Putting in the Work
When his name was called, Jesse James walked through The Salvation Army Harbor Light Center’s gym with his arms above his head cheering. He was celebrating his graduation of his recovery program; a very long journey.
“It was an awesome feeling,” explained Jesse. “I had a 3rd grade level education. I never graduated from high school or anything like that. But that feeling of putting on a [graduation] cap and gown felt special.”
As a kid, Jesse fell in with the wrong crowd and found himself behind bars at just 17. He fought with drugs as a young adult and later as a crutch to deal with his depression. At his lowest point, Jesse overdosed and was in a coma for weeks.
“After getting out of the hospital, I still couldn’t kick the drugs,” said Jesse. “It was so hard, but I knew if I didn’t change, I was going to keep hurting my family.”
Jesse had never asked for much help but he knew he needed it. He reached out to a friend who recommended the Harbor Light Center. Having just enough gas in his car, Jesse barely made it to The Salvation Army Harbor Light Center. That’s when his recovery started and it wouldn’t be his first time starting the recovery program.
Jesse described the first 60 days as some of the hardest in his life. Detox was the toughest and despite his efforts, he would eventually relapse and have to start the program over again.
“Having to go through detox again let me know it wasn’t easy and I was going to have to put in the work to be better,” explained Jesse. “I was embarrassed and was felt like I had let people down”
The second time through the program was much easier for Jesse. He had his eyes set on his goals with a mindset that no one or nothing would get in his way of completing the program.
Jesse is now close to a year sober and he credits The Salvation Army Harbor Light Center for helping him gain his independence. Harbor Light helped him have a rekindle relationship with his family, helped him secure a job, and even helped him learn how to read.
“They gave me the tools,” Jesse said, “but I put in the work. And now I’m proud of the man I’m becoming.”