Personal Narrative: My First Arizona Rehabilitation Program

I woke up in my bed at the Stephens Adult Psychiatric Unit in Joplin, Missouri. I had dreamt of being back home the previous night, so it was crushing to wake up and realize where I was. It was my 2nd day there, but it felt like much longer. Most psychiatric units have a similar structure. During the week, there are group activities that preoccupy you enough to make the day somewhat bearable. The weekends are worse, because there is nothing. You can either sleep or watch television in the day room with the other patients. The lack of activity constantly reminds you that you’re trapped. That all of your belongings have been taken away. That you are not allowed to go outside at all during the duration of your stay. That you are virtually entirely isolated from the outside world. The only thing I had to look forward to during those days was the hour of visitation with my parents twice a day. You’d think a psychiatric unit would be the one place on

This court works to help veterans avoid the traditional criminal system by providing those suffering with alcoholism, substance abuse, and mental-health issues with treatment, support, training, and housing. Judge Russell assigns each veteran a mentor, who is also a veteran from the same branch of service, who acts as a coach and motivator, helping to keep the rehabilitation process on track (“Leave no,” 2011).

On Thursday, February 2, 2017 I observed the Court of Common Pleas in Athens, Ohio for an hour and a half. Overseen by Judge Pat Lang in “Courtroom B.” I arrived to the courthouse around 8:55 a.m. I entered the building from the right side, underneath the stairs. To my immediate right, there was an officer and a metal detector I had to walk through before coming any further. I put the loose things I was carrying through the x-ray conveyor belt and collected them on the other side. I asked the officer where Courtroom B was and he kindly directed me to the 3rd floor. I took the elevator to the third floor and when the doors opened I walked out and to the left. There was one other person on the floor at the time and sitting by the doors of courtroom B. It was very quiet in the building, I walked through the

“CLANG!” The cell door slammed open, snapping me from my dazed state. Two years ago, I was intoxicated to the point that I fell asleep on the basketball courts adjacent to my apartment, was arrested, and in the process of that arrest, ignored the lawful requests of the arresting officers. That night and the following morning I found myself alone in a cell with nothing but thoughts of incredulity, self-disappointment, and regret running through my mind as my future at Clemson University remained in question. In the morning, as I was being processed, one key idea, like a lighthouse’s beacon, flashed through my mind; that I was solely responsible for my decisions and the consequences they wrought. This is a fact of life that we are all taught from birth, but it was one I never fully appreciated until there were real-world consequences. That realization,

I was nervous at first because this was this was my first field work, and had just started the Therapeutic Recreational program. Nichole Cummins was aware of this and made me comfortable in my new venture at the St. Joseph’s Impatient Rehabilitation Unit. I discussed my goals with her before starting the field work. The unit is on the 4th floor of the main hospital. Files of patients are filed in a secure cabinet. My field work was 60 hours of experience. My goals were to learn about documentation, program planning, and activity modification.

“The last thing I heard where the sirens. And the last thing I saw where a kaleidoscope of blue and red. And then everything went black, every ounce of air had escaped my lungs and had reached the surface of the lake in the form of little bubbles.” I told Louis Green, possibly the most boring person on earth. I don’t think he wanted to be my therapist anymore then I wanted to be in therapy.

I am passionate on helping people and making changes in others’ lives. Like I stated before, my mother had been trapped herself in the apologetic emotion for years. The mental burden had made her down. Therefore, I decided to help my mother get rid of the self-accusation, by using the knowledge I learned in the Human Services major. To illustrate, I was telling her that it was not her fault of divorce, and she was not showing me the negative image of a marriage. Instead, I admire her braveness of ending a marriage when it was necessary, especially in the time when people were stereotyping divorced women and at the place where people were being judgmental. Now, her self-blameless has been reduced, and she told me that she was not felt as guilty

I went to go check in the juror assembly room to check for trials, they only knew of one later on in the criminal court. I went to Judge Samuels courtroom because that is where the trial was going to occur later in the day. When I arrived Judge Samuels was doing arraignments which, I found out were very common in the criminal courts. She would give the defendants who had DUI’s options between time in county jail or community service. One of the cases that stood out was a defendant who needed psych sessions. The defendant had just been given a trial and was found guilty so, they had to sentence her. The defendant was convicted of three counts one of them being assault with a deadly weapon, which happened to be a car.

We are certified specialists who know the addiction journey ourselves. Your comfort is our top priority.

When I was first awoken before 8:00 a.m on a Monday morning in July, it is not hard to imagine how unamused I was. My mom had signed me up to volunteer for two weeks at the Munroe Meyer Institute at the University of Nebraska Medical Center. Their summer camp for kids with special needs ages three and a half through twenty-one had become my home for the next week. This camp provides an summer camp experience for kids who would not otherwise have one. The campers are divided into groups with staff and volunteers as well. A volunteer at Camp Monroe has a new buddy every day they help their buddy with tasks, offer encouragement, and give simple direction when needed. The activities for the campers include: swimming, cooking, sports, creative

Waking up at midnight on a cloudy monday night, I walked outside and looked at the moon. Look at how far I have come. Living in hillbilly hick Iowa, to traveling all over the world. Listening to my mother has been one of the greatest things I have ever done. Without her I would have stayed in Iowa and probably married a ugly overweight farmer. Graduating from highschool I decided that I was going to go straight to college and get my masters in Biological Anthropology. Since I already had 20 credits completed at Iowa Central, I decided to stay for one more year. The money I would save would go into my traveling “fund”. Planning on living with my mother still, to me was not a bad decision. She fed me, clothed me, and loved me even though I can

The reason why I was sent to the Bonds Alternative Program because the old me would be disrespectful to teachers and I also received many referrals. Some of the reason I got referrals are I pulled out my phone at lunch, I talked loudly and blurted out in class. I also feel that I wasn't doing many serious offenses like fighting. These behaviors were not tolerable so, I agree with the decision to be sent here.

I stood in front of the judge as he read my sentence. The fear of what would become of me was a constantly reminder of what I’ve done in the past. I admitted what I did to the family in Georgia to the police and to many other people. It’s too late for me now. The old lady was wrong, I’m not a goodman. However, during my time in jail I prayed for the first time in my life.

The road to recovery was not an easy road back. I still do the same elementary things today that I had to do to achieve recovery. I realized that honesty and open-mindedness was a must. I had to surrender all—I wanted real success.”

As I was standing in front of the judge many emotions proceeded to give me a nudge,