Featured      Archived      Forum

Student Life

FEATURED ARTICLES           Thursday, September 09, 2010                                Email to a Friend

From pothead to psychologist? Why not!

(NC)—A self-confessed "pot head" at 14 years of age, today, at the age of nineteen, Ariell Foran is 'clean' and pursuing her dream, a career in psychology. It was a rocky road she travelled, but when she finally saw herself as others had seen her for nearly two years, she started on a path to recovery.

In her early life she received virtually no training or direction. She was constantly depressed and lonely in an unstable family life with an uncaring father, and a very sick mother unable to cope with her own dysfunctional problems, let alone those of her angry daughter. So Ariell began smoking pot in Grade 8, adopting a lifestyle that left her unhealthy both mentally and emotionally.

By Grade 10 she was failing miserably at Stanley Humphries School, until a counsellor mentioned an award that was presented to those who overcame hardships, or made a great turn-around in their life. Recognizing she was labelled as a stoner/druggie, with no significance in school, family or community, she decided to change.

She stopped smoking, cold-turkey, and gradually changed most of her network of friends. "I began to see improvement in my school work over the next year," recalls Ariell, "eventually becoming an A-B student. For the first time I began to seriously question how I could pursue a career in psychology."

It was around this time that she met Cst. Martin Kooiman of the RCMP Castlegar, BC detachment who volunteered his free time to helping youth, serving as the Stanley Humphries School Liaison Officer. "Cst. Kooiman, and people like him who offer helpful programs, and the RCMP Foundation that funds such programs, are an inspiration for people like me with very little money, and know few people who can point the way," recalls Ariell. "Cst. Kooiman made a huge contribution, a huge difference to me with his support. He was the mentor who inspired me. I made the Honour Roll for my entire Grade 12 and received my school's Full Potential Award Scholarship on graduation in 2006. A year of post secondary education followed, and I received my first year certificate as a Social Service Worker."

It's that Scholarship she credits with helping to take her from one extreme to another – in many ways. "I was given a chance that gave me a voice and a sense of worth. I believe everyone deserves help along the way, everyone is worth saving." Ariell cites a classic example of someone who was virtually written off – Helen Keller, who later wrote "I long to accomplish a great and noble task; but it is my chief duty and joy to accomplish humble tasks as though they were great and noble."

Ariell Foran's goal to help others along the way, to be the support, the mentor that Cst. Kooiman was for her is underway. "He put his faith in me, and I will do my best to live up to HIS expectations – and MINE!"

- News Canada
www.newscanada.com

Home    Contact Us    About Us    On Stands Now    Events & Calendar    Forum

Copyright © 2008 Campus Life Magazine. All rights reserved. All trademarks are properties of their respective owners. Reproduction of material from any original Campuslifemagazine.ca pages without written permission is strictly prohibited.