Rebecca Rediscovers Her Resilience
“I didn’t have a great quality of life before I came to Cara. I had been in my addiction for 25 years and my daughter’s father had passed away from a fentanyl overdose. I tried getting sober many times, and it just never worked. This time, I knew I had to do something else for myself and for my kids.
“Once I’d achieved a little over six months of sobriety, the recovery home I was living in referred me to Cara. I was happy to come here and get a job, but I wasn’t expecting to learn so much about myself.
“At that time, I felt like a kid who was just starting to grow up. My addiction started at a very young age and I had been in that old lifestyle for so long. I never had a voice and didn’t have many positive interactions with people. I didn’t even know myself when I first got sober, so that was one of the biggest things I had to face.
“Cara helped me start to know myself and see myself in a more positive light.
“I specifically remember the Mirror Exercise with Mr. Jesse. He put the mirror in front of me and asked me to describe myself – who I saw in the reflection. I identified with a lot of negative things, some of which I didn’t even think of as negative until Mr. Jesse pointed it out. His response made me realize I wasn’t that person anymore, and that I needed to stop selling myself short.
“That was a big turning point for me.
“But, change didn’t happen right away. As I shifted into my job search, I figured because of my lack of work history, I was only qualified for the most basic positions. Then the Cara staff suggested I apply for the Office Manager position at Chicago Survivors, a local nonprofit that provides healing of communities and families affected by violent death.
“When I first saw the job description, I questioned if I was even qualified, but I followed through on the lead and applied. It was an intense interview process, which included a panel interview, something I’d never been a part of before. It was scary, but I used everything I learned and practiced at Cara and I got the job.
“All those things I was worried I couldn’t do? I’ve been able to do it all and then some.
“I have a short-term and long-term goal list that I’m currently working on and I’m checking off things left and right. I’m the only one in the office from nine to five every day and it’s good to be counted on to be the one to run the office. I answer calls from families every day; I get referrals and make sure they get to our field staff. I really feel like I’m able to help people.
“What is even more amazing about Chicago Survivors is that our Executive Director, Jashawn Hill, is also a Cara graduate. She started as a Family Support Specialist, then she created our youth team and became the Youth Coordinator, and now she’s the executive director. It’s nice to see there’s room for growth in that organization because I look forward to going to work every day.
“I have been at Chicago Survivors for two years now and I’m super grateful for Cara’s part in my journey. I’m in a very good place, probably the best I’ve ever been in my life – mentally, spiritually, physically, and with my sobriety. Now I’m able to give my family stability and be an example of resilience and responsibility for my kids. Today, I’m motivated, confident, and happy and I’m looking forward to the next step and doing what I need to get there.”
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