At 15, I was eating mushrooms, taking various cold medicines, and smoking pot. My mother  was in the hospital dying of breast cancer, brain tumors, and AIDS. I had no one to talk to about how I was feeling. My older brother was in jail for dealing meth and I had to take care of my younger brother. The only times I got to get away from it all was when I was losing myself in the drugs. I used to say I was on cloud ten when I was high. After the high went away, I would just sit and cry because I didn't want to feel like that. I was running from the truth. I didn't want to face it at all. 

After my mom passed away, I went to live with my father. I eventually ran from his house. It was a big culture shock. Harrisburg, Oregon isn't exactly made for city people. I was put in foster care and moved from foster home to foster home. Finally my case worker had enough and put me in Rosemont Treatment Center and School. I hated it! when I got there, I thought the rules were stupid, I thought the staff were stupid, I thought everything about that place was stupid.

I think my Language Arts teacher from Rosemont was the one who helped me. She  encouraged me to write out my feelings and my stories rather than bottle them up inside.

After 11-1/2 months, I was released. I was clean and felt great. I sometimes think about Rosemont and how it really wasn't so bad. In my opinion, Rosemont is just a tough love approach to getting clean.

I still have a hard time getting my life back on track. I am working on getting my diploma, keeping a job, and am due to have a baby in April. Not everything is how I pictured it would be when I turned 18, but at least there’s grass on the other side.

Now I am trying to get my education while holding a job. I have been clean for over a year and have never felt better.