Stories of Hope
By: Sarah Nestor
6th Grader, Great niece of Sr. Jackie

“God has blessed me with people ho know what they’re doing, who understand chemical dependency and the power it has to devastate lives. And I try to bless others by not being ashamed to tell my story. To talk about where I came from… and where I am now. I am truly a miracle” Stories of Hope. With lines as powerful as that beginning a book, I knew that these stories would have an impact on many people to seek help and really dig deeper. It certainly has had an effect on me.

Every week a group of women in a group called “Let’s Start” and Jackie Toben (Sister Jackie) meet at St. Vincent DePaul to discuss the stories that bring them to Let’s Start and the stories that changed their lives forever. I was aware of Let’s Start because Sister Jackie is my Grand-aunt but not until recently had I know the impact this group and my aunt had on these women. Let’s Start is an organization that helps women start over again and lets women share their stories with others. Often these stories are filled with drug addictions, alcohol addictions, abuse, incarceration, b ad relationships and other bad situations. Let’s Start is a symbol for new beginnings, a way to get in touch with God and start over again. Not only is Let’s Start a way to share stories and experiences, it is welcoming too. Once a person is let out of prison or is recovering from an addiction they are often treated unequally. One woman said, “ People that aren’t in treatment can be judgmental. They think addicts are screwed up. They don’t see it as a disease. When you’ve been on the inside, you know how these people feel and think about things.” Sister Jackie said, “When I think of people incarcerated, I know longer think in terms of stereotypes of categories. I automatically think of an individual with a story.” Let’s Start welcomes women with open arms. Drugs are pretty much a hushed and unspoken word at New City (the place where I attend school). While reading this book I was pretty astounded. The powerful and destructive effects drugs had on these women’s lives were simply profound. Many of the women referred to an addiction like a disease. “I used drugs because I had a very low self-esteem. I thought I was ugly and boring. I wanted to fit in and be hip. I got into an unhealthy relationship and I used drugs to cover up the pain.” Drugs had taken over these women’s lives, but they fought back with courage and succeeded.

Many of the women in Let’s Start had been incarcerated or had been mentally and emotionally incarcerated by drugs. One woman said, “ I had never been incarcerated physically, but I have been spiritually. With drugs I was bonded and imprisoned. You have chains and shackles and you just can’t break free.” It seems the greatest impact prison had on these women was that they were separated from their families. The reality of how awful drugs were kind of hits you there. It can take you away from your family, yourself and your way of living. “Prison hurt because it took me away from my family. But it allowed me the time to work on myself so that I could come back and deal with my family. I was able to say I am sorry and mean it.”

Stories of hope is truly what it is said to be in the title. Not only was I moved very deeply, but also it had shown me the reality of how awful and powerful drugs can be. And that if you are in a bad situation you need to get yourself out. This book teaches one of the biggest morals in life… Live life to its fullest. Faith and being a good person is the way to go.