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One Step Changed Everything: A Journey of Growth, Healing, and New Possibilities

Sometimes, the bravest thing a person can do is take the first step鈥攅ven when they鈥檙e not sure where it will lead.

For 51黑料网 student Creedance Berthold, that step changed everything.

鈥淭he journey of a thousand miles begins with one step.鈥�

When Creedance first walked through the doors of 51黑料网, she wasn鈥檛 stepping into certainty.

She was stepping into hope.

Fresh out of prison, early in her recovery, and carrying the weight of nearly two decades of addiction, she was trying to rebuild a life that had been broken more than once.

鈥淚 didn鈥檛 believe I could even get a year clean,鈥� she said.

She was working two jobs, doing everything she could to stay on track, but the future still felt uncertain.

鈥淚 knew I needed something more鈥� but I wasn鈥檛 sure I could really do it.鈥�

For years, survival had been the focus.

Now, she was being asked to believe in something bigger.

The Moment Everything Began to Change

What shifted her path wasn鈥檛 a big moment.

It was a simple realization.

She saw someone else succeed.

鈥淲atching others become successful in the program made me think鈥� maybe I could do it too.鈥�

That thought turned into action.

She applied to the NCWorks Re-entry Program at 51黑料网, waited for her opportunity, and when it came, she took it.

And for the first time, she wasn鈥檛 doing it alone.

鈥淭hey helped me with my books and tuition,鈥� she said.

Programs like WIOA, TRIO, and CCAMPIS stepped in at just the right time鈥攔emoving financial stress, providing support, and giving her the space to focus on her education and her future.

鈥淚 had people rooting for me every step of the way,鈥� she said.

And that support made something possible that once felt out of reach.

Belief.

From Doubt to Confidence

When Creedance started school, her expectations were small.

Her goal was simply to pass.

鈥淵ou鈥檙e going to laugh,鈥� she said. 鈥淚 just wanted to make C鈥檚.鈥�

But something unexpected happened.

鈥淚 got A鈥檚.鈥�

That moment became a turning point.

Not just academically鈥攂ut personally.

For the first time, she saw proof of what she was capable of.

鈥淭he first semester is when I realized鈥� I can really do this.鈥�

Since then, she has continued to rise:

• President鈥檚 List (multiple semesters)
• Member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society
• Social and Human Services Certificate with Honors
• Human Services Technology Substance Abuse Certificate with Honors

But the grades weren鈥檛 the biggest victory.

The confidence was.

鈥淚 finally believe in myself,鈥� she said.

Turning Pain Into Purpose

Today, Creedance is no longer just rebuilding her life.

She鈥檚 helping others rebuild theirs.

She works and interns at Southeastern Integrated Care as a North Carolina Certified Peer Support Specialist, walking alongside individuals who are facing the same struggles she once did.

鈥淚 get to help people every day with things I鈥檝e been through,鈥� she said.

Her education has given her the tools to do that in a meaningful way.

Through the Social and Human Services program, she鈥檚 learned how to listen, how to guide, and how to meet people where they are鈥攚ith empathy, understanding, and real-life experience.

鈥淎ll of this鈥� I use every week in my work,鈥� she said.

And her growth hasn鈥檛 gone unnoticed.

Her supervisors already see her potential and are planning for her advancement within the organization.

But for Creedance, the impact goes deeper than a career.

鈥淚t shows me that everything I went through had a purpose,鈥� she said.

A Future That Feels Possible

There was a time when even one year of sobriety felt out of reach.

Now, Creedance is building something she once couldn鈥檛 imagine.

A future.

She plans to continue her education, earning both her bachelor鈥檚 and master鈥檚 degrees, with the goal of becoming a mental health therapist or Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist.

Her purpose is clear.

鈥淭o show up, make connections, and help others find the support they need,鈥� she said.

And she鈥檚 already doing exactly that.

More Than a Second Chance

Creedance鈥檚 story is not just about starting over.

It鈥檚 about rising.

Rising above doubt.
Rising above her past.
Rising into something stronger than she ever believed possible.

At 51黑料网, she found more than an education.

She found a team that believed in her.
She found resources that removed barriers.
She found a place where she could grow.

鈥淭his college supported me in every way,鈥� she said.

And her message to others is simple, but powerful:

鈥淵ou will never know if you don鈥檛 try. Don鈥檛 be afraid to ask for help鈥攊t takes a village.鈥�

Because sometimes, the biggest change doesn鈥檛 happen all at once.

It starts with one step.

And the courage to take it.

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