A major component of the success of Reality House is our alumni. The legacies of the men who have completed our house and are still sober today are listed on this page.

The motivation our house members need in order to complete the house and stay sober comes from being able to see and interact with these graduates, “the finished product.” Reality House and what it offers, has to appeal more to our young men, than their old way of life did, and it does.

For a young person struggling with drug addiction, alcoholism and even depression, the chance to witness other men around their age, with their own apartments, good jobs, cars, an education, a host of friends and years of sobriety, transmits a powerful message of hope. We have asked some of our alumni to write testimonials about their experience with our houses. Please take the time to read about their experiences.

Chase T. (26)

My name is Chase T. I am 26 years old. I came into the house on June 25, 2007. I grew up in Provo, UT. I was raised in a strong religious household and at a pretty young age I found myself pulling away from what I was taught. Before drugs and alcohol, I found myself living a double standard life. I would act a certain way around my family and then act another way around my friends. I actually enjoyed the feeling I got from doing the wrong thing. So naturally my actions and attitude progressively got worse as time went on.

The summer entering into the sophomore year of high school I began using drugs. I began drinking and smoking marijuana with my friends. I fell in love with the lifestyle that came with using drugs. I quickly became a daily pot smoker because drinking was a lot harder to hide from my parents. By this time my parents began to catch on to my attitudes and behaviors. By this time I began to slack off in school and my grades showed it. My parents began to punish me due to my behaviors which did not do anything because I considered myself the victim. On July 3, 2000 my youngest sibling drowned in our pool. I was 17 and had no clue how to deal with this situation except to continue to get loaded. I graduated high school and went to college to play baseball.

I had no self-discipline to handle this opportunity. My drinking and using increased at this point because I was no longer living with my parents. I only lasted one semester before getting kicked out of school and losing my scholarship for baseball. Needless to say things did not get any better from here. I started to get into heavier drugs and began selling them as well because I did not know how to hold a job. I quickly found myself in outpatient programs and jails. I entered my first inpatient program at the age of 22. I went in and out of that facility four times. I never managed to put a few weeks together during those stays. When I came into the house, I was completely hopeless.

After just a few days, I knew there was something different about this house. I have been to an Alcoholics Anonymous meeting every day since being sober. I have a sponsor and I have worked the 12 steps of the program. The house taught me how to be a person with character and integrity. I learned how to take suggestions and do contrary actions. After being in the house for 4 months I was able to get a full time job. The house taught me how to suit up and show up for life on a daily basis. I was able to become fully self- supporting. I have found a new way of life that is better than I have ever imagined. I have my family back in my life today. I have an amazing support group of friends that hold me accountable and work this program. This house has given me the tools to live life on life’s terms.

Kevin K. (21)

My name is Kevin K. I am 21 years old and my sobriety date is March 13th, 2003. I moved into the house when my life was falling apart. I was incapable of living life on life’s terms and my entire life revolved around drugs and alcohol. I couldn’t show up for my family or myself. I failed as a student and I had no idea of what it meant to be a productive member of society. My mom and dad decided I needed help and sent me to the house. They trusted and believed that this was the best decision for me to get my life back on track and to live sober. I was reluctant to give sobriety a shot. After getting involved and changing myself, I was slowly seeing that there is another way of life. I began to learn to live by principles that helped me to become the friend and brother that I never was. I have been introduced to a twelve step program where I was able to maintain a connection with a recovery based community and continue to work on my own. The house has given me a foundation that I am able to build my life upon.

I am extremely grateful for what the house has done for me. I continue to stay involved in the program because it has helped me build a life that I never could have built on my own! I am currently a student at the local junior college. I am getting ready to transfer into the UCLA engineering program. I have only received one B in my classes thus far at the junior college. I am very excited to transfer schools. When I was getting loaded, I only received F’s in school. A lot has changed in my work ethic. I am grateful for what I have learned. I love my life today.

