For those that have ever tried to give up an addiction, they know that it is not an easy task to undertake. It takes time, determination and strength to overcome, and the risk of falling back into addiction always shadows the recovering.
Bakersfield College student David Kennedy, 28, understands this having lived as an addict for years. But Kennedy has not only been able to gain control over his addictions and maintain his sobriety, he has been able to reclaim his love for playing basketball and staying focused through the hardship and trials.
“[With] everything I’ve been through, I think I’ve learned more about myself and life in general.”
Falling into drugs and crime at and early age, Kennedy became addicted to methamphetamines and alcohol.
“I was curious. I was really curious to find out what it would do to me. I’ve seen people being able to just do everything hours on end,” said Kennedy.
“When I first started using it was because I was drinking and I wanted to use it to stay up [so] I could drink longer, and it became to where I quit drinking and I used more. Then it became 24/7,” said Kennedy.
“I started getting into criminal activity where I would go out and steal whatever I could to get high, or sell my stuff,” said Kennedy. “It became a real problem for me that I didn’t even realize that it was a problem. I lost a lot.”
Coming from a rough home of convicts and addict parents who made the life seem great, Kennedy was passed back and forth between family members as a young boy.
“The way I was raised was around convicts to where they made prison seem like the life. When you hear that over and over again you start to believe it.”
It was after a series of stints in jail and run-ins with the law that Kennedy began to rethink the way that he was living his life.
“I was just tired,” said Kennedy. “I was tired of going back and forth to prison, to a place that wasn’t like what everyone made it seem like.”
Moving back to Bakersfield from Texas, Kennedy enrolled himself in a six-month drug treatment facility and is about to graduate from the program, clean and sober.
“It’s a program of love and faith,” said Kennedy, “It’s a good program.”
“I understand why I don’t need to use again,” said Kennedy.
“It wouldn’t be the same if I went back out and started using again. I always got people and all this recovery in my head. It talks to me, I guess you can say, in everything I do; whatever choices I make it seems that I’m making it based off those values and those morals.”
Kennedy is attending his first semester at BC and is in school for the first time since high school.
“I love BC. I like the teachers here,” said Kennedy. “People here are real helpful.”
Trying out for the basketball team, Kennedy found that he was not properly conditioned and has enrolled himself in weightlifting classes with the intention of getting in proper shape so he can play again.
“My conditioning was way off. I went out there and tried to play with those guys, and they were just all over me.”
Kennedy now runs the steps of Memorial Stadium everyday, intent on getting himself fit enough to play.
“I’m trying to get into good shape so I can go out there and play my game,” said Kennedy.
Kennedy’s overall goal with BC is to become a drug treatment counselor so that he can run his own rehabilitation center one day. With where he’s been and from what he experienced in life, Kennedy feels that he can benefit and help others who are in the situation he was once in.
“When I speak, people listen because they know that I’ve been where they’ve been, if not further down the ladder, and they understand where I’m coming from.”
When asked what he would say to someone who was is in his previous condition, Kennedy said, “I would tell them that I love them [and to] just keep coming back. Because most of the time I’ll meet those people at my meetings, and really the newcomer is the most important person in the room. It reminds us of where we came from.”
Remaining hopeful and determined, Kennedy is adjusting to his new life, keeping his goals and ambitions close.