My name is Becky Jolly. I am a 46-year-old single mother of four children, three living and one who left too soon at age 24 to a car accident in 2020. She is my oldest child, the oldest daughter of the girls. My best friend, my better half, my sister and sometimes she even played the role of my parent. Life as I knew it felt over and done with. Four years later, although most days still feel as if no life is left for me, it turns out that aside from my brokenness, I still have three living little humans to look after. One day I woke up and decided to make a change in myself and my life and make sure these other children had something worth fighting for in life. Addiction has sadly been a part of our lives for a very long time and in many aspects. I am a recovering addict, as was my oldest. She had been clean and living her best life when she was taken from us as was I. My next to the oldest, a girl who is now 24, is in the middle of what I hope is the worst part of her battle with the disease. What better way to honor my oldest baby than by furthering my education and gaining the knowledge to not only someday help my own family but many other addicts and the ones who love them who may need help in understanding why their loved ones cannot seem to "love them enough" to simply quit the drug. My goal in the decision to return to school as a whole is to help anyone I can come in contact with who is suffering in any way from the effects (no matter how small or insignificant they may seem) of addiction. Even if it is an employer, who may have an employee that they carry the burden of empathy for and need someone to talk to. Or maybe a teacher who notices a student showing signs of irregular behavior that mimics addiction behavior patterns and they are searching for someone to reach out to without harming that student's reputation or child services or the school getting involved. Or even so much as the gas station attendant who has a customer who comes daily to get their alcohol fixed who sometimes may be cruel due to being drunk, but when sober, they are most loving and respectful. That gas station worker, though it seems so insignificant to others, is most definitely affected by that alcoholic's addiction, and maybe after weeks, months, or years of daily interactions, that person needs someone to talk through those feelings with. The point is my overall goal is to help any and all I can touch with addiction in any way. I also want to honor my child by first returning to school; she would simply be giggling out rainbows at that thought. Second, I want to leave my children knowing they someday can stand with heads held high and, upon hearing my name be able to proudly say, "Yes, that woman on that poster for the rehabilitation center, the counselor you're referring to, the woman you read about who started that program, that woman is My Mother". Knowing the possibilities that this education is going to give my family and me is the greatest feeling. Lastly, I want to leave my children with a legacy worth carrying on for them and the generations to come after them. 100 years from now I want to have made an historical difference in addiction. That is my dream, and with this college education and my dedication to my daughter, that dream is more than possible. Thank You for your time!

My name is Becky Jolly. I am a 46-year-old single mother of four children, three living and one who left too soon at age 24 to a car accident in 2020. She is my oldest child, the oldest daughter of the girls. My best friend, my better half, my sister and sometimes she even played the role of my parent. Life as I knew it felt over and done with. Four years later, although most days still feel as if no life is left for me, it turns out that aside from my brokenness, I still have three living little humans to look after. One day I woke up and decided to make a change in myself and my life and make sure these other children had something worth fighting for in life. Addiction has sadly been a part of our lives for a very long time and in many aspects. I am a recovering addict, as was my oldest. She had been clean and living her best life when she was taken from us as was I. My next to the oldest, a girl who is now 24, is in the middle of what I hope is the worst part of her battle with the disease. What better way to honor my oldest baby than by furthering my education and gaining the knowledge to not only someday help my own family but many other addicts and the ones who love them who may need help in understanding why their loved ones cannot seem to "love them enough" to simply quit the drug. My goal in the decision to return to school as a whole is to help anyone I can come in contact with who is suffering in any way from the effects (no matter how small or insignificant they may seem) of addiction. Even if it is an employer, who may have an employee that they carry the burden of empathy for and need someone to talk to. Or maybe a teacher who notices a student showing signs of irregular behavior that mimics addiction behavior patterns and they are searching for someone to reach out to without harming that student's reputation or child services or the school getting involved. Or even so much as the gas station attendant who has a customer who comes daily to get their alcohol fixed who sometimes may be cruel due to being drunk, but when sober, they are most loving and respectful. That gas station worker, though it seems so insignificant to others, is most definitely affected by that alcoholic's addiction, and maybe after weeks, months, or years of daily interactions, that person needs someone to talk through those feelings with. The point is my overall goal is to help any and all I can touch with addiction in any way. I also want to honor my child by first returning to school; she would simply be giggling out rainbows at that thought. Second, I want to leave my children knowing they someday can stand with heads held high and, upon hearing my name be able to proudly say, "Yes, that woman on that poster for the rehabilitation center, the counselor you're referring to, the woman you read about who started that program, that woman is My Mother". Knowing the possibilities that this education is going to give my family and me is the greatest feeling. Lastly, I want to leave my children with a legacy worth carrying on for them and the generations to come after them. 100 years from now I want to have made an historical difference in addiction. That is my dream, and with this college education and my dedication to my daughter, that dream is more than possible. Thank You for your time!

