Village of Hope Stories – JM

Initially, I wasn’t very invested in my time at Dave Smith as I mainly came to satisfy others’ wishes, including those of my parents, brothers and sisters, as well as my girlfriend.

Although I knew I needed help, I was awfully stubborn and stuck in my destructive, stagnant ways. I didn’t care much about improving myself or areas of my life that are very important to me. I was “going with the flow,” as I used to say. I was comfortable in whatever situation, even though I made no genuine effort to change my ways for the better. I was using substances to cope with my disappointment in myself.

After being in treatment for a couple of weeks, this changed drastically, I learned that I deserve better than the life I had created for myself. I learned that I came to treatment for myself and that I’m here to put effort into improving my quality of life, which in turn will satisfy those who love me.

My goals began to become real as I worked towards them day to day. I met some wonderful people during my stay here – many smart, capable peers who just needed a little help to get back on track as I did. Together, we experienced ups and downs which ultimately created some strong bonds that I have no doubt will last a lifetime.

The staff members here at DSYTC played a huge role in my success. They provided a comfortable, fun environment that also came with some challenges: I had to learn about my emotions and how to react appropriately to them.

I will never forget my time at Dave Smith. The people I’ve met, the clinical work I’ve done, and the realization of what I deserve to be are all important to my success moving forward. It’s a bittersweet feeling leaving treatment. I even considered staying for an additional month because of how happy I’ve been here these past few months. But I know it’s my time to go apply what I’ve learned and continue my success.

Moving forward, I will strive to focus on myself, learning more as I go, sharing what I’ve learned, and continuing to better myself so that I can enjoy the happy, satisfying life that I truly deserve. I hope one day I will have the ability to help youth as DSYTC has helped many of us. I sure will miss treatment but it’s my time to go. I’m forever grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given and will be sure to apply all the knowledge I’ve gained from my time here at DSYTC.

J.M. is a recent graduate of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre.