Ellen
I entered RAP, Inc. in 1970 when the program
was located at 1904 T Street, N. W. I had just turned 16;
had dropped out of school; and had gotten arrested for shoplifting.
I was from a middle class family in Fairfax, Virginia. This
was the first time I had gotten into that kind of trouble
but I was a wild and crazy, spoiled little girl.
As a therapeutic community, RAP required everyone to help
with the work of operating the facility. I worked in the kitchen
department. Also, we did all kinds of work in the community
like distributing free clothing and food to disadvantaged
families. And all kinds of people came to the facility to
give seminars and to encourage us in our recovery. Arena Stage
came to visit and when I left RAP after two years, I went
to work there.
Later I worked in the theatre in New York, traveled through
Europe, finally got my GED, got married, and went to college.
It took me 10 years to get my
Associate’s Degree. But I did it. Some fifteen years
ago, I was offered a job doing halfway house work starting
as an addictions counselor. I became a clinical supervisor
and eventually was offered a partnership in the
Martinsburg Institute.
I will never forget the experience at RAP or the concepts
that I learned. Recovery is about doing the next right thing.
I’m living proof that when the road gets tough we have
to keep on stepping.
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