What Inspires me in Life by Joseph P.
For over four years now, I have been on a journey of recovery from drugs and alcohol. This process of self-development is ongoing and ever-present. It has lead me to through many twists and turns — new people, places and things, and I have been able to gain something positive from each of these new encounters. This journey has strengthened my foundation, fortified my will to succeed and now leads me to Rutgers University School of Social Work this coming fall.
I have come to learn that helping people in need is personally rewarding and gives me a tremendous sense of purpose. As a lead housing technician at Restart Sober Living, simply guiding a client through a bad day has had a two-prong benefit. They may not have realized that by allowing me to help them, they were reciprocating.
Being of service makes me feel good. Playing music also makes me feel good, so I incorporate the two. On my personal time, I pick up fellow addicts in early recovery, and bring them to a rehearsal space. It is a haven, free of the common vices associated with rock ’n roll, where a premium is put on creativity. We write original songs and play cover tunes with the intention of showing them life beyond their addictions and that we still have fun in recovery. Many of them have never played music sober and doing something they love with a clear conscience is a break-through itself.
The most important career goal for me is facilitating social change. My deep concern for people drives me to devote myself to improving the lives of others. My mother was a teacher’s aide at Elizabeth High School and specifically cared for the handicapped students. She would come home from work gushing about her students’ strides. Sometimes she was overwhelmed and tired, but she always felt good about herself at the end of the day. I am a lot like my mother. I want to make the world a better place and believe that each gesture, no matter how small or seemingly insignificant, impacts the greater good.
I look forward to studying the newest theories and developments in the field of social work. Youth employment will be a focus as I develop my career. I know first-hand that working is critical for the younger generation to stay out of trouble and maintain a responsible life. Empathy and active listening are my strongest qualities and I look for them to continue assisting me in connecting with young people even as I get older.
Furthering my education is a tremendous goal and is extremely important to me. I set the bar very high for myself and give nothing short of my best. For the past two years, I have been employed and taking classes full-time at Ocean County College. I graduated with a GPA of 3.93 and an AA in Liberal Arts with a concentration on Addictions Counseling. My passion is to help others in recovery as I have been helped. My current position at Footprints to Recovery enables me to do this, but I need to advance my knowledge to help people in a more significant way.
I am eligible to take my CADC test and can have begun the 3,000 clinical hours needed to become certified as an Addictions Counselor. It has been my dream to study and gain my BASW at Rutgers University. Down the road, I will focus on my MSW to become a licensed professional in the field. Long term, I wish to have my own practice, so I can broaden my horizons as an Addictions Counselor.
Substance abuse addiction has changed my life for the better and inspires me every day. My experience, strength, and hope fortify my foundation and feeds the fire of my life. Because of my addiction, I have found a new way of life. Inspired by my addiction, I can be a man of my word and have learned to let go of shame and guilt. I owe my life to my addiction. Now, I inspire others and give it away every chance I have.
