Andre was just 18 when he joined the Marine Corps. Stationed in Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii, he traveled the world with his unit, experiencing sights and sounds he never could have encountered in his Prince George County upbringing. “My parents were really proud of me,” Andre says.
International culture wasn’t the only eye-opening experience the Marine Corps introduced Andre to. Within a short time, he’d sampled a wide variety of drugs, and was drinking copious amounts of alcohol. He left the military in good standing after three years, but the seeds of his addiction were planted. In his late twenties, he became addicted to crack, and his life started to take a turn for the worse. He went out on his own, and lost contact with his family.
One day, a friend of his found him and told him that his father had passed away. “I didn’t know because I was out getting high,” Andre says. “That really took a toll on me.” He was able to clean himself up and be a support for his mother and sister, but two years later, his mother passed away as well. He started using crack again, and went out on his own. Over the years, he was able to build himself some clean time for a year here and there, but he didn’t stay sober for more than three years. Even if he was working, Andre explains, “I didn’t have no place of my own. I always lived with a woman – my name’s never been on the lease.”
After seventeen months in a rehabilitation program, Andre made his way to Earl’s Place. “I came here with a plan– I gave myself 30 days to find a job.” Sure enough, he got a job as a security guard, and though it was a high-stress environment, he stuck with it for eight months in order to build up his resume. Having the stability that he found at Earl’s Place was a great help to him during this time. “You can talk to staff about anything here,” Andre says. “I think all programs should have a staff like Earl’s Place.”
Andre recently moved to a new position as a security guard, and it’s a much better fit. His main focus is saving up his money and getting his own place to live – the first one in his life. “I’m just happy,” he says. “I have peace of mind today.” He adds that he knows who to thank for it all: “Without God, none of this would have happened.”
Most important for Andre, though, is staying clean. “I never thought that I would be an alcoholic or an addict,” Andre says. “So many people told me I needed help and you never think that something’s wrong with you. But as long as you stay in denial, the worse it gets. When I came out of denial, I found out who I really am – I’m not a bad person.” It’s a profound realization, and one that has empowered him to reach out to other addicts who are ready to stop using.
Over the years, we have served many veterans here at Earl’s Place, and we are proud to be part of their journey to a stable life. On Independence Day, we thank all of the people that have worked to ensure freedom in our country, and celebrate the independence we have gained. We’re proud of all the steps Andre and all of our residents have taken to build their own independence.
Keep praying everyday, give thanks everyday, keep looking up and you will succeed. May God continue to bless you on your new path in life.
People fall down, but, they can get back up and start again. It’s never to late. I believe you can be the man you want to be. You have already started with a good foundation., Earl’s Place.
May “Peace” be with you always.
Thank you for your kind and thoughtful message; I passed it on to Andre, and he said, “Tell her that I said ‘Thank you very much!’”