Campus Recovery Community

My life has had many episodes of God's mercy and grace. I learned the virtues of

patience, by watching how my father handled adversity. I watched how he was masterful in

sorting through the "trivial many" of life's distractions to find the "circle few" of life's essence. I

watched a man who found the secret of temperance and self control. I am Co-Author of a book

written in my father's behalf. Rest in peace Dad. With that being said, I am in tears as I enlighten

you all about my experience, my strength and how recovery affected my life as a student.

I am a United States Air Force Disabled Veteran and prior to my military service, I was a

great athlete in high school and I would drink on occasions. I had a mind innocent of

preconceptions, judgements and expectations. My areas that control judgement and impulse had

not fully developed in my brain. During my military tour of duty, drinking became my favorite

pass time and I served as the doorman at The Ritz Carlton Buckhead, where I met Ronald

Reagan and many other movie stars. I am in the movie, "Ghost of Mississippi" at the very end of

the movie, thanks to Rob Reiner whom I assisted with his luggage . I drank that entire career up

and it was a near death experience after my military service which ended my drinking career. I

was shot at point blank range, untouched by the by the bullet. I had reached my bottom, with

nowhere to turn except a rehabilitation facility. My qualitative methods had run out. I was so

sick and tired that I stayed in rehabilitation throughout my first year.

It took several times in and out of rehabilitation prior to that incident before I finally

got honest with myself and God. I am now on my Eighth year clean, serene, and sober. Although

the risk of relapse decreases with each subsequent year of sobriety, I am one drink away from

skid row, because my past experiences of drinking again only got worse. It is no longer an

enjoyment if one faces the gates of insanity and death. There was something I did not grasp

during my anticipatory socialization as a child because my parents ordained a self fulfilling

prophecy on my behalf. The University Of Southern Mississippi is a part of that prophecy.

The social community of college can be tough on a Freshman who is trying to abstain

from drinking alcohol or using drugs and this affect each student in recovery in a different way,

depending on where that student is in his or her program of recovery. My experiences have taken

me to the bitter end , whereas I can never drink or drug again because death is my next step if I

were to pick up where I left off. With that in mind, I am the happiest student on campus because

of my new lease on life. I pledge to spread this joy I have throughout the rooms of campus

recovery as well as my home group.

My sponsor lives in California and that is where I got sober for the very first time.

Unfortunately my recovery plans did not work out so well, because I got caught up in all the

glamor and wanted to be like someone in which I wasn't and my false pride got the best of me. I

have learned to be humble and teachable. That method has taken me to heights unknown as a

student here at The University of Southern Mississippi. I have become a good listener and I

claim all things of good character in my life today. Many students lack a sense of belonging and

I have learned to open my mouth and express all my feelings and come out of my shell that kept

me in such a desolate place in life. Student life at The University of Southern Mississippi has

allowed me to build peer support. If something is bothering me emotionally, or I may just be

having a bad day, my campus recovery peers are only a text away. A sustained recovery requires

a strong system of peers, and I have that luxury here on this campus.

I can vividly remember asking my Vocational Rehabilitation counselor at the Veterans

administration if I qualified for college, and after talking to her and getting details I told my boss

in Eagle Dining that I was interested in attending The University since I had been working here

for the past five years. I worked in the suites during football games. Every year I looked forward

to getting my picture made with the Governor and catering to the every need of the "Who's Who"

of Hattiesburg. Mr. Warren, CEO of Warren Paving Company inspired me to pursue my degree

in Social work and we are still the best of friends.

Recovery is my lifetime objective on and off campus. I have served as chairperson at the

local Rebos Group, as well as the on campus Alcoholics Anonymous meeting in the Student

union. I did my fifth step with my pastor at Mount Olive Baptist Church. I have never been so

relieved in my life. It was like a weight being lifted off me, as I told my pastor all the unethical

things I have done to myself and others in my life. My life has changed drastically since I have

become a member of Campus Recovery Community. I have learned to balance school and

meetings on and off campus, as well as extracurricular activities coordinated by the Counseling

Center, such as the Alcohol Awareness Fair. There was once upon a time I would be up pass mid

night drinking instead of writing a paper as I am doing now. It is the excitement of one day

walking across that stage to receive both bachelors and Masters Degrees.

