Success Stories

Better Choices for a Better Life

I am Charlie Dorris, a nineteen year old male. For the past four years I have lived in Amarillo, Texas. Most of my life, I lived in Brownwood, Texas with my mom and her boyfriend. By the age of fifteen I was a drug addict. My addiction added to my family problems. I was living in an abusive situation. My mom’s boyfriend physically abused me. At the age of fifteen, I made the decision to flee this abuse and move to Amarillo. When I arrived in Amarillo, I was homeless. My only concern at the time was myself and continuing my drug abuse. I had a chip on my shoulder and did not like authority. I heard about a shelter for homeless people and went to stay at Faith City Mission. The staff at Faith City Mission was not receptive to my drug addiction and I perceived their behavior toward me as rude.

I enrolled in a high school and quickly found a group of teenagers just like myself who used drugs. To support my habit, my friends and I would break into cars and steal car stereos. This thrill soon wore off and we moved on to bigger and better thefts, stealing cars. I got by with breaking the law for several years. Being “Mister Know it All,” I thought I had everything under control. Before I knew it I landed in jail. While being incarcerated, I felt remorse and told my cell mates I would quit drugs and never steal to support my habit again.

Two months later I was released from jail. I was back on the street surrounded by the same group of friends. I dropped out of high school and was quickly tempted to go back to taking drugs and stealing cars. When arrested again for the same crime the judge was not as lenient. I was sentenced to two years probation. I could hardly believe my ears. How could this have happened to me? How could this judge think his sentence would change my behavior? I knew no other way of supporting my habit, which I was not willing to give up.

One night, when out with my friends, we stole a pickup truck. We drove this truck for two weeks without being caught. While driv-ing this stolen truck, I noticed a book on the floor bed. I picked it up and read some of it. I was amazed. I read the front cover to see the title. It was the Holy Bible. I immediately dropped the book and called my friend for help. I asked him to take me to my mom’s house, as she had also moved to Amarillo. I asked her if I could spend the night. The events of that night have changed the course of my life. In the middle of the night, my mom woke me crying.Through
her tears, I could barely comprehend what she was saying. My mom pleaded with me to stop taking drugs and stealing. She told me about a program at Faith City Mission. My thoughts immediately went back to the time I first arrived in Amarillo and how I felt when I stayed there. I looked at my mom and saw how much she wanted me to try this program. I agreed to try.

My mom and I went to Faith City Mission the next morning. We sat and listened to the staff discuss the program. The program consisted of a year in length. I would have to work toward obtaining my GED. I would also have to attend step classes and work at the Mission. All I could think about was getting out of there, not staying for a year. I didn’t want to stay and work through my problems. Through the convincing of my mom and the staff at the Mission,
I agreed to live at the Mission and participate in their program.

The first few months I lived at Faith City Mission I was not committed. My motivation for being there was strictly extrinsic not intrinsic. This has all changed. I now see a need to work on my problems and better myself. Seven months have quickly passed. I am on level three of a four step program. I attend GED classes at Region 16 Education Service Center. I am also proud to say, I have been clean and sober for seven months. I have made significant changes in my life style and am looking forward to receiving my high school equivalency. I want to make a difference and hope that my story will allow some-one else to see that by making better choices, one can change their life.