20 years ago the Jackie Nitschke Center was called The Samaritan House. I participated in the Samaritan House program for 7 1/2 months. The staff cared about me and pushed me to grow, held me accountable, taught me how to use life skill tools that allowed me to build an amazing life - challenges and all. One of the most important things I learned while there was how to communicate with people, how to connect with people, how to work a recovery program allowing people to help me, and the need to surround myself with people in recovery that are spiritual and positive. I learned I am one of those people - they taught me how to have a relationship with myself and begin that healing work. Today I am the director of the center and we carry forth the same beliefs for all people we encounter and work diligently providing them the means to be successful. Because we are human we are not perfect - mistakes have been made and used as opportunities. I thank the staff of the Samaritan House/Jackie Nitschke Center for all the energy they put into my life so I could become the person I was meant to be.