Angela Adams' future is as bright as her thousand watt smile, and why shouldn't it be when you consider how far she's come? She's a 51-year-old mother who is in recovery and has been clean for more than two years. She's a month away from completing her Alcohol & Substance Abuse degree. And she's just been named one of Onondaga Community College's Phi Theta Kappa (PTK) All-New York State students. "It's nice to be recognized! I was shocked when I found out. It's amazing! I can't believe it."
When Adams was growing up, heavy alcohol use was common among many of the adults in her life. She wasn't happy with who she was and followed their lead. At age 49 she got sober and decided to try college. "I was living in a halfway house when I got into OCC. I was so excited I never looked back."
Adams fit right in on the OCC campus and did great from day one. "I was nervous at first because I hadn't been in college in so long, but I can get along with just about anybody and I make the best out of every situation. I wasn't in school for 30 years and I came here and got a 4.0 in my first semester. It was amazing!"
She continued to excel with her coursework and was inducted into the College's chapter of international honor society Phi Theta Kappa. And next Wednesday she'll be recognized as a member of the PTK All-New York State Academic Team during a ceremony at the SRC Arena.
Her award comes with a special workforce designation. After graduation she plans to put her Alcohol & Substance Abuse degree to work helping those trying to overcome addiction. "There's such an epidemic. I've seen it with the people I've met in rehab, in halfway houses, and on the street. We're trying to get rid of mental health issues by numbing ourselves. We need to get past that and realize it's a disease and it can be helped."
She credits the culture at OCC with making her success possible. "I give it all to this college... the people, the professors. Everybody has been amazing. I'm wiser now and enjoying every minute of it." And she feels good about what she's accomplished. "I love myself now. I'm proud of the work I've done. And I have two boys, Nathan (age 31) and Joshua (age 18) who I'm so proud of. I'm grateful for what I have been through because without it I don't think I would be as confident and as strong as I am now."
