Katrina shares her story of overcoming addiction and earning college degrees to help others. She was an alcoholic and cocaine addict for over 22 years but got sober 8 years ago. After a friend suggested she get a degree to help people like her, she enrolled at Kaplan University. She graduated with an Associate's in Human Services in 2012 with high honors. She then earned a Bachelor's in Psychology from Ashford University, also with high honors. Currently, she is working on a Master's in Psychology from Ashford. Katrina shares her story to prove that no matter one's past, there is hope, and that through determination anyone can achieve their dreams.

1. Hello Everybody,
My name is Katrina and I would like to share with you a story of recovery and success. It
is my story. I had been an alcoholic for over 22 years which lead to a 3 year crack cocaine
addiction. Though I am not proud of my past I am grateful for it because it is those experiences
that have made me who I am today. Eight years ago this coming October I made a life changing
decision, I chose to start a road of recovery. The first year was not easy and I faced many
challenges as I did not know how to live sober. Midway into my third year of sobriety I was
talking about a psychology topic with a friend. My friend told me that I was smart and I had a lot
to share with others. He suggested I consider going to college so I could get a degree and help
others like myself. It wasn’t long after that I started researching colleges. I decided on Kaplan
University as my first college after a really nice enrollment advisor worked with me to clear up a
past debt to student aid. At first being unsure of where I wanted to start I chose the field of
Human Services because it offered many avenues for helping others who still suffered from
addiction. I had also suffered 5 years at the hands of an abuser I was married to so Human
Services seemed the best way to help others who were still living in fear as well. I graduated
from Kaplan with my Associate in Human Services in February 2012. This high school dropout
not only finished a college degree but I did it with a 3.98 and high honors. I became a member of
two school organizations, the Human Services Club and Ambassadors and Leaders Club.
Now I am not going to tell you it is easy because it is not. However every sleepless night,
every screaming fit over a hard assignment and every not so perfect grade was so very worth it. I
have moved one to accomplish a Bachelor degree in Psychology (again with high honors) from
Ashford University and I am currently working on my Masters of Arts in Psychology Also at
Ashford University. I am also a current member of the Psychology Club there. Online College is
not easy. It is a lot of hard work and self-discipline but when the final day of class comes there is
an inner peace of accomplishment that is indescribable. Add to that the challenges of sobriety
and that feeling is the best high a person could ever have.
I share my accomplishments not to brag but to prove that no matter what your past is
there is hope. I drank myself stupid every day and night for 22 years. I lived on the streets,
stealing from family, friends and anyone else I could just to get that next fix. I became a monster
in my children’s eyes and I hurt the ones closes to me. However there is light at the end of the
tunnel. Today those same people who I hurt stand beside me and support my work. They are
proud of me and my own daughters have on occasion had to give me a pep-talk in order for me
to face my next class and not give up. Today I am asked to share my story of hope and to help
others. I am invited to places I would have been turned away from 8 years ago. I have received
high recommendations from professors and current employers and I have been asked to work
with at risk teens to try and turn their lives around before it is too late. The key to everything is
that it is never too late. It is never too late to turn life around and make a difference. On my right
arm is a tattoo of a phoenix that reads out of the ashes. My ashes were addiction and alcoholism
and today I reach back and help pull others out. Never give up, never feel like you can’t because

2. if I can so can you. I hope this message helps others to keep reaching for their dreams. I am here
to tell you it is so worth it and you do not have to be someone special you just have to be
determined to try and to dream.
Katrina Nilsen
Class of 2012 Kaplan University Associate of Applied Science in Human Services
Member of Alpha Beta Kapa
Member of Ambassadors and leaders
Member of the Human Services club Kaplan University
Class of 2014 Ashford University Bachelor of Arts Psychology
Member of Golden Key International Honors Society
Member of Alpha Sigma Lambda
Member of the Psychology Club
Future graduate of the Class of 2016 Masters of Arts Psychology
Member of International Honors Society for Colligated Students
Graduate Member of the Psychology Club