My name is Becky Jolly. I am a 46-year-old single mother of four children, three living and one who left too soon at age 24 to a car accident in 2020. She is my oldest child, the oldest daughter of the girls. My best friend, my better half, my sister and sometimes she even played the role of my parent. Life as I knew it felt over and done with. Four years later, although most days still feel as if no life is left for me, it turns out that aside from my brokenness, I still have three living little humans to look after. One day I woke up and decided to make a change in myself and my life and make sure these other children had something worth fighting for in life. Addiction has sadly been a part of our lives for a very long time and in many aspects. I am a recovering addict, as was my oldest. She had been clean and living her best life when she was taken from us as was I. My next to the oldest, a girl who is now 24, is in the middle of what I hope is the worst part of her battle with the disease. What better way to honor my oldest baby than by furthering my education and gaining the knowledge to not only someday help my own family but many other addicts and the ones who love them who may need help in understanding why their loved ones cannot seem to "love them enough" to simply quit the drug. My goal in the decision to return to school as a whole is to help anyone I can come in contact with who is suffering in any way from the effects (no matter how small or insignificant they may seem) of addiction. Even if it is an employer, who may have an employee that they carry the burden of empathy for and need someone to talk to. Or maybe a teacher who notices a student showing signs of irregular behavior that mimics addiction behavior patterns and they are searching for someone to reach out to without harming that student's reputation or child services or the school getting involved. Or even so much as the gas station attendant who has a customer who comes daily to get their alcohol fixed who sometimes may be cruel due to being drunk, but when sober, they are most loving and respectful. That gas station worker, though it seems so insignificant to others, is most definitely affected by that alcoholic's addiction, and maybe after weeks of daily interactions, that person needs someone to talk through those feelings with I want to honor my child by first returning to school; she would simply be giggling out rainbows at that thought. Second, I want to leave my children knowing they someday can stand with heads held high and, upon hearing my name be able to proudly say, "Yes, that woman on that poster for the rehabilitation center, the counselor you're referring to, the woman you read about who started that program, that woman is My Mother". Knowing the possibilities that this education will give my family and me is the greatest feeling. Lastly, I want to leave my children with a legacy worth carrying on for them and the generations to come after them. 100 years from now I want to have made an historical difference in addiction. That is my dream, and with this college education and my dedication to my daughter, that dream is more than possible. Thank You for your time!

My name is Becky Jolly. I am a 46-year-old single mother of four children, three living and one who left too soon at age 24 to a car accident in 2020. She is my oldest child, the oldest daughter of the girls. My best friend, my better half, my sister and sometimes she even played the role of my parent. Life as I knew it felt over and done with. Four years later, although most days still feel as if no life is left for me, it turns out that aside from my brokenness, I still have three living little humans to look after. One day I woke up and decided to make a change in myself and my life and make sure these other children had something worth fighting for in life. Addiction has sadly been a part of our lives for a very long time and in many aspects. I am a recovering addict, as was my oldest. She had been clean and living her best life when she was taken from us as was I. My next to the oldest, a girl who is now 24, is in the middle of what I hope is the worst part of her battle with the disease. What better way to honor my oldest baby than by furthering my education and gaining the knowledge to not only someday help my own family but many other addicts and the ones who love them who may need help in understanding why their loved ones cannot seem to "love them enough" to simply quit the drug. My goal in the decision to return to school as a whole is to help anyone I can come in contact with who is suffering in any way from the effects (no matter how small or insignificant they may seem) of addiction. Even if it is an employer, who may have an employee that they carry the burden of empathy for and need someone to talk to. Or maybe a teacher who notices a student showing signs of irregular behavior that mimics addiction behavior patterns and they are searching for someone to reach out to without harming that student's reputation or child services or the school getting involved. Or even so much as the gas station attendant who has a customer who comes daily to get their alcohol fixed who sometimes may be cruel due to being drunk, but when sober, they are most loving and respectful. That gas station worker, though it seems so insignificant to others, is most definitely affected by that alcoholic's addiction, and maybe after weeks, months, or years of daily interactions, that person needs someone to talk through those feelings with. The point is my overall goal is to help any and all I can touch with addiction in any way. I also want to honor my child by first returning to school; she would simply be giggling out rainbows at that thought. Second, I want to leave my children knowing they someday can stand with heads held high and, upon hearing my name be able to proudly say, "Yes, that woman on that poster for the rehabilitation center, the counselor you're referring to, the woman you read about who started that program, that woman is My Mother". Knowing the possibilities that this education is going to give my family and me is the greatest feeling. Lastly, I want to leave my children with a legacy worth carrying on for them and the generations to come after them. 100 years from now I want to have made an historical difference in addiction. That is my dream, and with this college education and my dedication to my daughter, that dream is more than possible. Thank You for your time!

