
Garrett has been attending meetings and is currently going to school at Hunter College. Garrett is doing well and has a job as a dog walker, which he considers to be very peaceful. It also gives him plenty of time for AA meetings.
In his free time Garrett enjoys hanging out with sober people, watching movies, and reading books.
“If you’re new, just try it for 30 days,” said Garrett. His advice to the graduating FFS class of June 2009 is “go to meetings.”
Shervin N – Class of June 2006
Shervin N. graduated in June, 2006 and was here for two years. Shervin was in Family Seven.
He is going to Pace University in Manhattan and is studying film. He is currently living in midtown Queens.
Shervin had a tough time here at FFS but he graduated on very good terms.
Shervin has been going to a lot of meetings and has stayed connected with the fellowship of AA.
In his free time he likes to play basketball, watch movies, go to meetings, and hang out with his sober friends.
He struggles at times with his family life but with the help of good friends and the Twelve Steps he is able to maintain a great relationship with his family. Shervin said that his main struggle is with making money, but he is getting by pretty well.
“This is a good place,” said Shervin. “Take as much as you can from here.” He loves his life and says that there is no better place for people to get help than FFS.
Allie B. – Class of June 2008
Allie B., a former Family Eight student, came back to FFS to share her experience, strength, and hope. Returning with three of her friends, Allie spent time talking to June graduates.
Since her departure, Allie has been taking the next best step for her sobriety by going to meetings almost every day and staying connected with her higher power.
Allie attends SUNY for journalism, which is one of the interests Allie acquired while at FFS and working in the journalism department. “Being in journalism taught me to do a job and do it well.”
While a student at FFS, Allie decided to give the 12-step program a chance when she stopped thinking that she knew everything and started listening more closely to her sponsor.
Din K. – Class of June 2007
Din K. graduated from FFS in June 2007 and was here for 26 months. The former Family Eight student says that life is good. Din has been attending meetings daily and loves his home group in New York City.
He returned to FFS to share his experience, strength and hope, and participate in an on-campus AA meeting.
Din attends Baruch College and is currently looking for a job. “Things are going pretty well,” he said.
In his free time, Din likes to go to the movies, play poker, hang out with friends and go to meetings. Din, along with Garrett M. and Shervin N. have been making their own films and are having a lot of fun with it.
“If you feel like giving up, give back,” said Din.
Sky M. – Class of December 2007
Sky M. was at The Family School for 25 months. She turned 18 after six months of being here but continued to stick to the program. After being at 12 different detox centers and rehabs, she decided to turn her life around at FFS.
The former Family Eight student suggests something that her Family Leader, Terry McCarthy, told her. “It sucks, gets worse, and then it gets much better.”
Something that has helped Sky a lot was being able to take confrontation, being open to new things and listening to what people have to say. No matter what happens in Sky’s life, she is able to work through it by attending meetings and praying, as well as hanging out with other people in the 12-step program and staying in touch with her friends from FFS.
