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Past Awards
Douglas B. Noble & Lily Noble
__________________________ From Past Years
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Letter from Joshua It became an experience for which I am grateful today. This may sound strange at first, since for five years of my life, beginning at the age of ten, my home was turned upside-down. Serious problems would quickly surface as drug use, gambling, illegal activities, and shady people affected my life. By the time I was fifteen years old, I would deal with situations I had surely never been exposed to before. Though I was not the one actively participating, the events still clouded my head as they would any young teenager. My attitude, priorities, and life would change in drastic ways I could have never imagined. Each day of my life was filled with fear, shame, worry, and pain. It was a chaotic journey that would change my life forever. I was slowly dragged into what was going on. I made it my job to stop the insanity, or at least point out to my family the craziness in which we lived. Once I began to find needles throughout the house, it was obvious that my sister, my mother’s boyfriend, neighbors, and their friends were all shooting heroin. My home had become a regular hangout for drug users. At the same time that it saddened me to see people destroy their lives by shooting heroin, it also angered me to know that my sister was one of them and that my mother allowed her to abuse herself. I let them all know, without a doubt, that this was the most shameful existence anyone could have. Then I realized something that would change my focus and help me get back on track. I realized that their drug use, their behavior, and all the difficulties that came upon my family had nothing to do with me. After all, I wasn’t the one ruining my life with this self-destruction. Deep inside, I was stronger than they were. I could choose a different path for myself and let go of their problems. I had options. One would wonder what options a fifteen year-old could possibly have living under these conditions. However, as I witnessed these people choose to destroy their lives with mind-altering substances, I realized I had the opportunity to make a choice of my own. Instead of destroying myself as they were, I chose to “create” myself on my own terms. In 2007, I was emancipated from my mother by the court and currently live with my sister, Christina, a college graduate and a stable force in my life. Today, my life has become what I always wanted it to be. There is no better feeling than being true to myself. I can make a difference in the world by spreading the message of HOPE to young people who are effected by dysfunctional families and drug use. I look forward to experiencing all that college has to offer, studying psychology and social work, and someday working with young people who face the hard challenges and obstacles that I did. There is a way out- a much simpler way – once you set your mind to it, keep the focus on yourself, and take steps forward on the positive path.
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