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Our Stories
Angel Traynor
My name is Angel and I am a recovering Addict/Alcoholic. After 30 years of living with addiction, domestic violence, incomprehensible demoralization and self loathing I made the choice to change my life. That was in September of 2007, I have not looked back nor have I one time regretted my decision.
During those 30 years I became a high school drop-out, a teen mother, a battered wife, bought a house, suffered low self esteem and became someone that I no longer recognized. I pushed my family away, lost a house, a business and became a regular in institutions. In 2005 I found myself at an all time low, doing things I never thought I was capable of. As a result of those actions I was incarcerated in 2006 for nine months. While there I had a determination to change my life, but when released I quickly returned to my addiction and lifestyle. For the next ten months I continued my downward spiral until with no hope left I tried to commit suicide. When I was revived and alert I knew that something had to change and I checked myself into a Drug and Alcohol rehabilitation center.
That was the turning point in my life, and for the first time I began to listen to other people. I gained respect and admiration for the counselors and allowed them to guide me through the first steps of sobriety. Without out that guidance I don't know when I would have regained any hope for my life. When I left the "Hope House" I continued on the journey in sobriety trying to pick up the pieces and move on with life. I joined the alumni association of that rehab and began a journey of giving back to my community by performing service work. In the last forty months I have served as secretary and presently serve as the president on the alumni board.
In the spring of 2008 I decided to obtain my GED with the thought that maybe I could go to college. Passing the GED was a huge deal to me and I knew at that point that continuing my education was what I wanted to do. My life had been spent owning and operating a small business and I considered trying a degree in management yet my passion was to help other addicts. As an older student returning into school life I was full of fear of failure, but I enrolled anyway. The first two semesters I started small taking only two classes per semester while working full time and working to maintain my sobriety. In the beginning of my third semester I became involved with the organization of BACCHUS on campus (an acronym for Boosting Alcohol Consciousness Concerning the Health of University Students) and have become a peer health educator. My work with BACCHUS has been very rewarding. By the end of my third semester I was amazed that I could do these things and make the honor's list each one of those semesters. As a result of the work I put into my studies I was inducted into Phi Theta Kappa and I had no doubt that I made the right choice becoming a student at Anne Arundel Community College. When it was time to sign up for classes for the spring of 2010 I became a full time student taking five classes. Today I am convinced that obtaining my Associates degree in Addictions and moving on to my Bachelors/Masters is my focus, and I have my LCPC-CAC (Licensed Clinical Professional Counselor with Concentration in Addictions Counseling) in my sight.
The only way that I will stay on this path is to continue making the right choices, having a faith that continues to grow, continue to serve my community, and incorporating a set of spiritual principles into my life. I believe that these things combined with the proper education will enhance my effectiveness as an addictions counselor with a passion to help the still suffering addict and alcoholic who may seek help.
I am currently opening a recovery home for women; a terribly underserved population in my area. Serenity Sisters strives to be a premiere living environment. I am truly excited to give back in this way!
I'm Angel an addict and alcoholic. Thanks for letting me share...
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