Dan’s Ready to Give Back

Dan struggled with addiction from a young age and, as a result, he often found himself in trouble with the law.  A year ago, determined to make a fresh start, Dan sought help at The Ottawa Mission – and he hasn’t looked back.
He spent time in our Stabilization unit where he was able to prepare for long-term treatment, and then entered The Mission’s five month LifeHouse residential program.  In Dan’s words, “The counselling I received in LifeHouse helped me understand the roots of my addiction, and taught me a whole new way of life.”
During treatment, Dan expressed his strong desire to go back to school.  Thanks to a bursary from a generous Mission donor, he is now enrolled in the one year Aboriginal Enriched Support Program at Carleton University.  This program gives people who have been out of school for a long time the opportunity to transition to university studies.  In his first semester Dan achieved top marks, and he is now setting his sights on a degree in Criminology.
Dan’s interest in this area of study is deeply rooted in his own personal experience.  His desire for the future is to work with young offenders and try to give them the opportunity to change their lives as he has changed his.   As Dan says, “At The Mission, I was shown a lot of compassion and was given a second chance.  I never dreamed a year ago that I would be where I am today, and I am determined to carry the gift of hope I have received forward to other young people who are struggling.”