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Overcoming addiction to find purpose

July 31, 2018

“In my 37 years, I haven’t had a student that has overcome the difficulties that Nick has, and gotten to this point in his life in such a positive state, and graduate.” -Teacher, Jack Maranto, Indian Hills Credit Recovery Program, Agoura High Nick’s childhood played a role in the decisions that led him to addiction. His father, deported when Nick was eight, was seldom accessible. “My mom had her own problems with drug addiction. And got sober. And relapsed. Having to go through all that was not the most stable thing. But with that said, I’ve always had my grandparents in my life. From when I was little, they really tried to take care of my mom and me.” Nick remembers the darkness of the situation. “I’m this 15-year-old kid living in this meth house… What is going to happen if I continue on this path? And it came to me… I’m going to die.” To start finding a way out of his situation, Nick leaned on family and friends. He got clean and enrolled at Indian Hills. Nick’s best newfound trait may be his talent for helping others. With new passion and purpose in life, Nick has shown incredible maturity, telling his story to help other teenagers going through addiction. Read more about Nick at www.acsa.org/publications.

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