Sam

At the age of 16, I became homeless and was on the streets for a couple of years until I was able to stabilize my situation and have a job that paid enough for me to be able to pay for my first apartment. That is when I first met Patrice and Step Onward Foundation. I got the opportunity to receive grants to go to school. By the age of 20, I was a GM at a restaurant. Work became the number one priority and to keep my job I was working 18 hours a day. But to keep my job, I had to leave school. At 23, I lost my job and that experience broke me. I made choices that were not the best for me in the trauma I was experiencing.

Step Onward gave me another chance after I hit a very low bottom. They helped me with counseling and to go back to school part time while working full time. I’ve now been able to achieve buying a house. I finished my associate degree with honors and now I am working to finish my degree in accounting with honors at A&M.

Step Onward threw me a rope when I was at my bottom. When I was having trouble seeing myself and my true potential, they said, “You are important, you do mean something, and we want to help you get where you want to go.” It’s an amazing gift. I am now 9 years sober. I have my home, my education, my job, confidence, and I am so very grateful.

I know what it is like to have nothing and to feel like you are nothing. I am so incredibly grateful to everyone for seeing me and for being willing to help me grow.

Thank you all so much.