A Resident’s Testimony

     Self-worth is the sense of being good enough and worthy of belongingness and love from others.

     I grew up in a broken and dysfunctional family. My Mom who used to be my only parent that was left when I was young, eventually left and had another family which left my brother and I to live with my grandmother, aunts and uncles. I used to feel neglected and unloved. When I entered teenage life, I thought that doing bad things and being rebellious would be the way for my family to notice me and get their attention. But deep inside it is my Mom’s attention that I used to long for. Being with friends had been my escape from running away from the life that I have at home. Eventually, I was not just content with the love or attention that my friends gave me so I later on I longed for more, where I got into being with different partners. I was never satisfied with the love and attention I got from anybody which led me to my rock bottom and which brought me to Nazareth.

     With all the unending questions I have been asking myself, Nazareth became the light that led me to the answers that made me a whole person. Nazareth became the family that I didn’t have growing up. I was not only given the love and attention that I longed for, but I was also taught what love truly means. I learned that love cannot only be received from other people. The biggest love I can receive is the love that I can give myself.

     One thing that Tito Bob, Tita Emmy, Ate Alex and Nazareth staffers taught me is accepting and loving myself for who I am. I would not need any validation from others just to feel accepted and loved. I learned that if I keep on looking for attention and love from others, I will never feel complete and worthy. And that has been one of the many factors that the Nazareth family contributed to my recovery.

     Being in rehab was never easy, but as I go through the program, I realize that I have two options. I will choose the hard way or the harder way. Because in reality, life will never be easy. There are a lot of ups and downs that I will have to face them later on. Life outside Nazareth elaborated that thought. But with the help of all the learnings, practices, and support of Nazareth and my own family, I learned how to be independent and strong enough to face any challenge I have to take.

     Nazareth helped me discover and develop life skills, not just my career but also in my own personal life. I was able to finish college while in recovery and was able to get a job in a global company where I was employed for 3 years. And now, I will be entering a new chapter in my journey as I explore opportunities in the United States of America. I never thought of reaching this far with the achievements I reached at my age. I used to think that after finishing the program I have missed a lot of opportunities and experiences. But one thing I realized and keep in mind is that it is never too late to explore, aspire and reach the future that God has in store for me. With the help of my family and my Nazareth family, anything is possible.