Village of Hope Stories – NG

When I was choosing a treatment center it was hard for me to pick one not knowing if I would pick the right one. I was losing hope as my addiction had gotten very bad very quickly. I had been to rehab before but as things got worse and out of control, I wasn’t sure if I would be able to do it again but I couldn’t be more glad that I tried. I ended up picking Dave Smith and right away I knew I was at the right place.

I have bad social anxiety but all the amazing staff made me feel welcomed and right at home. During my stay at Dave Smith I made lots of friends and learned more than I ever could have asked for, the skills I learned were amazing and I couldn’t even believe how helpful they were. Each and every staff member was incredible and didn’t even feel like staff very quickly they started to feel more and more like family. I shared endless laughs with them and the love and kindness they showed me as well as everyone else was incredible. It was way above and beyond you could tell everyone that worked there truly loved their job and really wanted to help people and make a difference and they did an amazing job at it. They helped me with my social anxiety which has never been better, they helped me gain the coping skills I needed.

The teacher there was just like the other staff and was an amazing person as well as an amazing teacher. I had never liked school ever since I was young. I had stopped going in grade 10 and I needed my grade 12 English in order to go to college. I was ready to give up but once I got here I gave it a try and the teacher here was by far the best teacher I’ve ever had. She was so welcoming, kind, smart and more helpful than I ever could have asked for. She inspired and helped me finish it and I can now apply to College and further my career thanks to her.

I have picked up old hobbies that I had stopped doing and found things I loved to do again. The staff painted with me and played games with me and helped me have fun and enjoy my time here. As my time here was coming to an end I really didn’t want to leave. I had even extended my stay because I loved it here so much, it felt like everyone there was family. I was having a really hard time thinking about leaving my new family. I had so much fun with them and loved all of them. I knew how much I was going to miss them. We shared so many laughs and amazing memories, they had taught me so much but one of the most important things they showed me was that there were still good people in this world. I now have the skills to live a happy sober life and made some of the best memories and had some of the best times of my life. They made me a good person again and I now had a new family. The world needs more people like them. If everyone was like them the world would be a way better place.

I’m sad to say goodbye to my new family but also happy to live my life again all thanks to them. I hope one day I can be at least half as good a person as everyone there is. They are the most amazing people anyone will ever meet and I can’t thank them enough. I loved every second I spent here and the only hard part about being here was leaving my new family. Overall this was one of the best experiences I’ve ever had as well as some of the best memories I’ll ever have. I will remember my time and the people at Dave Smith for the rest of my life. Everyone there has a special place in my heart and I will never be able to thank them enough. I hope anyone that needs help chooses Dave Smith so they can have the same amazing experience that I did.

NG is a graduate of the Dave Smith Youth Treatment Centre.