Melissa Walker

Melissa Walker's Fundraiser

We can provide quality education and recovery support to youth with substance use disorders image

We can provide quality education and recovery support to youth with substance use disorders

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$150 towards $500

SHARE YOUR WHY IN JULY

About one year ago we found ourselves walking a substance dependency journey with our high school son. It is a really hard, scary and lonely journey having life feel so out of control. The “why’s,” “what if’s” and “what nows” hounding my mind and spirit. We found a local recovery program that our son did really well at but the worry about his education persisted. He had so many gifts and so much potential but going back to his current high school was not a safe option for him. At a parent meeting we heard about this brand new recovery high school that had just opened in Charlotte, NC very near our house, Emerald School of Excellence. We scheduled a meeting with the director, Mary Ferreri and counselor Chris Love and this was the fortuitous beginning of our amazing ESE journey.

Our son was the third student to join ESE and he has thrived in this loving, caring, supportive community that has nurtured his intellect and his creativity in a safe space. He’s been given opportunities to lead, listen, serve others, openly process feelings and emotions around recovery, celebrate milestones and live into his gifts and strengths!

Our family has likewise been supported, nurtured and guided through good days and hard days. I will be forever grateful for the never ceasing encouragement I’ve received to set healthy boundaries while also loving and supporting our son on this journey. Mary is a phenomenal, relational leader and truly one of the most vibrant people I’ve ever met. She’s full of hope, light and love for the teens, parents and recovery community.

This current generation of teens is really struggling and the need for a recovery high school for students to have a safe place to learn and grow within a supportive community is great! We are so fortunate to have a school like this in Charlotte that is changing the life trajectory for these teens and our family will be forever grateful for all the gifts we’ve received at ESE.