My name is Becky. I am a 46-year-old single mother of four children, three living and one who left too soon at age 24 in 2020. She is my oldest child, the oldest daughter of the girls. My best friend, my better half, my sister and sometimes she played the role of a parent. Life as I knew it felt over and done with. Four years later, most days still feel as if no life is left for me, it turns out that aside from my brokenness, I still have three living little humans to look after. One day I woke up and decided to make a change in myself and my life and make sure these other children had something worth fighting for in life. Addiction has sadly been a part of our lives for a very long time and in many aspects. I am a recovering addict, as was my oldest. She had been clean and living her best life when she was taken from us as was I. My next to the oldest, a girl who is now 24, is in the middle of what I hope is the worst part of her battle with the disease. What better way to honor my oldest baby than by furthering my education and gaining the knowledge to not only someday help my own family but many other addicts and the ones who love them who may need help in understanding why their loved ones cannot seem to "love them enough" to simply quit the drug. My goal in the decision to return to school as a whole is to help anyone I can come in contact with who is suffering in any way from the effects (no matter how small or insignificant they may seem) of addiction. Even if it is an employer, who may have an employee that they carry the burden of empathy for and need someone to talk to. Or maybe a teacher who notices a student showing signs of irregular behavior that mimics addiction behavior patterns and they are searching for someone to reach out to without harming that student's reputation or child services or the school getting involved. Or even so much as the gas station attendant who has a customer who comes daily to get their alcohol fixed who sometimes may be cruel due to being drunk, but when sober, they are most loving and respectful. That gas station worker, though it seems so insignificant to others, is affected by that alcoholic's addiction, and maybe after weeks of daily interactions, that person needs someone to talk through those feelings with. The point is my overall goal is to help any and all I can touch with addiction in any way. I also want to honor my child by returning to school; she would simply be giggling out rainbows at that thought. I want to leave my children knowing they someday can stand with heads held high and, upon hearing my name, proudly say, "Yes, that woman on that poster for the rehabilitation center, the counselor you're referring to, the woman you read about who started that program, that woman is My Mother." Knowing the possibilities that this education will give my family and me is the greatest feeling. I want to leave my children with a legacy worth carrying on for them and the generations to come after them.100 year from now; I want to have made a historical difference in addiction. That is my dream, and with this college education and my dedication to my daughter, that dream is more than possible.

The decision to return to school after a significant break was not one I made lightly. It was a combination of reasoning. My journey back to academia was fueled by my desire for personal growth, desire to show my children giving up at any point in life is not an option, and lastly to honor my oldest daughter's memory by making her proud of her Momma. She was taken by a car accident in April of 2020 at 24 years old, Kayla Danielle Atchley is her name. To build a legacy in her name for her siblings has become my life's mission. Any help to accomplish this goal would be greatly appreciated. I am currently majoring in Psychology. My hope is to gain the knowledge necessary to be qualified to help those afflicted with substance abuse and mental health issues. I want to help addicts obtain the many resources that that are available to them and how they can go about utilizing those resources to the fullest benefit. Preparing for my return to school required careful planning and organization. First, i assessed my academic strengths and weaknesses to identify areas where I needed to improve such as time management. This has been my biggest hurdle, trying to integrate coursework and study time into my already hectic schedule between home and work has been worthy struggle. Next, I researched potential programs and schools that aligned with my financial resources and my career goals, Once I selected a program, I developed a study plan to manage my workload effectively. As I stated time management hasn't been easy, so I have had to adjust and rearrange this schedule many times and still have not perfected it. Before making the final decision to return to education I included my family for their support to create a conductive learning environment. They encouraged me to stay focused, offering emotional support, and helping me manage stress. I explored resources available such as tutoring services, writing centers, and academic advising to ensure I had the tools and support needed for my success. The decision to return to school after so many years of absence has been a challenging yet rewarding experience. It has required dedication, perseverance, and a willingness to adapt to a new learning environment. However, I am confident my that the knowledge and skills I am acquiring will not only enhance my career prospects but also enrich my life in countless ways.

