“You Keep Moving Forward”
Do more jail time or pick a program.
That was the choice facing Elizabeth last October. She made the right decision, and on a sunny Monday afternoon in July, Megan’s House celebrated its third graduate as the tearful young woman said an emotional goodbye and thank you to the staff and residents of the program she says saved her life.
Elizabeth moved into Megan’s House October 27, 2015. As she recounted the journey that led to her arrival, you could hear a pin drop in the room. The residents living at the recovery home for young women often tell similar stories of how they got there, but for this young woman, the misfortune of a mother’s cancer diagnosis and eventual death was the final straw leading to the downward spiral of addiction and the eventual choice facing her last Fall.
The road to recovery was rocky at times, but Elizabeth’s perseverance got her through it all. In the process, she became a role model to those who joined her in the early days of Megan’s House and the most recent arrivals.
“This is one of the toughest houses to graduate from,” said one resident. “But you keep moving forward.”
While working toward recovery, Elizabeth acquired many of the life skills that are a trademark of the Megan House growth process. She received her HiSET, obtained a learner’s permit, acquired a CPR certificate and worked at Lowell City Hall, where her exemplary performance earned a permanent job offer.
In the coming days, we will chronicle even more success stories. Tuesday July 12th will see another two residents graduate, bringing the total number of young women who have completed the program to five in nine months, each leaving behind a legacy of accomplishment and a promise of continued growth.