On October 29, 2015, five Big Island Drug Court graduates were celebrated for successfully completing the program.  Pictured (on the left) is the presiding Hilo Drug Court Judge Greg Nakamura with the graduates.  One of the graduates gave a short speech, in hopes to encourage her fellow graduates, as well as the current Drug Court participants, on their road to recovery.  She said: “This program is designed to push you to your limits, to see how you react under pressure, to use the tools you learned in treatment…I have learned how to be pushed, to pick my battles instead of always arguing my point, to count to ten when I am upset, and to not give up because things get hard.  My best piece of advice I can give to my fellow peers in Drug Court is don’t ever let anyone label you.  When you are a recovering addict, you are sons, daughters, mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters husbands, wives and friends.  Be more than a recovering addict.  Figure out who you want to be and define yourself.   You don’t have to live under a negative label for the rest of your life and only you can change what you are viewed as.  I used to be ashamed of my life and who I was.  Don’t be ashamed of your past.  Use it.  Remember where you came from and use it to help others, to inspire yourself and the people around you.”

Click the link to read her full speech.