Colleen

I was sleeping on a beach, homeless. I would soon experience psychosis and enter my fourth hospitalization in 10 years. Since my bipolar diagnosis surfaced in 2013 during my second year of law school, I had been in denial about my mental health. It took this moment in May 2023, and my dad’s intervention, to commit to proper treatment for myself and my future. After learning about Hopewell through family friends, I agreed it was exactly what I needed.

I arrived at the countryside where the openness and spaciousness of farmland could be seen for miles and there are streetside vegetable stands and a country store. Lush greenery stretched across the Hopewell property where cows grazed and a picturesque red barn stood, accompanied by the click-clack of passing Amish buggies. With the blue sky as a backdrop, it was an idyllic farm scene.

While the landscapes and countryside drew me in, the stillness reminded me that I was going to have to embrace the quiet and finally confront the pain I had been running from. I participated in Hopewell’s work crew programs, attended music therapy, and became acquainted with our meals and the kitchen staff. Soon I would have my first counseling session with my primary clinician—a process I would later largely credit with my success at Hopewell.

With unsuccessful attempts at counseling behind me and an eagerness to recover, I was determined to make this attempt at counseling work. My primary clinician was a skilled professional who made me feel like I could drop my guard of perfection and be imperfect with her. My delusions began to fall away, and I was connected with reality once again.

My psychiatrist at Hopewell showed me within our first meetings that she could be trusted with something as important as medication. She became a confidant and friend, restoring my past experiences with medication and psychiatrists.

A few months later, as I stabilized, I decided to move into Hopewell’s University Circle Transition program (UCT) in Cleveland rather than live independently. It is strategically located within walking distance of Magnolia Clubhouse, a non-profit that provides individuals with a mental health diagnosis community.

While living in my apartment, I still received counseling from Hopewell clinicians, participated in music therapy, and hung out with other Hopewell UCT residents. During the week, I worked at Magnolia Clubhouse and participated in activities such as billing and reception. Through Magnolia, I was awarded a job with the Legal Aid Society of Cleveland for transitional employment in March 2024. On my days off, I am studying for the July 2025 Ohio Bar Exam in hopes of practicing immigration law.

Sometimes what looks like the end is actually the beginning. At the lowest point of my life, I found the strength to receive help. While I still have considerable healing to do, the stillness doesn’t scare me as much and I’m thankful for that. To those of you making donations tonight, you’re making the right choice to donate to Hopewell, a program with an environment suitable for healing and where the quality care is consistent.