Meet Us Monday: Renate, Graduate

Meet Renate, a recent graduate of REAL LIFE, which she credits with turning her life around. After several DUIs, Renate had enough. The last time she was incarcerated, she heard about REAL LIFE and was accepted into the program with the assistance of her lawyer. When she arrived at the REAL House, she was ready to get to the root of her problems and wanted a new way of life.

REAL LIFE gave her a safe place to work on herself. Renate was able to get to the the root of her issues, including depression, past traumatic stress from a past marriage and her alcoholic mother.

She is OCD and the structure and routine of REAL LIFE made her focus on herself and how to achieve what she wanted. Renate, in the beginning, had to be selfish and just focus on herself and work on her recovery. Through doing this, she found balance and peace of mind.

Her Pathway Navigator and her Peer House Leader have been her rock in her recovery; she is also grateful for other staff in recovery for their guidance.

Renate future plans are focused on a positive outcome when she goes back to court in October. She wants to stay in Richmond where she has friends, a job, a better life for herself and her daughter. She says has met so many good people through REAL LIFE, AA and NA groups. Renate wants to continue working at Virginia Laundry Services; she likes the people she works with, feels she is part of a team, and is grateful for the financial stability her job provides.

“Do the program and it will save you. It gives you tools and support in your recovery. The program is strict and structured, but it is very doable if you follow the program. All you have to do is apply yourself,” says Renate. She explains if she had known years ago what she has learned from REAL LIFE her life would have been so different.