By Kendra S.
Using drugs and drinking was a way of life. It didn’t matter who I stepped on and it didn’t matter the level that I would succumb to. I would stop at nothing to get what I wanted. As a result of my reckless lifestyle I was sent to The Family Foundation School on November 30, 2007. I had just turned seventeen. I was sent to the school because my life was out of control. I was drinking and using drugs every day. On my first day, during lunch, I was asked to stand up and introduce myself. I responded, “No, I’m leaving in nine months.” So from the very start I had it in my mind that I was going to leave when I turned 18. Things turned bad quickly. Within a few weeks I tried to run away, was restrained twice, was put in the quiet room, and cursed out a priest. I wound up only being able to talk to two people in the whole school as a result of my actions. My resistance to the 12 steps continued for the next nine months. I was unwilling to change anything so I continued to lie and manipulate up until my 18th birthday. On August 28th, 2008 I walked from The Family Foundation School. Within two weeks I was back to all of my old behaviors, the only difference being that I knew exactly what I was doing this time. For three months I lived on a couch in a dirty apartment because I had no way of getting home and I was unwilling to swallow my pride and come back to the school. After the three months I had made my way home to Florida and was determined to get the fresh start that I had promised to my family over and over again. I fell flat on my face once more, giving in to the pressures of old people, places, and things. My drug use progressed further to the point where I finally realized on my own that I needed help. I had finally suffered enough. Everything that I had learned at the school had stuck with me this whole time. For the past six months I had shrugged off people’s attempts to tell me that I should go back to the school, that this was no way to live. I finally realized that people were right. Everything that I thought would never happen to me if I walked from the school did happen. I had convinced myself that I was different and that I was invincible. In late February of this year I made a phone call to the school and asked if I would be allowed to return. I called my mom and asked her if she was willing to take another chance and send me back. In less than 48 hours I had both of my answers. Within a week I was re-enrolled in The Family School. Coming back after six months of being on the run was one of the most humbling experiences I’ve ever been through. I was scared and afraid of being sober, but I knew that I couldn’t live getting high anymore. I am now scheduled to graduate and it is an amazing feeling to finally finish something that I’ve started.
