CFCC Partnership Helps Recovery Participants Earn GED at The Healing Place
At The Healing Place of New Hanover County, a partnership with Cape Fear Community College is helping participants in recovery earn their GED and begin rebuilding their futures.
Among the first to go through the program were Scott Hamilton and Isaiah Stephens. Scott became the first participant to complete the GED through the partnership, with Isaiah following soon after. Today, Scott serves as Isaiah’s peer mentor, a role that grew out of his own recovery journey and his continued work at the facility.
Scott Hamilton
Originally from West Virginia, Scott Hamilton describes years of addiction that began in early adolescence and followed him into adulthood. His recovery journey at The Healing Place has included setbacks, restarts, and steady persistence.
“I’m 41 years old. I’ve used since I was 11. I needed every day that I’ve been here.”
Before entering the program, he says life had reached a breaking point.
“I jumped all the way off the cliff, is what I like to say. I went to jail. I was out on the streets. I just didn’t care about a lot of things at all.”
For years, Scott believed sobriety was out of reach.
“I had always accepted that I was an addict, and I was going to be an addict. I didn’t think that sobriety was in my wheelhouse, and I was okay with that.”
hope that I could live a sober life
Scott says the program’s structure, combined with accountability and support from staff and peers, slowly began to shift his mindset.
When Cape Fear Community College introduced the GED program at The Healing Place, Scott was the first participant to complete it.
Now working in the office at the facility, he supports participants in the later stages of recovery, including caseload responsibilities and peer mentoring. He is also considering continuing his education through CFCC, including the Certified Alcohol and Drug Counseling (CADC) program, to help others in recovery.
“Addiction led me down some dark roads, and I had lost faith in humanity. Coming here gave me hope that I could live a sober life and start over.”
“I used to hate the word hope. I always felt like it was the most dangerous word you could use. But it’s not. There’s still decency. There’s still love. There are still people who care. I went from not wanting to see tomorrow to realizing I might be able to help someone else get through it, too.”
Isaiah Stephens
Raised in Fair Bluff in Columbus County, Isaiah Stephens says he struggled with isolation and uncertainty before entering the program.
“I didn’t really have any ambitions. I didn’t have any plans for the future, nor did I care. There was a lot of loneliness, and it was dark, and just like an endless cycle of the same thing.”
Reaching out for help began with a conversation with his mother and a realization that he needed support.
“I made the call to The Healing Place, and I talked to the people down in detox, and I let them know that my life was indeed unmanageable. I was in turmoil, and I needed help.”
As he adjusted to the program, Isaiah says he learned that growth often came with frustration and persistence.
“There were times when I felt frustrated. Some nights, it was just about getting to bed and trying again tomorrow. And in the morning, it really did feel like a fresh start to try something new or take a different approach.”
Seeing Scott complete the program and earn his GED gave Isaiah something tangible to work toward.
“Once I saw Scotty do it, that was like a breath of life into what I call an empty soul. It gave me a whole lot of life right there.”
Unlocking Doors
Math proved to be the biggest hurdle for Isaiah.
“I had to take the math twice. The first time, I was just 3 points away. Talking to Scotty, talking to the teacher, and all of my other peers helped lift me whenever I couldn’t lift myself.”
After passing math and earning his GED, Isaiah says the accomplishment changed how he sees his future.
“Having my GED means doors are being unlocked. I was always dreaming of doing things, but never thought I could actually do the things that I dreamed of.”
He now sees possibilities he once dismissed, including careers in electrical work, construction, and aviation, as well as continued involvement in recovery services.
“Instead of having jobs just to pay bills, I’ll be able to set myself up for a career I’ll actually love and enjoy.”
“I’m able to say I can go to college now, something I never thought I’d be able to say. I’ve always wanted it, but just saying it out loud is still hard to believe.”
light at the end of the tunnel
Isaiah says he hopes his story encourages others who may feel trapped in addiction or uncertain about their future.
“I hope my story shows people that even if you can’t love yourself, there are people who are there to love you and care about you until you can.”
To learn more about The Healing Place, visit thpnc.org. To learn more about CFCC’s High School Equivalency (GED®) program, visit cfcc.edu/academic-career-readiness/high-school-equivalency.
