I never wanted to become an addict. However, I did. I started this road to recovery in 1997 because my probation officer was going to send me to prison. I did what they wanted me to do because I did not want to go to prison. I went back out using and finally surrendered on April 30, 2002. As of today, I have 7 years, 5 months, and 8 days clean. I have never felt better about myself. The disease of addiction robbed me of so many things. I lost custody of my son, lost the respect from my family and friends, but most important—I lost respect for myself. Because of recovery and attending Narcotics Anonymous meeting, and the god of my understanding, I am a student at Columbus State Community College majoring in Law Enforcement to become a probation officer for juvenile boys. When my mother died last year February 18, I went to identify her body, and then went directly to a meeting. Going to a meeting was the only thing I knew to do. The blessing was that my mother was able to see me clean for 5 years. She was proud of her baby. She had been ill in the hospital for a month. I was at the hospital every day, went to school and went to work. My grandmother was my back bone. She is also proud of me. I encourage anyone who wants a new way of life to stop and think and then pray very hard for the god of your understanding to help remove the desire to use from them. The program of recovery is for those who want it, not need it. Recovery is the best thing that has ever happened to me and I am forever grateful.