Eric H. (18)

My name is Eric H. I went through the house one month after I turned 18 years old. My life was a mess and I didn’t even see the severity of the situation. I started to drink one day by myself when my family was all out doing things, like playing football, cheerleading and work. I sat at home after school and drank. I started to get high with my friends and that turned into a daily thing in just a few months. My perception on life was already screwed up and getting high just made it easier for me to deal with life. I ended up getting myself into a lot of trouble and into situations that I should not have been in. At the time nothing really mattered to me.

The lifestyle of getting drunk and high everyday just became what I did no matter what was going on in my life. I drank and used whether I was sitting in the back of a cop car or I blacking out and having seizures. I still woke up the next day thinking about how I needed to get drunk. It came to a point where I was on probation. I got really scared that I wasn’t going to ever feel different about myself. I didn’t want to use drugs or drink anymore but I couldn’t stop. I put myself in rehab with the help of my parents but it ended up not working out. While I was in that rehab, someone suggested to me that I come up to the house. It was the best thing that ever happened to me. I finally was in a place where people understood what I was going through and have had the same experience. The guys in the house took me under their wings and showed me what to do. I went through ups and downs. There were times I didn’t want to do the work but the guys were there to push me through the tough times. The house saved my life and changed me from the inside out. I have been taught to suit up and show up for life and how to be a man.

I am 20 years old and have a little over 2 years of sobriety. I pay my bills on time and show up for my job promptly. I was introduced to Alcoholics Anonymous and was taught to keep going to meetings to maintain my program. Even though I am on my own now, the house is still a place I will always be welcome at. Whenever I need help or guidance the staff and guys are there to talk to me. I have true friends today, most of which have gone through the house. Together we stay sober and have fun experiencing a new way of life. I strive to give back and be of service as much as possible. Today I live my life sober, free from drugs and alcohol. I show up for my life and take responsibility for my actions as a sober man. I am grateful for the beautiful life I have today.

Sean G.

My name is Sean G. I got sober on October 3, 2005. As a kid growing up in a small San Diego suburb I always felt out of place. I felt like I just didn’t belong no matter what my surroundings were. I never could explain why this was until I got sober. I started getting loaded when I was 15 years old. The instant I took that first drink I knew I had found my calling. I can still remember the warm feeling that it gave me and more importantly I remember the peace I immediately felt from alcohol. I would do and say anything to get drunk or high. It didn’t matter who I hurt or who manipulated. It didn’t matter what I put into my body, if it got me out of reality it was all I needed to feel okay. I enjoyed this lifestyle for a while. I suffered the consequences for my actions, but I could care less. As long as I could find a way to get high I was okay.

Then as time went on the drugs and alcohol stopped having the effect I chased for so long, but I still couldn’t stop. That was not the first time I had told myself, I wouldn’t drink and I did it anyway. Numerous times I would tell myself that, “I’m not going to drink today” but every time I would end up drinking. I would always wake up the next morning wondering to myself how it happened again. I was sick and tired of being sick and tired. I pledged to do whatever I could to stop doing what I was doing. That was the last time I drank. One more time my parents did for me what I could never do for myself. They bailed me out of jail and gave me the option to come to the house. Little did I know I was in for a life changing experience. When I first got into the house I was miserable. I would judge people in my head and just sit in a corner in silence. People thought I was dumb, but the reality was that I was too afraid to look people in the eye.

The people at this house had something different. I couldn’t explain what it was but they just looked free. I wanted to feel better. So I started listening to what they were telling me. I felt the way I felt because I was a liar, cheat and a thief. At the house they taught me how to grow up and be a man. They taught me that to feel better I needed to start acting better. I learned how to take responsibility for my actions and carry myself with honesty, integrity and character. They showed me that it was a gift for me to help others and not to have expectations for retribution. All these things were tied together with Alcoholics Anonymous and the 12 steps. They showed me how to live life to the fullest and learn to laugh at myself when I make a mistake. Entering the house has completely changed my life. Today I am able to hold myself accountable for my actions and be honest with myself and the people around me. The life I have today is amazing and I owe it all to the house.