By Mira Radovich, Senior Contributing Writer
Ramona Sullins is not afraid of discussing her past or admitting her mistakes. In fact, the recent Rio Salado College graduate hopes that by telling her story, others will see that it is possible to turn your life around.
“In 2015, my life was looking at some serious years in prison,” Sullins said. “I looked at the circumstances and knew it was the drugs. I was a full-blown addict.”
Sullins had spent time in detox and treatment facilities prior to prison, and was exposed to the message of recovery.
“I couldn’t receive the message yet because I was not ready,” Sullins said. “Then one day I went to an AA meeting, and I was determined to find a sponsor that night, and I did. I embraced the 12 steps and practiced the principles.”
That put Sullins on the path to sobriety, but she still faced her legal issues.
“I had to go to prison regardless, but once I made the decision to get clean, I wanted to learn about addiction and how to stop it,” Sullins said. “I wanted to know what was going on in my brain and body. I knew education could help me find out.”
Sullins started by earning her high school equivalency diploma in prison, as she had dropped out of school after eighth grade. She then enrolled in Rio Salado’s Incarcerated Re-entry program, which offered correspondence classes to eligible inmates.
“I had to learn a little bit of patience because the classes used snail mail and you might not get a response right away,” Sullins said.
But she soon found a camaraderie with other inmates taking classes.
“Prison life is its own subculture, but when I needed help, there were others taking classes who could help give advice,” Sullins said. “You build a network inside the prison with other people who are learning.”
Having the ability to take classes also kept Sullins on the straight and narrow.
“I noticed one of the criteria for Rio was that you could get withdrawn from classes if you got in trouble or had disciplinary actions,” Sullins said. “I wasn’t going to do something that would jeopardize what’s important to me.”
Sullins completed a certificate in addictions and substance use disorders while in prison. When she was released, she visited Rio’s Tempe location and met with advisor Melanie James.
“I left prison with 160 credits and wanted to know how I could connect the dots,” Sullins said. “Melanie helped guide me so I could apply those credits, obtain my degree and move forward. She was truly amazing, patient and kind.”
Ultimately Sullins completed six certificates, an associate degree in addictions and substance use disorders and an associate degree in workforce development and community re-entry.
She is especially grateful for the latter.
“Hickman Family Farms contracts with the prison for inmate labor,” Sullins said. “I signed up because it helps you build money for release. It was some of the hardest work I’ve ever done in my life, but when I got out, the benefits helped me tremendously.”
Today, Sullins continues to work at Hickman's Family Farms, where she was promoted to compliance specialist. She also reestablished relationships with her parents and two sons.
Sullins is also a full-time student at Grand Canyon University. She hopes to complete her bachelor’s degree next year, and wants to work with addicts one day, either in a treatment facility or for a state agency.
Sullins humbly points to her own recovery journey as inspiration for others.
“Going to prison helped me get my education,” Sullins said. “Rio taught me discipline and how to have a schedule, and proved to me that I could do it, that my life could still be lived. And Rio
helped me find what I wanted out of life, which is to continue learning.”