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So tell us your name and your age.
My name is Corey; I'm 23.
Great, and where did you come from?
I'm from Los Angeles.
Los Angeles. And is this the first program you've been in, Corey?
No, this is number eight.
Number eight! OK, so awesome… And why are you in this program?
I have a problem with drugs and all the other rehabs I've been to I've
had a tendency to leave and relapse. It's kind of been my pattern.
And so this was kind of my final chance with my parents, with my family-
complete wilderness. And then I'm going back to
another residential program.
Very good. Why do you think WinGate has helped you?
Because I know you've told me before it has.
Yeah, it's helped me enormously. I came here, like, not knowing who I was.
I was an extremely codependent person on my ex-boyfriend.
I really gave no thought to my parents, to anyone.
And this place-
It's helped me realize who I am. I've gained a sense of spirituality out here, like,
I didn't really believe in God at all and this wilderness, it's - how could - it's
beautiful, like how could this happen. You know?
It's just amazing.
This place is -
I don't know, I feel like I've truly found myself here.
And I've gained my relationship back with my parents.
It's - I'm so grateful for this place. And it's humbled me too.
Being away from the outside world; away from all material things: clothes,
phone, computer, anything; you really realize how grateful you are for the things outside of here, but
really figuring yourself out while you're here.
Have there been some really
specific moments that you might say have really helped you to gain the
self-awareness? Like epiphanies? Or… ?
Yeah, actually. It was actually at this spot, I think about six weeks ago.
I was on my solo, so I was away from the rest of the group, I had my own fire.
And I have a really big problem with being alone. I hate being alone.
And this was the first time that I was actually OK with just being with myself.
Didn't worry about anyone else, I was just with me and
it was an epiphany in itself that I can be by myself; I don't need
a boyfriend or I don't need, you know, whatever. I can just be me and be OK with that.
That's awesome. What kind of advice would you give someone who might be coming or thinking
about coming to WinGate?
Just to be open.
Be open to this experience. When I first came I wasn't very open. I didn't -
I just was doing this so I could get off of the streets and
potentially gain my family's trust back, but if you just come in with an open attitude,
open mind - like, if you're willing to
you know, take this opportunity as all that it is, then I think
anyone coming here can get the most out of it. It is what you make of it.
If you're willing to get something out of it, then I think it'll be great.
Have you grown close to any of the staff or any of your peers?
Yes, very.
I mean, we're like a family here.
All of the students - we all get along great.
Some of the staff I relate to extremely well: Gordo.
He's an AA and he's taught me a lot about the program.
I don't know, it's like a family here.
And I'm sad to leave. As much as I want to shower and
have food and this and that, like I am extremely sad to leave these people.
Great, maybe you can come back and work with us as a staff.
Maybe, maybe. We'll see. We'll see.
Well that's awesome. We appreciate you sharing your journey with us, it's been a pleasure getting to know you and we wish you
lots of success and happiness in your future.
Thank you. I'm extremely grateful for this place. It's really - it's saved my life.
That's awesome. That's great. Well you're super. Thank you!