Tony

Senior firsthand Guide
Nashville, TN

Tony's troubles with addiction began early on in his life, and he struggled for many years with substance abuse. Before he was diagnosed with bipolar disorder as a teen, drugs were a way to self-medicate. He was both institutionalized and incarcerated during his high school years. Tony attended college, but failed out due to his drug addiction. Tony's life changed when he talked to his brother, who suggested he consider joining the military. He was determined to turn his life around, and joining the military seemed like the perfect opportunity.

As he waited for his appointment with a recruiter, Tony spotted a man walking towards him in a pristine white uniform. The man approached him and put his foot up next to Tony, revealing a pack of cigarettes tucked into his sock. "Hey man, can I bum one of those?" Tony asked.

"Sure thing," the man replied, "what are you doing here so early?"

"I'm here to join the military," Tony said.

The man looked him up and down skeptically. "Are you sure you want to do that?"

Tony stuck out his chest and said, "Absolutely."

The man raised an eyebrow. "Well, why don't you give me five minutes of your time before you make that decision?"

They went inside the office, and the man left Tony alone with a few old photo albums while he used the bathroom. The photo albums were filled with pictures of his experiences in the military, including his travels around the world and the camaraderie he had formed with his service members. Tony was entranced. As soon as the man returned, Tony declared, "Sign me up."

A week later, Tony was in boot camp, and it was a life-changing experience. He learned discipline, responsibility, and teamwork.  He served several deployments on a guided missile destroyer, then served as an instructor teaching buoyancy and stability in the Naval Architecture Department at the United States Naval Academy. 

However, Tony's life took a drastic turn when he was involved in a severe boating accident that nearly cost him his leg. Despite fighting tooth and nail to stay in the military, he was eventually discharged in 2014 after suffering from seizures due to medication interactions. It was a crushing blow for Tony, who was deeply committed to his military career.

Following his discharge, Tony struggled with drug addiction as he was prescribed various medications for mental illness and pain management. After leaving the military, Tony started a T-shirt business, which he later expanded into a screen printing and embroidery company. Unfortunately, Tony's company didn't do well, and he ended up losing everything. This led to a heroin addiction, which he struggled with for many years.

Tony's struggles didn't end there. He filed for personal and business bankruptcy and lost everything once again. However, he didn't give up. Tony's brother gave him the opportunity to start over and encouraged him to seek help for his addiction. Tony moved to Tennessee and started a treatment program at the VA hospital.

One of the most significant choices Tony made during his recovery was to accept a halfway house after completing the program. In the past, he had always rejected the idea, but this time, he knew it was essential if he wanted to stay on the path to recovery. The decision paid off, and Tony finally began to make progress.

Tony's boating accident and military discharge left him with physical and emotional scars that took years to heal. He had to learn to walk again and was plagued with nightmares and flashbacks. However, he refused to give up and instead focused on his recovery, seeking help from doctors and therapists to overcome his addiction and mental health issues.

During his time at a halfway house, he got a job as a maintenance man and janitor at the VA hospital. The job humbled him and allowed him to start from the ground up. It taught him to be grateful for the little things, like having food in his stomach and a warm blanket at night.

What Tony loved most about this job was the opportunity to help others. During the COVID-19 pandemic, he worked in the emergency room, where he met many unhoused people who were scared and alone. As a former homeless person himself, Tony could relate to their struggles, and he did everything in his power to make their lives a little bit easier. He talked to them, listened to their stories, and brought them warm blankets from the heating closet. It gave him a sense of purpose and helped him see that there was more to life than drugs and alcohol.

Tony was inspired to use his experiences to help others, so he decided to become a certified peer recovery specialist. Tony's own struggles with addiction and mental health issues made him uniquely qualified to help others who were going through similar challenges. He began working at a day center that focused on supporting individuals living with severe mental illness.

During his time at the center, he developed a close relationship with Donald, his work brother, who took him under his wing and showed him the ropes. Tony's strong sense of empathy led him to encourage Donald to leave when he was mistreated by his boss. Later, Donald returned the favor by encouraging Tony to apply to work with him at firsthand, where he has found fulfillment in helping others.

Tony's passion for helping others has not only been a source of fulfillment, but it has also been instrumental in his own recovery. Tony believes that the best way to keep his own mental illness and addiction in check is by assisting others on their journey to recovery, which makes him very committed to his work at firsthand.

Outside of work, Tony is passionate about graphic design and web development, and he is a big fan of politics, crime shows, movies, and music. But what he is most proud of in life is his military career. Tony joined the military to make a difference and found a sense of purpose and accomplishment there that he had never experienced before, and his dedication to serving his country and fellow service members is something that he will always hold dear.