My hope is to gain the credibility to become a Family and individual counselor for substance abuse to help families find a way to help their loved ones and/or to cope with the affects addiction has in their lives by offering free services when and where ever possible. I feel if we could just get more information out there as to the who's, when's, what's, where's, and why's people may one day finially stop painting such a distorted picture of what it is to be an addict or to be recovering from addiction. Being an addict does not make you a bad person. Addiction may never fully be understood. That does not mean we give up. For me it means let us dig into the thing that the addiction has held hostage so that they may be equipped with the armor and artillery to fight their way back to where they belong to stand along side the rest of us and not beneath. We are born equal. Choices and judgments assume they can place one beneath another. Society is simply ignorant and mislead because those of us who can have not yet made resources reachable enough. People should not be forced to make a choice between paying rent or getting their loved one helped. If the world wants change each and everyone must pitch in to make change possible. As a recovering addict myself I know all to well the devastating affects addiction can cause not only the afflicted, not only their families, but also the communities they live in. I want to help more than just the person with the addiction recover and cope. Along with that I want to help communities better understand the outlying causes of addiction so we as a whole can stand united together to help those who need it. I feel the communities as a whole have been overlooked in the recovery process. If we could better educate those around us and give them the information in ways that capture the parts of them that allow their minds to be open enough to atleast take notice to any and all positive changes that an individual makes when choosing to get help. I want to do my part in ending the stigma that has befallen addicts. I feel if we all work on the same team cheering our teammates on instead of breaking them down we may someday win this war on drugs. I know I am but a tiny spec on a very extremely giant spectrum but I will not let that stop my efforts because I have faith in the human race and I know even if not in my lifetime someday with all the tiny specs doing their part, the world will one day be able to stand up tall and strong and recite the introduction to a whole new set of history books titled "The Way The World Fought And Won The Centry Long War On Drugs TOGETHER". That is my dream ladies and gentlemen.

The importance to help those afflicted with addiction is to make this world a safer place for those who will come after us. The world is a big and beautiful place and life has so many amazing things to experience in the small amount of time we are given. Humanity has tainted the human race with foul substances. I simply want to do my part in helping those who think they can not help themselves. I can remember it like it was yesterday. As we are driving up to the park on one of the hottest days of the summer sweat dripping down my face from the heat and nerves. I can see my babies from blocks away as they get out of the vehicle. My heart races faster and faster the closer we get. I think I was jumping out before the car even stopped. When those little eyes met mine instantly my babies and I ran to each other and once I wrapped my arms around their little waist, I didn’t ever want to let go. Just the smell of them made me miss them even more. Rewind to the week before this day. It was a typical day in a drug addicts’ life one summer when a cop approached the residence where I was informing me, they were there to perform a well-being check. Upon him entering the house he noticed an oddness about me and instructed me to meet him at the police station. I did as instructed and went to the station. I was asked a few invasive questions where the answers ended up getting my children removed from custody. My parents were called and given temporary custody of the kids. I felt the world stand still in those moments. The world felt dark In those moments I felt my world spin out of control yet stand still at the sometime. Was this the rock bottom I had heard so much about? Hours later I was allowed to go home and was informed a social worker would be in contact soon. The social worker came, we talked, and we set up a visit for me to visit the babies. We agreed that the park would be the appropriate and most comfortable place for us all. The visit The day of the visit I realized so much. This had been my rock bottom. Seeing the way my babies were looking at me with such broken hearts made me more determined than ever to turn my mistake into a blessing. Once I silently told myself that that day was the first day of the new life, I was about to build for us. All four of my kids were there that day along with my husband at the time and my aunt and uncle who lost their children at the sometime. They two were visiting their two children. Perfect Weather We didn’t let our situation ruin a perfect weather day for a park adventure. My oldest, Danielle, pushed her baby sister, Caydance, in the swing as my third child, Alicia, pushed her little brother, Casey, on the merry go round. As I stood with my Aunt Stephanie watching those kids laugh and smile as if carefree without a worry in the world, we talked about how many laughs we had missed over time because of our addictions. We made promises to each other and ourselves to not waste this opportunity. Opportunity is what we decided to call it instead of a tragic mistake, we turned that moment of sadness into a major blessing.