My name is Blake Halvorson and I am finishing up my first year with StepUP as a transfer student. I have attempted higher education numerous times in addiction and never was able to complete what I have completed here with StepUP. I started college back in 2009 and had only ever finished one full semester of college until now.
I started at St. Johns University and addiction took over quickly. I had dropped out and continued education at other locations but was never able to succeed while in addiction. I had a very low grade point average and my completion rate was low from incomplete and dropped classes. I had lost all hope that I would ever receive education other than high school until I learned about the StepUP program offered at Augsburg College.
Realizing that college was a possibility helped my recovery in the beginning because I knew I wouldn’t get in if I were still drinking. I told everyone I knew about this program and felt so blessed such a program existed. I was so excited about the thought of living in a dorm and eating at a cafeteria again.
I remember the day Tim Brustad called me letting me know I was accepted. I was living in a sober house in St. Paul at the time and could not wait to get out. I did have a lot of fear before the school year started because of all my past failed attempts at college. I wasn’t sure I would succeed but I knew I had to give it a try.
I just had my last day of classes and have completed two semesters in a row, which is a huge accomplishment for me. My confidence is back and fear of failure is no longer in my way. I even made the deans list this year, which was a huge surprise to me.
I know that none of this would be possible without the support of the StepUP community. I am very grateful for the StepUP program and all other collegiate recovery programs scattered across the country. This year was an incredible experience full of personal triumphs that I don’t think I could have got elsewhere. I am finally becoming the man that I wanted to be as a child and it feels so good.
-Blake Halvorson