Jonathan Y.

Growing up, life was pretty challenging for me. My mother battled severe alcoholism, while my father was physically present but emotionally absent. At the age of 11, I was introduced to marijuana by mother. A few years later, I decided that weed was not enough and I was in need of harder substances to numb my internal pain. Drugs provided an avenue to numb myself from family dysfunction, disarrayed emotions, and self-dissatisfaction. Just prior to entering Teen Challenge, my mother passed away, which caused me to spiral back into the lifestyle that I was familiar with. Nonetheless, there is light. I am here at Teen Challenge to get closer to God, to have my life changed forever, and to be the vessel God intended for me to be. I want to prove to myself that I can complete this program, gain trust from loved ones back, and move forward!