Student of the Month

I currently work as a Behavioral Health Technician in addiction recovery at a treatment facility in the Hollywood Hills. I really enjoy facilitating groups and having meaningful interaction with the clients. Being able to connect with people, listen to their experiences, and support them as they work through recovery is one of the most rewarding parts of my job. My hobbies include riding motorcycles, exercising, spending time with my son, and barbecuing with my friends. I enjoy staying active and spending quality time with the people who are important to me. Riding my motorcycle is also something I really enjoy because it gives me an opportunity to clear my mind and enjoy some time outdoors. One of the most important things to me is being a father. I want to be a positive example for him. A big part of my motivation in life is showing him that change is possible and that with hard work, dedication, and the right mindset, you can build a better future. My decision to pursue education in this field came from my own experiences and my desire to help others. I have seen how addiction can affect individuals, families, and communities, and I wanted to turn some of my experiences into something positive. Recovery has given me an opportunity to change my life, and I want to be able to help others who are trying to do the same. I also realized that having personal experience is only part of being able to help someone. I wanted to gain the education, knowledge, and professional skills necessary to support people in a responsible and effective way.

I chose ATI because it provided me with an opportunity to pursue my education specifically in the addiction treatment field while continuing to work. Taking courses online made it easier for me to balance school with work and my other responsibilities. What I have liked most about studying at ATI is being able to learn information that I can apply directly to my work. Learning about addiction, recovery, counseling skills, trauma, communication, and treatment has helped me better understand the people I work with. It has also helped me realize how important it is to continue learning and growing professionally. My goal is to use my certification to continue growing in the addiction treatment field and to become a CADC-1. I want to continue working directly with people in recovery and eventually take on more responsibility as a counselor. I also want to continue my education and develop my skills so that I can provide better support to the people I work with. Seeing someone make progress in recovery is very rewarding. Sometimes progress can be something as simple as a client opening up in group, asking for help, taking responsibility for their actions, or beginning to believe that they can have a different life. Being able to be part of those moments is what makes the work meaningful to me. I am proud of how far I have come, but I know I still have more to learn and accomplish. I may not be exactly where I ultimately want to be yet, but I am on the path I want to be on. My goal is to keep learning, keep growing, and continue building a life that I can be proud of and that my son can be proud of as well.