I cherish each moment as a student and my sense of well-being is greatly enhanced

because my sponsor knows where I am at. Not where I'm at' physically, or at the exact moment,

but more in a sense of where I'm at spiritually, and emotionally in my steps. I have achieved a

life worth living, worth loving. My campus life is one of happiness, even when my school work

piles up, I tend to balance it well with my down time and in between meetings. I am sure others

in my life knew I needed help with my drinking problem much earlier than I did and I am

grateful things happened the way they did, because I now see things differently. In every class, I

am on time and never late. I often reflect back to my selfish past and apply what I learned out of

that past on a more to positive note.

The Air Force has taught me to aim high, and although I only have one totally working

hand due to my disability, Campus recovery reiterates on helping others who struggle with

Alcohol and drug addiction. We look forward to helping with all sorts of addictions in the years

to come. I smashed my dominant hand during active duty, and lately I have had three operations

and I have one pending any day now. I do not have a job, so most of my time is spent in class

and at the Veterans Administration twice per week. I am registered with office of disabilities and

accommodations at the University of Southern Mississippi, where I take all of my exams, due to

my disability. I refuse to allow my disability stop me from helping another alcoholic selflessly. I

love our Campus Recovery group because they play a big part of me staying sober and I love

being surrounded by like-minded people who understand and applaud the effort and milestones.

I look forward to taking Campus Recovery to the next level as I progress. I am only a

Freshman and age is nothing but a number, I celebrate my fifty first birthday this year and the

accolades would be more than appropriate. It would be a blessing because my financial needs. I

have been doing field work for our organization and the principal at Hattiesburg High wants me

to come and address the youth about The University of Mississippi's campus recovery program.

There is a need to proactively address the challenging behavior of students and the need to

address the consequences of addiction to our youth because the expulsion rate is on the increase

nationwide.

I would love in assisting kids through motivation to maximize their academic success. I

feel that interacting with our youth will help them with other issues like anxiety, eating disorders

and suicidal behavior. My goal for this fall is to not only help with our smooth transition into the

new house , but have at least twenty five active members in both Narcotics Anonymous and

Alcohol Anonymous. That fifty people should be in recruitment phase by the following year. My

hand my have an affliction , but I have always had a gift towards stewardship, especially when it

comes to our youth.

I have already mentioned to our most gracious President to please consider passing the

torch to me. I would also like to address the need for a big book study, so people can be

enlightened on things like the meaning of the Circle and the Triangle. The equilateral triangle

represents the three part answer, unity recovery and service. not if, but when we get moved into

our new meeting place, we should look into getting registered with the General Service Office in

New York City. I have all the information about the Alcoholics Anonymous World Services Inc.

I would love to see the day when membership grows to so big that Campus Recovery

has their own dorms, but that is further down the road. I have started to feel the excitement of A

university with a common bond and sobriety playing an active role in that bond. I would also like

to look for and offer more resources and support to students from my home group to curb

underage drinking, which opens the door for alcohol related assaults on our campus.

A Recovery Protection Plan should be implemented. Every person should be able to

identify his or her triggers and be able to identify when they feel like they are struggling. After

identifying the problem , he or she should seek help through a sponsor or the counseling center.

Responsible members should also be there for support and be able to see any changes in a group

member that requires attention. A relapse prevention plan should also be implemented. Our

student body is large, and with the number of binge drinking and substance use incidence, a plan

should be implemented to help build an infrastructure of support. My goal is to also

communicate gain with the Dean of Students about making Campus Recovery an avenue for

repeat offenders of the Universities substance abuse policies.The University of Sothern

Mississippi is full of opportunities for all races and ethnic groups. I would like to thank the

Counseling Center for their clinical services and Psychological support. This support

demonstrates the college's understanding and commitment to student needs. I am not a psychic

but I can see Campus Recovery receiving Grants and gifts from foundations, ranging from

corporate, and individual donors from all over America. "Southern Miss to the Top!"