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Recovery can take hold in someone's life and change it forever

Expelled from school and institutionalized at 16 where I was diagnosed with anti-social-personality disorder (also know as sociopath). OWI at 17 where I was adjudicated from the juvenile courts and tried as an adult.

Sent to Youth & Shelters Services (YSS) of Ames' primary treatment in 1995 at age 17. Spend 4.5 months in an intensive in-patient treatment where I was ultimately introduced to AA.

Relapsed 12/31/95 and recommitted myself to recovery and have been sober since.

Was asked to serve on the board of directors as a "youth" member of the agency that helped to save my life (YSS). Got involved in mentoring and was asked to serve on the Mentoring Task-force of Story County. Finished High School and was ultimately asked by the principal who'd expelled me to return and share my story with the student body. Went to and graduated ISU with a 3.8...I think my high school GPA was a 0.8 :).

Was ultimately lead me to a large employer in Des Moines where I served on the Volunteer Leadership Team for 2.5 year's coordinating annual volunteer projects like the School Supply Drive, Toys for Tots, National Volunteer Week, United Way's Day of Caring, etc. Was then asked to co-chair and then chair the company's United Way campaign (the largest in the state)...they had no idea I was ever a troubled youth or that I was in recovery. Was able to use my experience in recovery and with YSS (a United Way agency) as a testament to the work that UW does in our communities to help change and in my case save lives. Ended the campaign with almost 30% grown in $'s and 30% grown in participation...10% higher participation than the company had ever seen.

Does it sound like I'm bragging? I suppose it does...but really what I'm trying to convey is the story of how recovery can take hold in someone's life and change it forever...and how that person can then take on a life of service knowing that his/her experience can benefit others.

The success in life, if that's what you'd like to call it, can be directly attributed to God, who I've found through frequent contact with AA.