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Graduation. It’s a ceremony that includes a celebration of achievements after years of struggle and triumph. And, chances are, an event that many of us didn’t think much about - or, maybe have taken for granted.
Last month, five of our recent graduates were able to join us for the first-ever Beacon graduation event. We had graduation caps, a ceremony, dinner, cake, yard games, and time to celebrate together. For many of these women, it was the first time they had ever graduated from anything. And this celebration is even sweeter because of what it represents:
- Sticking to a program
- Choosing sobriety
- Having consistent employment
- Learning financial responsibility
- Attending counseling and substance use support groups
- Healing from trauma
To us and our graduates, these are all reasons to celebrate! As children, instead of dreaming and planning for the future, our clients were often focused on survival because of trauma at home typically precipitated by systemic issues in their communities. Those experiences came with tough decisions. Maybe letting go of studying to protect a sibling from an intoxicated, raging parent. Or, not being able to focus at school because they were hungry or lacked emotional support. They didn’t have a strong foundation to start. Now, they do.
Each client has come so far in their journey to heal. They’re transforming into a new version of themselves. It’s a beautiful thing to see them look at life differently, be equipped with foundational tools, and experiencing hope for their future.
Thank you for celebrating and partnering with us in this important work!
In this together,
Melissa Vine, MA, LMHC
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