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.

Previous Video

Valley Oak High School Offers Students A Second Chance

When she first got here, she was, like a lot of our students… guarded and sheltered and a little lost and c...

Next Video

“I always loved school. So, I always had big dreams.”

“We’re just like a comprehensive high school, we just deliver it in a different way. We’re more case manage...

Overcoming addiction to find purpose

Previous Video

Next Video

Related Content

Cindy Aguilar-Castaneda is the pride of Gonzales. During her four years at Gonzales High School, she did everything from tennis team to jazz band to classes at Hartnell College to the Gonzales Youth C

Haley Keeling will never forget the first time she held her daughter, Dalia. She was just sixteen years old when she gave birth. This beautiful story looks at a teenage mother from Vislia Unified Scho

Leo Chavez was just six years old when his father murdered his mother. Leo was left in the care of his 22-year-old sister, Katia. But to overcome this tragedy, he would need help from the entire commu

Congratulations to Alex Arrivillaga from Ramona High in Riverside Unified School District for winning the ACSA Region 19 Every Student Succeeding award. Alexis battled severe anorexia that landed her

Llisel Badajos has never been one to shy from a challenge. She was a member of both the wrestling team and cheerleading squad at Half Moon Bay High. She is an English language learner and now a first-

Congratulations to Armando Wright for winning the ACSA Region 6 Every Student Succeeding award! Armando battled with severe bouts of anxiety and depression. But now Armando is using his own experience

Congratulations to Jammy Harris from Fresno Unified School District who is the winner of the ACSA Region 9 Every Student Succeeding award! Jammy lost both her mother and father by the time she was jus

Congratulations to Chloe Blanchette who completed two years of school in just 9 months and graduated from Albert Powell Continuation High in Yuba City. It’s been quite the journey for Chloe who watche

Congratulations to Manny Moreno from Anaheim Union High School District for winning the ACSA Every Student Succeeding award in ACSA Region 17. Manny overcame severe anger issues thanks to the staff at

Congratulations to Chino High student Valeria Montes who donned cap and gown and graduated this year after surviving a traumatic brain injury and post-concussion syndrome due to a bike accident and la

Congratulations to Cory Suzuki in Los Angeles Unified School District who was named class valedictorian this year at Gardena High. Cory was diagnosed with autism at age 4 and overcame many obstacles e

Congratulations to Claremont Unified School District student Alexandra Savage who was diagnosed with #medulloblastoma brain cancer just before starting 4th grade at Condit Elementary. Now in remission

Congratulations to Rio Americano graduate Jelan Gentry, who came out at 15, overcame homelessness and decided live life as his truest self. Jelan is the ACSA Region 3 winner of the 2019 ACSA Every Stu

Keannu Linnell was Mr. All-American. He was a three-sport athlete including quarterback at Lathrop High. But in December of 2016, Keannu was diagnosed with brain cancer. Find out how he overcame insur

Thank you to everyone who made this day of honoring our incredible Every Student Succeeding winners possible! Check out their inspiring stories on our YouTube ESS playlist!

“It’s an honor to serve as the leader of a school that has students that look like me. And more importantly, students that have a similar background or experience. You have the empathy piece because

Jamie Geng is one of the most talented students to walk through the doors of Westview High in San Diego. She’s an AP student. She’s a musician. But she might be most proud of her time as president of

She is only eleven years old but Joey Drake is wise beyond her years. Born with cerebral palsy, Joey faced her fair share of challenges growing up. But she refused to let her condition dictate her dai

Beatriz Vasquez estimates she’s spent more time at the hospital than at her school. But through it all, Beatriz has always made time for her education. Beatriz was born with a ventricular septal defe

The fact that Luis Diaz is alive right now, let alone a high school graduate, is nothing short of miraculous. He was born in Mexico but moved to the United States when he was five years old. He suffer