Michael’s Journey Forward

I was born and raised in Patterson, where I grew up in a structured home and attended private school during my early years. By sixth grade, I entered public school, and that is when I began to drift off the right path. For years, I bounced between private and public schools, never finding stability. When my parents divorced, they struggled to keep me on track, and by the age of sixteen, I was sent to military school in hopes that the structure would help.

Instead, I was expelled during my senior year, just twelve credits short of graduation. By then, I had already been influenced by the wrong crowd, which led me into drug use at a young age. I moved around constantly, living in different parts of California, trying to find my footing but only sinking deeper into chaos. At twenty-one, I was incarcerated for the first time, facing charges related to drugs, vandalism, and burglary. My first incarceration lasted only three days. After that, I would spend more time locked up than living a free life. Life became rough and unpredictable.

It was while incarcerated in the Stanislaus County Jail that I first heard about LearningQuest. Over the years, I enrolled in the program several times, hoping for change but never fully committing. I got clean once, only to fall back into addiction. But today, I stand eight months clean and sober. In July of 2025, I was able to secure stable employment, working at A1 Septic.

My fifth attempt at the HSE program was the one that changed everything. What made it different this time was a deep desire to move forward and finally stop taking steps backward. I wanted a better life, and I wanted to prove to myself that I could achieve it.

I now want to become an alcohol and drug counselor so I can give back what was so freely given to me. That became my motivation. I felt blessed to have the opportunity to return to school and even more grateful that my boss allowed me the time off I needed to attend classes. Their support helped me reach my goal.

Math, social studies, and the multiple-choice questions on the writing test challenged me, but I did not give up. I passed all three on my second attempt. I enrolled in June 2025, began taking my official exams in August, and on November 25, 2025, I completed my final exam and officially became a graduate.

My next goal is to earn my CCAP certification so I can work in drug and alcohol counseling. Having once been an inpatient myself, I hope to volunteer at Nirvana Drug and Alcohol Addiction Treatment Center to gain hands-on experience and open doors to future employment. I am excited to help others and make a real difference.

LearningQuest believed in me every step of the way. They pushed me because they knew I wanted to better myself. They saw something in me that I could not always see in myself. I want to thank Courtney, the HSE Program Director, for mentoring me and helping me stay committed. I also want to thank Luke for being an excellent teacher, and Calvin, our volunteer tutor, for breaking down math and writing during our one-on-one sessions. And to Leo and Alondra, thank you for greeting me with big smiles and helping me schedule every exam.

For anyone doubting themselves, I want you to know this: if I can do it, you can too. Do not give up on your dreams. You are capable of more than you know.