Help Maddie Serve Young Kids with Addiction

Hello everyone,

My name is Maddie; I'm 22 years old, born & raised in St. Louis. Growing up, I hated school, mainly because it was extremely challenging. My self-esteem crumbled because I struggled in school, and my low self-worth led me to experiment with drugs and alcohol as a young teenager. I began drinking and driving; I totaled two cars before I was 21. I was drinking daily, I felt hopeless, and I found myself sinking into a deep depression.

After endless attempts to stop drinking, I realized I had lost all control and told my parents I thought I had a problem. Fortunately, we knew of an organization, The Crossroads Program, the sobriety program I belong to, which has completely changed my life.

I'm over 2+ years sober, my mindset has completely changed, I have confidence in myself, and I want to give back to young kids struggling with addiction. Since joining my sobriety group, I learned so much about myself and this terrible disease. In many cases, in high school and the years that follow, many young people are met with experimenting with drugs and alcohol, which quickly leads to an unmanageable life. My passion is to help these kids. I want to give them hope and show them that there is a way cooler life out there for them.

As part of The Crossroads Program, I've been given the opportunity to go to Atlanta for drug and alcohol training to pursue my dream of becoming a counselor. It's three months of intensive training, but the rigorous schedule leaves me with no opportunity to work while I'm there.

My goal is to complete the counselor training in Atlanta. Then I would be placed in Denver, Phoenix, St. Louis, or countless other cities plagued with the disease of addiction starting in young kids.

While I have the love and support of my family members, friends, counselors, and peers, the training is a substantial financial investment. I started a GoFundMe page to help raise $10,000; $8,000 will go directly to the training program, and the rest will help with my living expenses while in Atlanta.

Thank you so much for reading my story and for considering supporting me!! Your donation will allow me to make a difference in the lives of young people who find themselves in the same hopeless position I was in.

If you know anyone who could benefit from drug and alcohol counseling, don't hesitate to contact The Crossroads Program for additional information, https://www.thecrossroadsprogram.com.