Overcoming addiction can spark a desire for continual improvement. What better way to achieve this than to go back to school? While it can certainly be a challenge for recovering addicts to dive back into an educational setting, it can also be extremely beneficial.
 |
 |
 |
Continuing education will help:
- Build self-confidence — a valuable tool in recovery
- Improve marketability — to help open up new options for jobs and internships
- Challenge the mind — keeping yourself engaged and interested
Going back to school for vocational training or college classes is a worthy and laudable goal. Here are a few tips for navigating this exciting time!
Grants for Recovering Addicts for School
Many people pay for continuing education opportunities with a grant, which is essentially money given by a person or business that doesn’t need to be repaid. Grants often don’t have to be used for a specific school, and they are not always based on academic achievement.
Most grants have a set of rules governing who can apply for them. There are a number of grants available to recovering addicts who want to go back to school, including:
- Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services
- Private grants set up in honor of people who have dedicated their lives to fighting addiction or someone taken too soon by addiction
- Associations that work with people in recovery
Individual schools may also offer grants to those who have gone through alcohol or drug rehab. Texas Tech University, for instance, offers more than 30 grants each year to people in recovery, whether they are recovering from eating disorders or addiction.
Scholarships for Recovering Addicts for College
Scholarships can also be a smart way for recovering addicts to cover the cost of a college education. Scholarships are usually based on either academic or financial need. They don’t need to be repaid, but they are sometimes tied to a certain school.
Similar to grants, it’s possible to find a number of college scholarships offered to recovering addicts. Places that offer them include:
- Hope for Addiction, which offers $1,000 awards but you must prove sobriety to claim them
- Community colleges, many of which offer scholarships to nontraditional students who go back to school
- National Youth Recovery Foundation, which markets programs to benefit in recovery
- 12 Keys Rehab, learn more about our scholarship opportunities here.
Browse forums for recovering addicts to help find unexpected sources of funding that others who have been through the college application and payment process can recommend.
Choosing the Right School
Picking the best program may not just depend on what funding sources can be found. Think about the campus atmosphere — there are also “dry campuses,” where no alcohol or drugs are permitted, that are often good fits for individuals in recovery.
Personality is also a huge factor in deciding where to go back to school. If you thrived at a small high school, you might be more comfortable with a small college.
Think You Could Benefit From a Recovery Program?
If you’re interested in going back to school but feel you need to overcome your drug or alcohol problem first, contact 12 Keys Rehab today to get started on your path to sobriety and continuing education.
|
|
|